Few sights are as mesmerizing as the curling of a dog’s tongue as he fetches water from his favorite dish. But what if your dog coughs after drinking water?
Of course, like all of us, our dogs sometimes drink too quickly or are temporarily distracted, and a few drops go in the wrong direction. However, you’ve noticed a worrying trend. It seems that every time your dog pauses for some liquid refreshment, the action is immediately followed by the sounds of coughing and choking. If a dog coughs after drinking water constantly, it may be more than a quick or reckless swallow can explain.
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At least three medical problems could cause a dog to cough after drinking water, all of which affect the windpipe:
- Kennel cough
- Hypoplastic trachea
- Collapsed windpipe
Any of these conditions can affect any dog, but there are notable differences and distinctions that we can draw between them in determining what a veterinarian can do to help alleviate a dog’s suffering. Age, race, size, and associated symptoms are important factors.
If your dog coughs after drinking water, it can cause problems with the windpipe. Photography by Jaromir Chalabala / Shutterstock.
First, where is the windpipe? What is it doing
The windpipe, or windpipe, is a tube of cartilage, muscle, and tissue that sits between the throat and lungs. Air flows through them from the nose or mouth in and out of the lungs. It shares its point of entry into the body with the esophagus. A small flap called the epiglottis closes when food or water enters, leads it to the digestive tract and opens up for breathing. When the structural integrity of the trachea is compromised, its functionality is also compromised.
Whether it’s irritation and swelling associated with respiratory disease, a bug that occurs at a young age due to genetic abnormalities, or one that develops as people age, a weak trachea prevents dogs from getting the oxygen they need receive. Since dogs sweat very little, wheezing not only provides fresh air, but also warmth. As a result, the windpipe is of crucial importance in the warmer seasons or during intense exercise.
Now let’s examine further the three reasons a dog coughs after drinking water.
1. Kennel cough in dogs
Kennel cough in dogs, also known as infectious tracheobronchitis in dogs, is the least serious reason a dog coughs after drinking water. Kennel cough is basically the common cold in dogs. Like any communicable disease, it spreads most efficiently in places where a number of dogs are in a confined space. From dog parks to dog hairdressers and from boarding schools to veterinary practices, kennel cough can affect any breed of dog at any age.
The main symptom of this mild respiratory infection is a cough that sounds like a goose honking. The more the dog coughs, the more irritated and inflamed the windpipe becomes. In a multi-pet household, a dog with kennel cough should be isolated from other dogs and their bowls cleaned and disinfected. Kennel cough tends to go away within a few weeks, and any cough with it.
2. Hypoplastic trachea
If a dog coughs after drinking water, especially if that dog is a young puppy, it may indicate a more serious health problem. A hypoplastic trachea is a genetic abnormality. “Hypoplastic” means “underdeveloped” and usually refers to the rings of cartilage that give the trachea its shape. The effect of this inherited condition is that the trachea does not develop to its full size or width. This disorder primarily affects puppies of breeds with short snouts, technically referred to as “brachycephalic”.
Breeds at greatest risk of developing a hypoplastic trachea include the Boston Terrier, English Bulldog, and Pug. Symptoms depend on how much the puppy’s airways are narrowed by the condition. These dogs are already known to snore, snort, or breathe harder as they age. If you have a hypoplastic windpipe, symptoms like these can appear as early as five or six months of age. Additional symptoms to watch out for in flat-faced puppies include low energy levels, as well as rapid weight gain due to restricted mobility.
A mild case, in which the diameter of the trachea is not significantly affected, can by itself go completely unnoticed and undetected. In some dogs, the narrow windpipe can be a symptom of brachycephalic airway syndrome, in which the dog’s shortened skull length causes other skull abnormalities, such as: B. Smaller nostrils that further limit a dog’s oxygen intake.
3. Tracheal collapse in dogs
If signs of an underdeveloped trachea appear earlier in life, symptoms of a collapsing trachea appear much later and tend to affect a different subset of dogs. This is a degenerative condition in which the windpipe loses structural integrity over time. Imagine slowly flattening a roll of toilet paper and having a decent picture of what is happening to the dog’s windpipe. As the airways narrow, it becomes increasingly difficult for the dog to get enough air.
Symptoms of a collapsing trachea usually appear in middle age or seniority, which in these long-lived small dog breeds can range from 4 to 6 years of age or later. Similar to kennel cough and hypoplastic windpipes, the hallmark of this disorder is the honking cough, accompanied by a choking sound. In small dogs who have been energetic and alert throughout their lives, loss of energy or fatigue after very little exertion can be more alarming signs of weakening of the windpipe.
Anything that contains the word “breakdown” or “breakdown” sounds terrible, but in many cases it is a very slowly evolving health problem. It’s most commonly seen in Yorkshire Terriers, but it’s common in a number of small and toy dog breeds. In addition to Yorkies, tracheal collapse can also affect Chihuahua, Lhasa apsos, Pomeranian, miniature poodles, and pugs.
Management of Tracheal Anomalies in Dogs
If your dog coughs after drinking water, don’t panic. Kennel cough usually only lasts a few weeks. If the dog is a short-mouthed puppy or an older small or toy breed, it is worth consulting a veterinarian about the possibility of a hypoplastic or collapsed trachea. Depending on how narrow the puppy’s windpipe is and how quickly it breaks down, affected dogs may be able to live their normal lives with very little change.
Overweight or obesity put an additional burden on oxygen uptake. Therefore, it is important to reduce this burden by not overfeeding endangered dogs. Dogs with leashes attached to their collars, especially those pulling on their leashes, may benefit from switching to a harness to avoid unintended neck and throat wear. In cases where the tracheal collapse is severe, treatment may be more expensive and may include either medication to treat symptoms or surgery to strengthen the windpipe.
Thumbnail: Photography © K_Thalhofer | Thinkstock.
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