Senior Pet Coughing: Causes and Emergency Warning Signs

Coughing in senior pets is commonly caused by heart disease, respiratory infections, collapsing trachea, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heartworm disease, or lung tumors. Because older pets have less reserve, new coughing should always be evaluated by a veterinarian.

You naturally keep a close eye on your senior pet’s health, and any new symptom can cause concern. If your senior pet has developed a cough, several conditions could be the cause, and a veterinary visit to determine the seriousness of the cough is warranted. A condition such as a respiratory tract infection, which typically causes only minor issues for a younger pet, can quickly progress to become serious in your senior pet, so don’t delay.

While your veterinarian will determine the cause of your senior pet’s cough, the following are common medical conditions that often cause coughing in older pets.

Respiratory infections in senior pets

Pets can catch a number of infectious respiratory diseases and develop typical “cold-like” symptoms. If your pet’s cough is accompanied by sneezing, nasal discharge, or swollen eyes, this may be the case. Pathogens that commonly cause respiratory tract infections in dogs include:

* Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacterium that causes kennel cough

* Canine influenza virus

* Parainfluenza virus

* Distemper virus

Pathogens that commonly cause respiratory tract infections in cats include:

* Feline herpesvirus, which causes feline viral rhinotracheitis

* Calicivirus

* Chlamydophila felis

Routine vaccinations protect your senior pet from these common pathogens and are critical to keep them healthy. If you think your senior pet may have a respiratory tract infection, your family veterinarian should evaluate them before their condition worsens.

Heart disease in senior pets

Heart disease impairs the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently and can lead to congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF develops when blood backs up in the vessels leading to the heart, and the high pressure in the engorged vessels causes fluid to leak into the lungs or chest cavity. The fluid buildup can cause coughing. Heart disease and CHF may also cause your senior pet to tire easily during activity, eat less, or collapse.

Most heart diseases can be treated with medications to improve heart function, reduce fluid accumulation, and slow CHF progression. Treatment allows many senior pets to live a good quality of life and enjoy more time with their owners.

Heartworm disease in senior pets

Heartworms are parasitic worms that live in a pet’s heart and lung vessels after transmission by mosquitoes. In dogs, the worms mature, reproduce, and accumulate, obstructing blood flow and leading to CHF. Heartworms cannot reproduce in cats, but only a few worms can cause an intense inflammatory reaction known as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD). 

Heartworm disease is completely preventable with regular preventive administration that is essential for all senior pets. Your family veterinarian can perform a blood test to rule out heartworm disease in your pet and prescribe an appropriate preventive medication.

Collapsing trachea in senior dogs

A collapsing trachea is a condition that weakens the trachea’s cartilage rings, causing the trachea (i.e., windpipe) to collapse during inhalation instead of remaining rigidly open. Affected dogs often develop a characteristic “goose-honk” cough that may worsen when they become excited or overheated, or when they exercise. The condition typically affects middle-aged and older, small-breed dogs, such as:

* Chihuahuas

* Yorkshire terriers

* Shih Tzus

* Lhasa apsos

* Poodles

Medications can manage mild cases of collapsing trachea, but more severe cases may require surgical correction.

Chronic bronchitis in senior dogs

Chronic bronchitis develops when a dog’s airways become sensitized to environmental irritants, such as pollen, air fresheners, or cigarette smoke. In response, the airways constrict, causing a cough. Chronic bronchitis is most common in older, small-breed dogs and is often diagnosed in dogs who cough for two months or longer, with no other apparent cause. Most affected dogs cough daily, and may also wheeze and experience difficulty breathing. A typically minor respiratory tract infection can significantly worsen coughing.

If your family veterinarian suspects your dog has chronic bronchitis, medications that reduce airway inflammation and bronchial constriction can help manage the condition.

Asthma in senior cats

Cats can develop airway sensitivity and inflammation, similar to chronic bronchitis in dogs, caused by exposure to specific irritants. The condition is referred to as feline asthma because affected cats typically experience daily, mild clinical signs, such as coughing and wheezing, but can also experience sudden, severe signs that mimic a human asthma attack. During an “attack,” the cat’s airways constrict, causing difficulty breathing, and they may also wheeze, gasp for air, turn blue, and collapse. Feline asthma can be managed with medications to control airway inflammation and treat attacks.

Lung cancer in senior pets

A lung tumor, such as a bronchial adenocarcinoma, can compress an airway, and its growth can cause significant inflammation or necrosis. The physical tumor can trigger a cough, as can related inflammatory debris in the airway. If your pet develops a lung tumor, your family veterinarian or a veterinary oncologist will perform tests to determine the tumor type, location, and severity, and can recommend an appropriate treatment course.

When Is Coughing an Emergency in a Senior Pet?

Seek immediate veterinary care if your pet has:

* Blue or pale gums

* Difficulty breathing

* Collapse

* Rapid breathing at rest

* Open-mouth breathing (cats)

What Does the Cough Sound Like?

* Dry, honking cough → Collapsing trachea

* Wet cough → Possible heart failure

* Nighttime cough → Heart disease

* Cough with sneezing → Respiratory infection

* Cat crouching and coughing → Asthma

If your senior pet‘s quality of life has declined due to a chronic medical condition, you should think about an end-of-life plan before the disease advances. Contact our Support Center at 855-933-5683 to learn more about veterinary hospice care, in-home euthanasia, and teleahospice services. We are here to help you through this difficult time.