A hacking cough paired with panting can you worry, especially because these symptoms often point to discomfort in the airways, lungs, or even the heart.
When a dog coughs repeatedly and breathes heavily, it’s a sign their body is working harder than normal — and understanding why is the first step toward helping them.
We outline the common causes behind a dog’s hacking cough and panting, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help
Table of Contents
Dog Hacking Cough and Panting: Why It Happens
Dogs cough due to irritation, inflammation, infection, or struggling to clear something from their airway. Panting, on the other hand, is a normal behavior for cooling down, but becomes concerning when it appears without heat, exercise, or stress.
When both symptoms happen together, it often means your dog is experiencing respiratory strain or airway discomfort strong enough to affect breathing.
Some cases are mild and pass quickly. Others require prompt veterinary attention, especially when accompanied by lethargy, a change in bark, decreased appetite, blue-tinged gums, or worsening breathing.
Dog Hacking Cough and Panting: Common Causes
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is more serious because it involves inflammation deep within the lungs. Instead of just airway irritation, the lung tissue itself fills with fluid, making breathing physically harder.
A dog may pant because they are struggling to move enough air in and out, and the body compensates by increasing breathing rate.
The cough from pneumonia is often wet, productive, or deep-sounding, but some dogs only show a persistent hacking cough and heavy breathing.
Dogs with pneumonia often appear unwell, with fever, poor appetite, and fatigue. Because pneumonia limits oxygen movement, it requires prompt veterinary care, and delaying treatment can lead to rapid deterioration.
Related: Dog constantly hacking (Here’s why)
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is one of the most frequent causes of a hacking, honking cough in dogs. It occurs when viruses and bacteria infect the upper airway, causing inflammation of the trachea.
As the tracheal lining becomes irritated, even slight movements or pressure on the neck can trigger a harsh cough. Dogs often hack repeatedly, sometimes ending with a gag or small amount of foamy mucus.
Panting can occur because the airway becomes sensitive and reactive. A dog may take rapid breaths simply to avoid deep inhalation, which can trigger coughing fits.
Mild cases improve within one to two weeks, but severe infections or those involving canine influenza or pneumonia may worsen without treatment.
Dogs with pneumonia often have fever, lethargy, and thick nasal discharge in addition to coughing and panting.
Tracheal Collapse
Tracheal collapse affects the cartilage rings that keep the trachea open. When this structure weakens, the airway literally narrows during inhalation and exhalation.
This narrowing makes airflow turbulent, triggering a loud, chronic hacking cough that may resemble a goose honk.
Panting often appears alongside the cough because the dog is working harder to move air through a partially collapsing windpipe. Warm weather, excitement, pulling on a collar, and exercise commonly worsen symptoms.
Over time, repeated episodes of collapse can irritate the airway even further, creating a cycle of coughing and labored breathing.
Management often includes weight reduction, cough suppressants, anti-inflammatory medications, and switching to a harness instead of a collar. Severe cases may require stenting to help keep the trachea open.
Heart Disease
When the heart cannot pump effectively, fluid begins to accumulate in the lungs. This is called pulmonary edema, and it frequently results in coughing accompanied by breathing difficulty.
Dogs may pant heavily even at rest, and the hacking cough may worsen when lying down or during nighttime.
As fluid builds up, oxygen movement becomes restricted, and the heart must work even harder. The body responds by increasing breathing rate — which appears as panting — and producing a cough as the lungs try to clear fluid they cannot actually remove on their own.
Dogs with heart disease may also show reduced stamina, reluctance to exercise, bluish gums, slow recovery after activity, or fainting episodes. CHF is a medical emergency, and early veterinary treatment can significantly improve comfort and life expectancy.
Related: Dog hacking cough and not eating (What it means)
Allergies
Environmental allergies (to pollen, dust, mold, or fragrances) can inflame the airways and cause a persistent, irritating cough.
Dogs may start hacking when inhaled allergens trigger a reaction in the lining of the trachea or bronchi. If the airway becomes very irritated, panting may occur as the dog tries to breathe around the inflammation.
Airway irritation doesn’t always come from allergens. Exposure to smoke, cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, aerosol sprays, or heavy dust can inflame the airway immediately.
Some dogs have sensitive respiratory systems and react strongly to environmental changes. In these cases, removing the irritant often relieves symptoms quickly.
If the coughing occurs seasonally or after indoor chemical exposure, allergies or irritants are likely at play.
Foreign Object in the Throat
A hacking cough paired with panting can occur when a dog has something lodged in the throat or upper airway. Grass awns, small toy pieces, food fragments, or bone splinters can all cause sudden coughing fits.
Because the airway may be partially obstructed, panting can appear as the dog struggles to pull in enough air.
In some cases, the cough sounds repetitive and forceful, as the dog instinctively tries to expel the object.
Gagging, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or a sudden refusal to eat or drink may also be present. This situation is urgent because a shifting object can block airflow more completely.
Veterinary intervention is needed if coughing does not stop promptly or if the object cannot be removed safely at home.
Laryngeal Paralysis
Laryngeal paralysis affects the nerves that control the opening of the larynx, or voice box. When these nerves weaken, the airway cannot open fully during inhalation.
This creates turbulent airflow that results in a noisy, hacking cough. Because the airway opening narrows, panting becomes more frequent as the dog attempts to compensate.
Early signs may be subtle, such as a hoarse bark or slight breathing noise, but as the condition progresses, panting and coughing episodes become more noticeable.
Dogs may also overheat easily because they cannot pant efficiently. Severe cases can cause airway obstruction, making this a potentially life-threatening condition.
Read more: Dog hacking cough and diarrhea (Causes explained)
What You Can Do at Home
Keep your dog calm and limit activity when coughing or panting episodes occur.
Use a harness instead of a collar to reduce pressure on the trachea.
Remove smoke, strong scents, or aerosol products from the environment.
Offer fresh water and ensure your dog stays hydrated.
If symptoms are mild and improving, monitor closely for 24–48 hours.
These steps may provide temporary comfort, but home care is not a substitute for diagnosis when symptoms are persistent or severe.
When to Call or Visit the Vet
Seek veterinary attention if your dog has:
Persistent coughing lasting more than 24 hours.
Panting that seems unrelated to heat or exercise.
Signs of breathing difficulty or wheezing.
Blue, pale, or gray gums.
A deep, productive, or worsening cough.
Fever, lethargy, or reduced appetite.
A known heart condition.
Coughing that began suddenly after chewing on something.
Emergency care is needed if your dog cannot catch their breath, collapses, or shows rapidly worsening breathing.
Key Takeaway
A dog hacking cough combined with panting should never be ignored, even if symptoms seem mild at first.
These signs often point to irritation or strain in the respiratory system — and sometimes reveal underlying infections, heart issues, or airway problems that need proper treatment.
Early attention helps prevent complications and gives your dog the best chance at a quick recovery.