Why Is My Dog Hacking And Wheezing: Causes, Symptoms & Vet Guide

If your dog is hacking and wheezing, it can be a worrying sign. This often points to underlying canine respiratory issues, which can range from minor irritations to serious health problems. The good news is that many causes are treatable, especially with prompt veterinary attention. This guide will help you decipher why your dog might be experiencing these symptoms, what to look for, and when to seek professional help.

Fathoming the Hacking and Wheezing Sounds

When we talk about a dog hacking and wheezing, we’re describing specific sounds that can help us pinpoint the problem. A hacking dog cough is often dry, harsh, and may sound like your dog is trying to clear something from their throat, similar to choking. It can be a single, forceful expulsion or a series of coughs. Wheezing, on the other hand, is a high-pitched whistling or rattling sound that occurs during breathing, usually when exhaling. This indicates a narrowing or blockage in the airways. Experiencing dog breathing difficulties along with these sounds is a significant concern.

Common Causes of Dog Wheezing and Hacking

There are many reasons why your dog might be hacking or wheezing. Some are environmental, while others stem from underlying medical conditions.

Respiratory Infections

One of the most frequent culprits behind a hacking and wheezing dog is a respiratory infection dog. These can be viral, bacterial, or fungal.

Kennel Cough (Infectious Tracheobronchitis): This is highly contagious and often presents as a harsh, dry, hacking cough. It’s common in places where dogs congregate, like boarding kennels, dog parks, and training classes. The cough can be so severe it sounds like your dog is gagging or has something stuck in their throat. While often not life-threatening, it can progress if left untreated. This is a classic example of dog kennel cough.
Pneumonia: This infection inflates the air sacs in the lungs, making breathing difficult. Symptoms include coughing, fever, lethargy, and sometimes nasal discharge. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or even aspiration (inhaling foreign material).
Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. Chronic bronchitis can lead to persistent coughing and wheezing.

Allergies and Irritants

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies. Environmental allergens or irritants can trigger inflammation in their airways.

Environmental Allergens: Pollen, dust mites, mold, and even certain cleaning products or perfumes can cause allergic reactions. This can lead to sneezing, coughing, and wheezing.
Smoke and Air Pollution: Exposure to cigarette smoke, wood smoke, or heavily polluted air can irritate a dog’s respiratory system, causing coughing and wheezing.

Heart Conditions

While not directly a respiratory issue, heart problems can manifest as breathing difficulties that mimic respiratory distress.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): As the heart struggles to pump blood effectively, fluid can build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema). This congestion leads to coughing, especially at night or after exertion, and can cause laboured breathing and wheezing. This is a critical cause of dog breathing difficulties.
Heartworm Disease: Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworms mature in the heart and can migrate to the lungs, causing damage, inflammation, and respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing.

Airway Obstruction

Something physically blocking the airway will inevitably cause hacking and wheezing.

Foreign Objects: A swallowed toy, a piece of food, or even inhaled grass seeds can become lodged in the throat or airways, leading to choking, gagging, hacking, and dog gasping for air.
Tracheal Collapse: This condition, common in small breeds, occurs when the cartilage rings that hold the trachea (windpipe) open weaken and flatten. When the dog gets excited, pulls on their leash, or inhales sharply, the trachea can partially collapse, causing a characteristic “goose honk” cough and wheezing.
Tumors or Masses: Growths in the throat, trachea, or lungs can obstruct airflow, leading to persistent coughing and wheezing.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome (BAS)

Breeds with short muzzles, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers, are prone to a group of anatomical abnormalities that affect their airways.

Elongated Soft Palate: The soft palate in the back of the throat can be too long, obstructing airflow into the trachea.
Stenotic Nares: The nostrils can be unusually narrow, making it difficult for the dog to inhale air.
Everted Laryngeal Saccules: Small sacs in the larynx can swell and obstruct the airway.
Tracheal Hypoplasia: The trachea can be underdeveloped and narrower than normal.

These issues can lead to puppy wheezing and pet hacking, often exacerbated by excitement, heat, or exercise.

Deciphering the Symptoms: What to Observe

When your dog is hacking or wheezing, pay close attention to the details. These observations will be invaluable when you speak with your veterinarian.

The Cough Itself

Sound: Is it dry and hacking, or wet and productive? Does it sound like gagging?
Frequency: How often does your dog cough? Is it constant or intermittent?
Timing: Does the cough occur at specific times, like after exercise, at night, or when excited?
Triggers: Does anything seem to make the cough worse (e.g., pulling on the leash, drinking water)?
Productivity: Does your dog cough up any phlegm or discharge? What color is it?

Associated Breathing Signs

Rate of Breathing: Is your dog breathing faster than usual?
Effort of Breathing: Does your dog struggle to take breaths? Do you see their chest and abdomen working harder than normal?
Gasping: Is your dog gasping for air? This is a serious emergency.
Nasal Flaring: Are their nostrils widening with each breath?
Tongue/Gum Color: Is their tongue or gums a normal pink, or are they bluish or pale? This can indicate lack of oxygen.

Other Signs

Lethargy: Is your dog less active or tired?
Appetite: Has their appetite changed?
Nasal Discharge: Is there any clear, colored, or bloody discharge from their nose?
Vomiting/Retching: Does the cough sometimes lead to vomiting or retching?
Fever: Does your dog feel warm to the touch?
Weight Loss: Have you noticed any unintended weight loss?
Exercise Intolerance: Does your dog get tired more easily during walks or play?

When to Rush to the Vet

Some symptoms indicate an immediate emergency. If you observe any of the following, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately:

Difficulty breathing or gasping for air
Blue or pale gums or tongue
Extreme lethargy or collapse
Sudden onset of severe coughing or wheezing
Coughing up blood
High fever

Diagnosing the Problem: A Vet’s Approach

Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of your dog’s hacking and wheezing.

Physical Examination

The vet will listen to your dog’s heart and lungs using a stethoscope. They’ll check for abnormal lung sounds (wheezes, crackles), heart murmurs, and listen to the trachea. They will also assess your dog’s overall condition, including gum color, temperature, and hydration.

Diagnostic Tests

Based on the initial findings, your vet may recommend further tests:

X-rays (Radiographs): Chest X-rays are crucial for visualizing the lungs, heart, and airways. They can help identify pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, tumors, tracheal collapse, and heart enlargement.
Blood Tests: A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel can reveal signs of infection, inflammation, and organ function.
Heartworm Test: If your dog lives in or has traveled to an area where heartworm is prevalent, this test is essential.
Bronchoscopy: In some cases, a flexible camera is inserted into the airways to visualize them directly and collect samples.
Tracheal Wash/Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL): This procedure involves collecting fluid samples from the lower airways, which can then be analyzed for bacteria, inflammatory cells, or fungal organisms.
Echocardiogram (Ultrasound of the Heart): If heart disease is suspected, this test provides detailed images of the heart’s structure and function.
Allergy Testing: If allergies are suspected, skin or blood tests can help identify specific allergens.

Treatment Strategies: Tailored to the Cause

Treatment will vary significantly depending on the underlying diagnosis.

Medications

Antibiotics: Prescribed for bacterial infections like pneumonia or secondary bacterial infections that can occur with viral illnesses.
Antivirals: May be used for certain viral respiratory infections, though often supportive care is the main treatment.
Corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisolone): Used to reduce inflammation in the airways, particularly for asthma, allergies, and bronchitis. They can be given orally or via inhaler.
Bronchodilators (e.g., Albuterol): Medications that help open up narrowed airways, making breathing easier. These are often administered via a metered-dose inhaler with a special canine mask.
Diuretics: If fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema) due to heart failure is present, diuretics help remove excess fluid.
Heartworm Medication: If heartworm disease is diagnosed, a specific treatment protocol is followed to kill the adult worms and larvae. This requires careful monitoring.
Cough Suppressants: In cases of dry, hacking coughs that are disruptive, a vet might prescribe a cough suppressant, but this is used cautiously and only after ruling out more serious causes.

Surgical Interventions

Tracheal Stenting: For dogs with severe tracheal collapse, a small mesh tube (stent) can be surgically placed to hold the trachea open.
Tumor Removal: If a growth is identified as the cause, surgical removal may be an option.
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome Correction: Surgical procedures can be performed to widen narrow nostrils, shorten the elongated soft palate, and remove everted laryngeal saccules, significantly improving breathing in affected breeds.

Supportive Care

Rest: Limiting activity and ensuring the dog is in a calm environment is crucial.
Humidification: Using a humidifier or bringing your dog into a steamy bathroom can help soothe irritated airways and loosen mucus.
Weight Management: For overweight dogs, especially those with heart conditions or BAS, weight loss is critical.
Dietary Changes: In some cases, special diets might be recommended.
Oxygen Therapy: For dogs experiencing severe breathing difficulties, supplemental oxygen may be administered in a veterinary hospital.

Preventing Respiratory Issues

While not all respiratory problems can be prevented, certain measures can reduce the risk.

Vaccinations: Keep your dog up-to-date on vaccinations, particularly for diseases like Bordetella bronchiseptica (a common cause of kennel cough).
Avoid Overcrowded Areas: Limit exposure to places with high concentrations of dogs, especially if your dog has a weakened immune system or is unvaccinated.
Good Hygiene: Regularly clean your dog’s living areas, food bowls, and toys to minimize exposure to bacteria and viruses.
Environmental Control: If your dog has allergies or sensitivities, try to minimize exposure to known irritants like smoke, dust, and strong perfumes.
Regular Vet Check-ups: Annual or semi-annual check-ups allow your vet to catch potential problems early.
Parasite Prevention: Ensure your dog is on year-round heartworm prevention.
Proper Leash Manners: For breeds prone to tracheal collapse, using a harness instead of a collar can reduce pressure on the trachea.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can my dog’s hacking and wheezing go away on its own?
A1: While mild irritations or early-stage kennel cough might resolve without specific treatment, more serious conditions like pneumonia, heart disease, or tracheal collapse will not. It’s always best to consult a veterinarian to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Ignoring symptoms can lead to a worsening condition.

Q2: Is hacking the same as choking?
A2: Hacking is a cough, a reflex to clear the airways. Choking is an acute blockage of the airway, preventing breathing. While a severe cough can sometimes make a dog gag, the underlying cause and severity are different. If you suspect your dog is choking, immediate intervention is necessary.

Q3: My puppy is wheezing. Is this normal?
A3: Puppy wheezing is not normal and should always be evaluated by a veterinarian. Puppies have developing respiratory systems and can be more susceptible to infections. Wheezing in a puppy could indicate a congenital issue, an infection, or an obstruction.

Q4: How can I help my dog if they are gasping for air?
A4: If your dog is gasping for air, this is a life-threatening emergency. Remain calm, try to keep your dog as still as possible, and rush them to the nearest veterinary emergency clinic immediately. Do not attempt to force food or water, and avoid administering any human medications.

Q5: Can stress cause my dog to cough or wheeze?
A5: Extreme stress or excitement can sometimes trigger coughing or breathing difficulties in dogs, especially those with underlying conditions like tracheal collapse or asthma. The physical exertion and rapid breathing associated with stress can exacerbate these issues.

Q6: My dog hacked once, should I worry?
A6: A single coughing episode might not be a cause for alarm, especially if your dog is otherwise acting normally. However, if the coughing is recurrent, becomes more severe, or is accompanied by any other symptoms like lethargy, changes in breathing, or nasal discharge, it’s important to seek veterinary advice.

Q7: Can my dog’s diet cause hacking and wheezing?
A7: While diet doesn’t directly cause hacking and wheezing, aspiration of food or water into the airways can lead to a cough or even pneumonia. Some dogs may also have food allergies that manifest with respiratory symptoms, though this is less common than environmental allergies.

Q8: My dog sounds like they have phlegm in their throat. What should I do?
A8: A productive cough, or a sound suggesting phlegm, often points to an infection or inflammation in the lower airways. It’s crucial to get your dog checked by a vet to determine the cause, which could be bronchitis, pneumonia, or another dog lung problem. They can prescribe appropriate medication to help clear the mucus and treat the underlying infection.

By carefully observing your dog’s symptoms and working closely with your veterinarian, you can help your furry friend overcome hacking and wheezing and ensure they can breathe easy once more.