My Chihuahua has a bad cough. Is it serious? Should I see a vet?

I would be extremely concerned about her having a cardiac issue. Please take her to your vet so they can check to see if she has a heart murmur as that can lead to heart failure. Coughing is one of the first symptoms. She is the right age and breed for this to be happening. The other likely cause would be a collapsing trachea. So again, please take her to your vet for an exam. Best wishes.

Lola is very cute! Her symptoms could be a sign of heart disease, which can be common in older dogs. They could also be caused by allergies or a respiratory disease. The only way to know for sure what is causing her symptoms is to have her seen by a vet. The vet can diagnose what is causing them, and what treatment options are available to her. I recommend calling the vet today to make an appointment for her next week. Best of luck.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Dino. Poor boy. In a dog his age, this could be caused by something serious like heart disease. Heart disease can be common in senior dogs. I'd have him seen by a vet for this cough, and recommend getting a physical exam, a geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and possibly chest x-ray done. If he does have heart disease, it cannot be cured but the symptoms can be managed with medication. Give his vet a call to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Brachycephalic syndrome refers to a combination of conditions including smaller than normal nostrils, a longer than normal soft palate, and some other malformations of the back of the throat. It is unlikely that a chihuahua will have this condition. Conditions that can cause chronic coughs in dogs include a collapsing trachea, heart enlargement, or issues with the lungs. These conditions can be identified with an x-ray or CT scan and may require life-long treatment. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

This could be an upper respiratory infection such as kennel cough , but could also be a sign of heart disease, especially if Chico is an older dog. Another very likely possibility is that Chico has a collapsed trachea. You will need to take Chico to your vet for an exam and x-rays (which will rule out collapsed trachea and lung edema caused by congestive heart failure). Your vet;s exam will also detect any problems with the heart, that may be causing the cough. Please cschedule an appointment with your vet soon.

It sounds like Ace might need medication at this point, but it can be really difficult sometimes to determine whether a cough is related to heart disease or respiratory problems like collapsing trachea or chronic bronchitis which can also be very common in senior small dogs. I would contact your vet and let them know that Ace is now coughing so much that he can't rest. They might recommend an echocardiogram to completely rule out heart disease and heart failure as a cause, or they might recommend trying some other medications for cough. If Ace has not had chest x-rays recently they would probably recommend x-rays as well.

Hello! It would be helpful to know how long Ellie has had this cough, if she is vaccinated, and if she has been around any other dogs. At her young age, I would be worried about her contracting something contagious. Kennel cough usually runs its course without problems, but sometimes can progress to pneumonia. It is similar to a human common cold. However, canine influenza and canine distemper can both present in young pups as upper respiratory signs and both of these viral infections require treatment from a veterinarian. Signs of a serious infection include: Green nasal/eye discharge, lethargy, not wanting to eat Hereditary non-infectious causes of a cough could be collapsing trachea or a heart defect. I would recommend seeing your vet, but calling first to let them know your pup may be contagious. Your vet will listen to her heart and lung sounds, then possible recommend x-rays to find out what is causing her cough. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!