Australian Shepherd coughing can be alarming whether it is a hacking cough or any other type of cough. It is not pleasant to hear your dog cough especially also if accompanied by a change in breathing patterns.
Coughing is a normal natural physical reaction of getting dust or any material from the airways.
But what other factors lead to Australian Shepherd coughing?
Let’s look at the common reasons why Australian Shepherd coughing occurs, the potential complications, and when to seek help.
Australian Shepherd Coughing: Why It Happens
Common causes of Australian Shepherd coughing include heart disease, tracheal collapse, sore throat, lung problems, kennel cough, distemper, canine influenza, cancer, heartworms, allergies, and foreign objects in the throat.
Occasional coughs are normal, but frequent coughs are a sign of an underlying problem.
Do Australian Shepherds Have Breathing Problems?
Australian Shepherd dogs are not considered a brachycephalic breed, so they generally do not suffer from the severe airway problems seen in flat-faced dogs.
However, they can still develop breathing issues related to allergies, respiratory infections, asthma-like airway inflammation, heart disease, or exercise intolerance.
Some Australian Shepherds may also experience breathing changes due to obesity, overheating, or inherited conditions affecting the lungs or heart.
Heavy breathing, wheezing, persistent coughing, or rapid breathing at rest should always be monitored carefully.
Australian Shepherd Coughing: Common Causes
The most common causes of Australian Shepherd coughing include:
Heart disease
Heart disease causes rapid breathing and coughing, among other symptoms. It is common in older Australian Shepherds.
If your Australian Shepherd has been diagnosed with heart disease, they may cough when resting, lying down, or sleeping, when the condition worsens.
Tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse occurs when the Australian Shepherd’s windpipe collapses and flattens which leaves a small passage for air to flow into the lungs.
The collapse occurs dues to tracheal cartilage collapse. The restricted airflow through the trachea causes the Australian Shepherd to have respiratory distress, cough, and also gag when eating or drinking.
Tracheal collapse is common in middle-aged or older small breed dogs but can also occur in large breed dogs.
Related: Australian Shepherd gagging: Common causes and what to do
Respiratory infections
Respiratory infections of the airways, upper respiratory tract, and lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, lead to coughing.
Infections such as kennel cough, sore throat, or pneumonia are common respiratory infections in Australian Shepherds that lead to coughing.
Environmental allergies
Allergic bronchitis is caused by the inhalation of irritants such as dust, pollen, aerosol spays, mildew, dust mites, grain mites, or cigarette smoke.
It is a persistent inflammation of the lower respiratory tract which leads to airway swelling and constriction of airflow into the lungs.
The inflammation also causes the production of mucus in the bronchial tubes which further narrow the airway.
Australian Shepherds with bronchitis have a dry hacking cough that worsens during exercise or when overexcited.
Scarring of the airways can also occur and further weaken the bronchi membrane, which leads to wheezing and coughing.
Ingestion of foreign objects
Australian Shepherds can ingest foreign objects which leads to obstruction of the throat, which causes gagging and coughing.
Foreign objects that can be ingested include sticks, broken toys, small balls, or bones, which block a dog’s throat.
Other conditions that are less common but cause coughing include laryngeal (windpipe) paralysis, canine influenza, distemper, heartworm disease, and lung cancer.
Australian Shepherd Dry Cough
A dry cough in an Australian Shepherd often sounds harsh, hacking, or repetitive and may be caused by kennel cough, throat irritation, allergies, airway inflammation, or mild respiratory infection.
Some dogs cough more after exercise, excitement, or pulling on a leash because irritation in the airway becomes worse.
While occasional mild coughing may not be serious, a persistent dry cough should be monitored closely.
Veterinary attention is required if the cough worsens, lasts more than several days, or is accompanied by lethargy, nasal discharge, breathing difficulty, or reduced appetite.
Australian Shepherd Hacking Cough
A hacking cough in an Australian Shepherd may sound as though the dog is trying to clear something from the throat.
This type of cough is commonly associated with kennel cough, airway irritation, chronic bronchitis, or mucus buildup in the respiratory tract.
Some dogs may gag or retch after coughing episodes because the throat becomes irritated.
Frequent hacking, nighttime coughing, or coughing combined with wheezing or breathing changes should be evaluated by a veterinarian to rule out more serious respiratory or heart conditions.
Australian Shepherd Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can affect Australian Shepherd dogs after exposure to other dogs in kennels, daycare, parks, or grooming facilities.
It commonly causes a dry, hacking cough that may sound like the dog is trying to clear its throat or gag.
Most mild cases improve with rest and supportive care, but some dogs may require veterinary treatment if coughing becomes severe or leads to breathing difficulty, fever, lethargy, or pneumonia.
Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to complications.
Australian Shepherd Coughing at Night
Nighttime coughing in an Australian Shepherd may occur because lying down can worsen airway irritation or fluid buildup in the lungs. Respiratory infections, allergies, chronic bronchitis, or heart disease may all cause coughing that becomes more noticeable at night.
If your dog also pants, breathes heavily while resting, or wakes frequently from sleep, veterinary assessment is required. Persistent nighttime coughing should not be dismissed, especially in older dogs.
Mini Australian Shepherd Coughing
A Miniature American Shepherd (commonly called a Mini Australian Shepherd) may cough for the same reasons as larger dogs, including respiratory infections, allergies, airway irritation, or heart disease.
Smaller dogs may sometimes develop coughing more noticeably because their airways are narrower and more sensitive.
Persistent coughing should not be ignored, particularly if it occurs during exercise, excitement, or rest.
A veterinarian can help determine whether the problem is respiratory, cardiac, or related to throat irritation.
Complications
Australian Shepherd coughing can be an indication of a serious underlying problem that might worsen and become fatal if left untreated.
Heart disease, infections, tracheal collapse, cancer, and obstruction of the throat are all serious conditions that deteriorate the Australian Shepherd’s health. They are also life-threatening.
Early diagnosis and treatment of these ailments prevent the fatal outcomes, therefore it is important to have your dog examined to determine the cause of the coughing.
Related: Australian Shepherd shaking: Causes and when to seek help
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Occasional Australian Shepherd coughing is common and normal, especially after eating or drinking too quickly, or as a response to an irritation in the throat. Recurrent coughs are however, a cause of concern and require medical attention.
First, check if the coughing is due to an ingested foreign object that obstructs the throat. If there is an object, immediately seek medical attention.
Contact your veterinarian when your Australian Shepherd’s cough lasts for more than a week and also when other symptoms of illness are present, or if your dog also has a preexisting health condition.
When coughing prolongs and also shows up with other symptoms of illness, such as wheezing, drooling, weakness, dry heaving, or difficulty in breathing, it means there is an underlying problem.
You can also take a video recording of your Australian Shepherd when coughing to provide it to your veterinarian to show what your dog was experiencing.
Australian Shepherd Coughing: Treatment
During your dog’s checkup, the veterinarian will conduct a physical exam and also ask you questions about your dog’s symptoms to help in the diagnosis.
The questions asked include:
- The sound of the cough, that is, whether the cough was a dry hacking cough or a productive/ wet cough
- The progression of the cough ( if the cough was worsening)
- The duration of the cough (how long the cough has been experienced)
The treatment varies depending on the underlying cause. The veterinarian may perform a physical exam, chest X-rays, or respiratory testing to determine whether the cough is related to infection, allergies, airway disease, or heart problems. Mild kennel cough may improve with rest, humidified air, and cough suppressants.
More serious conditions may require antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, bronchodilators, or heart medication, depending on the diagnosis.
Dogs with chronic coughing may also benefit from weight management, avoiding airway irritants like smoke, and using harnesses instead of neck collars to reduce throat pressure.
Early treatment helps prevent worsening respiratory problems and improves comfort.
Key Takeaway
Australian Shepherd coughing can be very alarming. Most often it does not need medical attention when it is caused by eating or drinking too quickly but it can also be due to an underlying health condition.
Coughing can be caused by different factors but it is important to have your Australian Shepherd examined to check for the cause.
Early detection of ailments can save an Australian Shepherd’s life by preventing their condition from worsening.
Immediately seek medical attention when your Australian Shepherd has coughs that last for a long time or they present other symptoms of illness.