Why Is My Dog Coughing When Gets Excited

Dog owners typically have the same type of question on their minds. Why is my dog coughing when he gets excited? is not one of them. This is a rare question, and not many dog owners want to know the answer. This is simply due to the fact that not all dogs do this. It is rare, and when it does happen, an owner will be confused and want to get the answer. Well, we are going to do that precisely here.

3 Reasons Why Is My Dog Coughing When He Gets Excited

Dogs cough, and this is perfectly normal. But why is my dog coughing when he gets excited? As we have mentioned earlier, this is not common, and there are only 3 reasons why your dog might do this. You need to know about the three reasons below before you take action.

1. Tracheal Collapse

Tracheal collapse is more common than you may believe. It is an inherited issue, and some dogs will show signs only when excited or when active for too long. In this condition, the supportive elements of the trachea are not as firm as they should be. When your pet is excited, the trachea will move slightly, which will force your pet to cough and also gag.

Most commonly, the issue here is seen in small dog breeds. The best example would be Yorkies. However, it can occur in large dog breeds as well. It will typically be seen at ages 6–7 and will be common. Your dog may start coughing for minutes, and he will have a hard time stopping. The situation will be even worse when he is excited.

2. Reverse Sneezing

This happens when a dog keeps his head extended. You can hear snoring as he inhales. During this, he will breathe using his nose. Keep in mind that this can occur in all kinds of situations. For instance, it may occur when your dog drinks water or when he eats. But, it is not a dangerous thing and there is no need to worry about it. 

As a matter of fact, this is very common and can happen to any dog at any given moment. Follow your dog’s behavior and make sure he doesn’t cough all the time. 

3. Respiratory Disease

Your pet may cough because of kennel cough. This happens when many dogs are at the same place and they get the issue, usually most of them. You can notice that he will have a runny nose, low fever, sneezing, and more.

Another thing here is chronic bronchitis. This is an inflammation-based problem that affects the airways. Your dog will have a hard time breathing, especially when he is excited.

Dogs will act differently when excited, but all of them will breathe faster and harder. This means that they can easily irritate the airways, which will make them cough. If there are no other symptoms and your pet does this occasionally, there is no need to worry about it. On the other hand, if your dog has other symptoms as well, you will need to take him to the vet.

When Do You Need To Take Your Pet To The Vet?

In most cases, you don’t have to take your pet to the vet if he coughs only occasionally when he is excited. But, if he does all the time and especially when he is excited, you may want to take him to a vet and check all the things. Always remember that if the situation is getting worse (he is coughing more and more), take him to the vet immediately. Also, if he has a runny nose, a fever, or shows other symptoms, take him to the vet as well. He can check his airways and make sure there is no issue causing him to cough all the time.

Be especially careful if your dog has spent a lot of time with other dogs or at a park playing with his friends. This is a common scenario in which one dog will catch a cold or some other disease from another dog. If that happens, you should see him coughing more frequently. This is the time to take him to the vet. As you were able to see, respiratory diseases are easily shared among dogs, and they do need treatment.

All of these diseases and conditions are easy to treat and very successful, but only when you start on time. If you wait, your dog will be worse and harder to treat. This can be annoying, problematic, and expensive. Some of the treatments are really expensive.

Don’t Forget About Play Sneezes

If we are talking about coughing when excited, we must say something about play sneezes as well. These are not the same. You obviously know the difference between a sneeze and a cough. Well, a dog may sneeze when he is excited, when he wants attention, or when he just wants to play with you. This is perfectly normal and can be seen more commonly than you may believe. It is not harmless, but it can be interesting.

A dog will sneeze sometimes, as mentioned above. If he sneezes all the time, you may have to take him to the vet. A loud sneeze will sound differently. A real sneeze will come from the lungs, and you can tell the difference.

This and the cough when excited are unrelated things. As a matter of fact, these are completely different. However, some dog owners may link these and believe they are the same. In reality, they are different, and the causes are completely different as well.

Coughing and Heart Disease

Sadly, coughing may be linked to heart disease in dogs. This is not extremely common but it can be a huge problem. In general, dogs with this issue will display decreased heartbeat, weakness, blue tongue, tiredness and so much more. One of the symptoms will be difficulty breathing. It is a severe problem and you have to take him to a vet immediately. It is something that can be treated and help your dog but it is still a severe and complicated problem. 

A dog with this condition will cough most of the time and not only when excited. He will also cough while sleeping or resting. If that happens, you may have to worry even more. It means that his condition is worsening. It is more common in older dogs but young ones can have it as well. 

Protect Your Dog From Kennel Cough

One of the most common causes for a dog coughing all the time is kennel cough. Why is my dog coughing when he gets excited question is usually answered with this issue? That’s why we have decided to help you protect your dog from this disease. It is a relatively easy and straightforward process.

• Proper vaccination

Proper vaccination is the most important thing you can do in this case. It will protect your dog from most viruses that can cause the disease and it is extremely recommended for people whose dogs have friends. Sadly, vaccination cannot protect your pet from all the viruses that cause the disease. But, it is still a nice and the best preventive you can do. It is a smart thing to take your pet to a vet and make sure he gets all the vaccines needed. Even if your dog doesn’t spend time with other pets, this is mandatory. If he spends time at doggy care this is an even more important process.

• Decrease the time he spends with his friends

It is not the easiest thing to do but it can be effective. If your dog has been known for respiratory tract issues you may want to limit his movement or time he spends with his friends. This is an effective method and can be the best solution. 

You also need to be careful. If you notice a dog with the symptoms of this disease, distance your pet from that dog. It is something that can make a massive difference and save you tons of time and effort. 

A dog who has kennel cough must be isolated for 14 days. The disease is not a problem for us humans but it can expose you to certain bacteria which can be a problem for individuals with weak immune systems. It is something you need to know about and as you can tell, your pet will need a lot of time to recover, hence prevention is much easier.

The Final Word

Why is my dog coughing when he gets excited is one question some of you will want to answer. All we can say at this point is that some dogs will cough when excited and it can be harmless or something to worry about. It depends on numerous factors and issues that you need to understand properly. If your dog has other symptoms and coughs all the time, a vet is the only option.