My dog made honking sounds and coughed while sleeping. Is it serious?

There are a few different reasons pets can make the sound. It could be related to a collapsing trachea, fluid in the lungs or laryngeal paralysis. Try to record a video of the coughing and then have your pup examined by the veterinarian. The doctor may recommend radiographs after the physical exam and watching the video. I hope this helps.

From the description of the cough for Marshall it sounds like kennel cough. Kennel cough can sound like a honking cough or a hacking noise and can occur at any random time but more frequently when excited or with exercise. Other reasons for cough with Marshall can be: parasite infection allergies pneumonia (much less likely) inhaled foreign body (much less likely) I would recommend to keep him away from other dogs while he is coughing in case he has kennel cough and is contagious. If his cough persists and/or worsens, stops eating, or acts lethargic, please schedule an appointment with his veterinarian so they can examine him and determine the cause of his cough.

As Dr. Linda mentioned, a honking cough can be due to respiratory infections, including kennel cough (tracheobronchitis). It can also be due to conditions like a collapsing trachea, reverse sneezing, or other more serious respiratory issues. I included a link below that has a video of a dog reverse sneezing for comparison to Niko’s episodes at home. If this issue persists, if Niko has any other concerning changes at home (loss of appetite, lethargy, changes in his normal breathing efforts or patterns, etc.), it would be best to have him examined by your vet. Wishing you and Niko the best! https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952493

Hi and thanks for your request. Goose honking cough/respiratory sound usually is due to a tracheal cough, often due to a tracheal collapse, even if uncommon in Staffies. These signs must be strictly monitored and if occur again they should be checked by your local veterinarian. Usually episodes of tracheal collapse are not fatal but if the anxiety and continued collapse or flattening of the trachea associated with an acute event of struggling to breath seems to increase the swelling around the trachea, and yes, these dogs can occasionally have their entire airway swell shut and be unable to breath. The important thing to remember if you have a dog with tracheal collapse is that you should take them in for treatment as soon as you notice distress - the longer the distress persists, the more difficult it is to reverse.

Goose honking tells me that she is coughing. There are a few different things that can cause a cough. With puppies, it's more likely to be an infection or parasite causing this. It's best to take her to the vet for an exam. They will be able to narrow-down the cause of this and can likely provide treatment that will stop the cough. I hope that helps and Marquessa gets better soon.

Hi there. Sorry to hear Timber is having this issue. It sounds like he may have kennel cough based on what you are describing. It is an inflammation of the trachea and upper airway. Even if he has been vaccinated for kennel cough he can still get it. It is not usually life threatening/serious but you should definitely take him in to your vet for an exam as soon as your vet is open. Keep him calm and quiet as to not to get him to excited - that will make him cough more. Keep him away from other dogs because if he has kennel cough it is very contagious. Take him to your vet as soon as you are able as he will need some medication (usually an antibiotic and a cough suppressant). Usually this is not a life threatening problem but if not treated sometimes it can turn into a pneumonia. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and Timber. Dr. Amber

Poor Toby - you should video the episodes and get him checked by your vet as soon as possible. This may be due to excess soft tissue in his throat, a weak trachea, narrow nostrils or an infection and fluid in the back of his throat to mention just a few options - sedation and xrays may be required depending on the results of the initial exam