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Why is my dog congested, sneezing, and coughing after recent shots?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 24.5 lbs

My dog is very congested and sneezing and coughing. He just had his shots updated a week ago. He is 8 yrs old

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on September 15th, 2017

This could be due to an upper respiratory infection called kennel cough, it's very common in dogs. this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 17th, 2018
If your puppy got a kennel cough vaccine, you can see some mild symptoms of the disease after receiving the vaccine. This can be normal, and it's good that he is playful, eating, and drinking. It could also be he picked up a respiratory infection at the vet clinic. Keep an eye on him for now, and if the sneezing and heavy breathing do not improve in the next 48 hours, or he stops eating, drinking, and becomes lethargic, then I would take him into the vet. Good luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why are my dogs coughing, congested, and acting like they're choking?

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.

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