My Boston Terrier is coughing hard. Is it a cold or choking?

Dogs and humans are affected by colds or upper airways diseases but they have different causal agents. It is possible that if you have heating indoors, the air can get quite dry and make you predisposed to catch colds. Try to keep the air indoors moist by using a humidifier or water pots next to the heating.

Kennel cough, or Bordetella, is a common upper respiratory pathogen that is very contagious between dogs, and usually dogs have a loud goose-honk cough, sometimes ending in coughing up a bit of phlegm. This could be going on with your dogs. Don't worry, it isn't life-threatening, but I usually put these dogs on an antitussive to help alleviate the cough and sometimes an antibiotic. If you don't take them to a vet, the cough should go away in a week or two, but make sure you don't let them socialize with other dogs as they will spread it around.

It could be Oscar has a respiratory infection or it could be something more serious like heart disease causing his coughing. I'd take him into the vet in the morning to be examined, diagnosed, and treated. Best of luck.

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. i strongly recommend that you take Buster to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked and treated.

Dogs can get colds, however more serious issues such as infections, respiratory issues, allergies and even canine influenza can mimic cold symptoms in dogs as well. If Bentley's symptoms don't resolve after a day, his coughing continues or he seems in distress, he doesn't want to eat or drink, or he has a fever, seeking veterinary care ASAP to figure out the issue is best.

Hello. So sorry to hear that Daddy is having this issue. Coughing can be due to many different things such as: 1. kennel cough 2. heart disease 3. collapsing trachea 4. foreign body 5. parasites (ie: lung worms, heartworms) 6. bronchitis/asthma 7. cancer 8. pneumonia I think you should get Daddy to your vet for an exam so you can get this figured out. That way he can get the proper treatment and get to feeling better sooner. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

There could be several reasons why your dog is [coughing](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/coughing-1/). He could very well have something stuck in his throat or is trying to vomit something up and can't and will need medical intervention. If the symptoms continue, he needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If you know your dog has ingested something and is indeed [choking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-dog-is-choking), you can perform the Heimlich maneuver if you feel comfortable doing so. A dog who is choking should also be taken to a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. A dog may also be coughing as a result of a viral respiratory infection, like canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, or [kennel cough](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/kennel-cough). The most common symptoms of viral infections in dogs can include lethargy, decreased appetite, coughing, exercise intolerance and an increased breathing rate. If you believe your is showing any of these symptoms in addition to coughing, it is important for him to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Finally, a condition known as "reverse sneezing" might also sound like a cough and can be alarming for pet parents to witness. Reverse sneezing is very common in pets and is usually not a cause for concern. When a dog reverse sneezes, it will often pull its head back and inhale forcefully through the nose and mouth, making a cough-like sound. It is thought to have an [allergic](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/) component as the back portion of the nasal passages work to expel an irritant.