Our pets usually give us quite a few scares. They are one more member of the family and any problem, no matter how small, causes us concern. One of these problems, and one of the most common in our canines, is the sudden and repeated cough that it ends up seeming that he lacks air, as if he were drowning.
This is very common in canines, so first you have to identify if it is something occasional or continuous, and of course go to the vet.
If you have noticed that your dog tires easily and chokes, it is possible that he has respiratory or heart problems. As veterinarian Ángel González, who lives in Zamora, tells us, it could be due to “several diseases such as laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, including brachycephalic syndrome. In all these cases, it is best to go to a trusted veterinarian so that the pet can receive the appropriate treatment.
The motives? They can be several: “from something insignificant as occurs in flat-nosed or small-breed dogs that can suffer from the well-known reverse cough because of the physiognomy of their noses, even lung parasites or pneumonia”, adds González.
One of the most common coughs is canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, that is, the cold that we humans have. It is the so-called “kennel cough”, a dry and continuous cough, a disease that affects your respiratory tract. In these cases, it is best to rest and avoid many walks, especially in winter.
Dog sneezing is also very common. It usually extends its legs and begins to cough. “This is because instead of expelling air, they inhale it. It is something very common that happens to them when they are very excited or happy or due to changes in temperature,” explains Ángel González.
Continuous coughing can also be due to a bad nutrition by eating foods that are not well assimilated by your body. The best thing in these cases is to change the diet to a balanced diet according to race and age.
Dogs can get a cough for a heatstroke in times of high temperatures. The best thing in these cases is to drink water slowly and then rest.
Another of the most frequent options but in this case of punctual cough is due to the choking on an object or food. The Heimlich maneuver in dogs is a perfect technique for expelling the object, as they tell us in Puppy World.
In this case, you have to take the dog standing from behind, placing its back on your chest and surrounding its waist. Then place three or four fingers on the pit of his stomach if the dog is small or place your fist if the dog is large and with the other hand you have to press behind the rib cage and spine of the dog, about four or five times. Then it’s time to check the mouth and remove the object with your fingers.
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Photos | KoolShoters, Puppy World