Short answer: call your vet if your dog has a severe cough, a cough that lasts more than a few days, or seems unwell. If your dog struggles to breathe, treat it as an emergency and call your vet now. Our emergency guide lists breathing trouble as a call-right-away sign.
A common cause: kennel cough
PDSA describes kennel cough as an airway infection that causes a dry, hacking cough. It spreads where many dogs gather, such as kennels, shows, and daycare. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 14 days after contact and last 1 to 3 weeks. Most dogs stay otherwise quite well. Puppies, older dogs, and dogs who are unwell can get more serious signs, such as a fever. For more on this, see Dog emergencies: symptoms that mean call a vet.
What to do
Call your vet for advice if you think it is kennel cough. When you go in, tell the clinic your dog has been coughing, and wait outside until called, so you do not spread it. Keep your dog away from other dogs and public places while they cough and for two to three weeks afterward. Exercise can make the cough worse, so let your dog rest.
Other causes
Many conditions can cause a cough, and you cannot tell which from the sound. That is why a vet check matters if the cough is severe or has lasted more than a few days.
Call now if you see
Hard or fast breathing, collapse, a cough with a high temperature or loss of appetite, or a cough in a puppy or senior dog who seems unwell. Do not wait to see if it passes.
Prevention
The kennel cough vaccine does not give guaranteed protection, but it lowers the chance and the severity. Ask your vet whether it suits your dog, especially before boarding or daycare.
This article is general education, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, is in pain, or something changed suddenly, call your vet. If it could be an emergency, do not wait.
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Frequently asked questions
When is coughing an emergency?
If your dog struggles to breathe, treat it as an emergency and call your vet now. Also call for a severe cough, one lasting more than a few days, or a dog who seems unwell.
What is kennel cough?
An airway infection that causes a dry, hacking cough, spreading where many dogs gather. Signs usually appear 3 to 14 days after exposure.
How do we avoid spreading it?
Tell the clinic your dog has been coughing and wait outside until called, and keep them away from other dogs.
Can I tell the cause by sound?
No. Many conditions cause a cough and you cannot tell which from the sound, so a vet check matters.
