Medication for a Coughing Pug

A pug's breathing problem is not a laughing matter.

By nature, pugs are sweet and fun dogs. One quality that makes them so cute is the adorable, funny way they breathe and snort. However, if that snorting starts to turn into a nasty cough, it is not something to laugh about. Pugs that develop chronic coughing can become very sick and may need medication. In order to figure out what kind, you will need to identify the cause of the coughing.

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is a very contagious disease that affects a dog's respiratory system that a dog catches when exposed to airborne viruses and bacteria. The most common is called Bordetella bronchiseptica. While a dog does not need to be in a kennel to catch it, they are most susceptible when they are surrounded by a large amount of dogs, such as at a kennel or park. Other than having a terrible and persistent cough that may even lead to your dog vomiting, some other signs of kennel cough are fever and pneumonia. If your dog is suffering from these and his cough has a sort of "honking" sound, take him to your veterinarian. She might give him coughing suppressants or antibiotics like aminophylline to clear his air passages.

Collapsed Trachea

Collapsed tracheas are very common in toy sized dogs, which is why your pug may be coughing so much. A collapsed trachea is when the cartilage around the trachea becomes weak and collapses, which then blocks your dog's air passage. This makes it extremely hard for her to breathe and leads to coughing and wheezing. Other symptoms are obesity and pneumonia. If your dog has been suffering from a combination of these for a month or so, go see your veterinarian. Once he has diagnosed a collapsed trachea with a X-ray, he will treat your pug with medication. If that does not work, he will need to perform surgery.

Laryngeal Paralysis

Unlike a collapsed trachea, laryngeal paralysis is uncommon in pugs but it does occur. Laryngeal paralysis is when the nerves in the voice box stop working. Since there is no way to control it, the cartilage around the voice box does not open, close or move properly, which makes it difficult for a dog to breathe. The first signs of laryngeal paralysis is a change in your dog's voice. It might sound scratchy or hoarse. It will then develop into a cough and he might even have trouble eating since his airway is partially closed. If you suspect your dog of having this condition, go see your veterinarian immediately. She will treat your dog with medication like antihistamines and sedatives. If those do not work, she will need to perform surgery.

Asthma

Asthma occurs when your dog has an allergic reaction to something and her airway begins to swell. This makes her throat start to close in and become tight, which causes choking and rough coughing. Unfortunately with asthma, the only way to identify it in a dog is by ruling out any other possibility and seeing how she reacts to allergy medication. However, once your veterinarian does narrow it down to asthma, it is easily treatable with medication.

Other Causes and Treatments

Some other uncommon but noticeable reasons your pug may be coughing is heart disease, tonsil inflammation, airway obstruction caused by mucus and/or fluid, and parasitic infections. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose your pug with any of these conditions at a visit through tests like chest X-rays and a full body exam. He may want to know what your pug has been eating, where you have been taking him for walks and if you have brought anything new into your house lately. Once the test results are back, your veterinarian will know exactly how to treat your pug.

References

• Pug Manor: Pulmonary Disease in Pugs
• Pug Man: Breathing Difficulty