My dog coughed a few times today but seems fine — should I worry?

Occasional isolated coughing in an otherwise alert, eating, active dog is usually not urgent. One to two coughs that resolve and don't recur may be irritation from dust, a drink of water going down wrong, or a minor throat tickle. If the coughing is frequent, persistent for more than 24 hours, worsening, or accompanied by lethargy, reduced appetite, or breathing changes, a veterinary evaluation is appropriate.

Why Is My Pet Coughing or Sneezing? Vet Guide

Q: Can a dog catch kennel cough from dog parks or groomers?

Yes. Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is highly contagious and spreads through airborne droplets and shared surfaces. Dog parks, groomers, boarding facilities, doggy daycare, and even veterinary waiting rooms are all potential exposure sites. The Bordetella vaccine does not prevent all strains but significantly reduces severity and transmission. Discuss your dog's lifestyle with your vet to determine the right vaccination frequency.

Q: Why is my cat sneezing so much?

The most common cause of frequent sneezing in cats is an upper respiratory infection, most often caused by feline herpesvirus or calicivirus. These infections are very common, especially in cats who were in shelters or multi-cat environments. A cat with herpesvirus may have recurrent flare-ups throughout life, particularly during stress. Other causes include Chlamydia, Bordetella, nasal polyps, or in older cats, nasal tumors.

Q: Is reverse sneezing in dogs dangerous?

Reverse sneezing — a loud, snorting, rapid inhalation that sounds alarming — is usually benign and self-limiting in dogs. It's caused by spasms of the soft palate and throat and is more common in small and brachycephalic breeds. Most episodes resolve within 30–60 seconds. Frequent or very prolonged reverse sneezing, or new onset in an older dog, is worth mentioning to your vet to rule out a nasal mass or other cause.

Q: What causes coughing in cats?

Coughing is less common in cats than sneezing, which makes it more meaningful when it occurs. Common causes include asthma (feline bronchial disease), heartworm infection, upper respiratory infection, pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), and in some cases, tumors. A coughing cat — especially one who appears to be crouching with an extended neck — should be evaluated, as feline asthma can cause respiratory distress.

Coughing dogs and sneezing cats — we see both all the time. And the range behind those symptoms is enormous. A single cough when a dog drinks too fast is nothing. A persistent dry cough in an older small-breed dog that's worse at night is a completely different situation. Same symptom category. Very different clinical picture.

When is it probably fine?

A cat sneezes once walking past a dusty shelf. A dog coughs after gulping water too fast. Isolated events in an otherwise alert, eating, active pet — usually not alarming.

That changes when it's happening multiple times per hour or hasn't let up for more than 24–48 hours. Or if there's discharge from the nose or eyes alongside the coughing. Or the pet is off food, less active, visibly uncomfortable. Any change in how a pet breathes at rest — labored effort, open-mouth breathing, faster than their normal baseline — that's not a watch-and-see situation.

One of those things tips it from "monitor" to "call us today."

What we think about when a dog is coughing

The most common call: dog started coughing yesterday, sounds awful, but still eating and playing. That's usually kennel cough. Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza are the main culprits — spreads through shared air and surfaces. Dog parks, grooming, boarding, daycare. The sound is distinctive and alarming, like something is stuck in the throat. In healthy vaccinated adults it typically runs its course in 1–2 weeks. Puppies, seniors, and immunocompromised dogs can develop pneumonia from it and should be seen sooner.

The one I want to flag: heart disease cough in older small-breed dogs. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds. Mitral valve disease causes the heart to enlarge, and an enlarged heart can compress the mainstem bronchus and produce a cough. It's worse at night and at rest — owners describe the dog waking them up. If you have an older small-breed dog with a new cough that's worse when lying down, don't assume kennel cough. A chest X-ray is the starting point. This gets missed because the cough looks like an airway problem.

Cats sneeze more than they cough — but coughing is the more significant sign

Most sneezing in cats is upper respiratory infection — herpesvirus and calicivirus cause the vast majority. Watery or mucoid discharge from nose and eyes, sometimes oral ulcers with calicivirus, corneal ulcers with herpes. Herpesvirus is a lifelong infection; it stays latent in the nervous system and reactivates with stress. A cat with recurrent sneezing episodes who came from a shelter or multi-cat household almost certainly carries it. Managing stress reduces flare frequency. There are supportive treatments and sometimes antivirals that help during active episodes.

Coughing in cats is less common, which is exactly why it's more meaningful when it happens. Our first thought is usually feline asthma — allergic bronchitis triggered by inhaled allergens. LA wildfire smoke is a real trigger. We saw an uptick in asthma presentations after the 2025 fires, and during high particulate days generally. The posture is distinctive: crouching low with the neck extended, struggling to exhale. An acute attack in a cat is a respiratory emergency. If you see that posture, don't observe it for another hour. Come in.

Don't wait on these

A cat breathing through its mouth at rest is an emergency. Cats almost never do that except in serious respiratory distress — don't observe it for another hour. Blue, gray, or white gums mean oxygen deprivation and need immediate attention. Labored breathing where you can see the chest or belly heaving with each breath, a dog that's collapsed or extremely weak alongside the coughing, a pet that can't get comfortable and keeps repositioning trying to breathe — come in. Fluid or blood coming from the nose or mouth — same answer.

Don't call first for those. Come in and call on the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

My dog coughed a few times but seems fine — should I worry?

Probably not. One or two isolated coughs in an otherwise active, eating, normal-acting dog are usually nothing — irritation from water, dust, or just an unremarkable moment. The pattern to watch for is frequency and persistence. If it keeps coming back throughout the day, or the dog seems quieter than usual, that's when to call.

Can a dog catch kennel cough from dog parks or groomers?

Yes — very easily. It spreads through airborne droplets and shared surfaces, which is why any environment with multiple dogs is a risk: dog parks, boarding, daycare, grooming, even vet waiting rooms. The Bordetella vaccine reduces severity significantly. If your dog is frequently around other dogs, talk to us about whether the schedule makes sense for their lifestyle.

Why is my cat sneezing so much?

Herpesvirus is the most common culprit — it's extremely widespread in cats and causes lifelong recurrent flare-ups, especially during stress. Calicivirus is another common cause. Both usually come with nasal and eye discharge. If your cat came from a shelter or multi-cat home, herpes is a very reasonable assumption. Other possibilities include Chlamydia, nasal polyps, and in older cats, nasal tumors — the latter is worth ruling out in a senior with new-onset chronic sneezing.

Is reverse sneezing in dogs dangerous?

Usually no. It's a loud snorting rapid inhalation — alarming to witness, but not dangerous in most cases. Common in small breeds and flat-faced dogs. Episodes typically resolve on their own in under a minute. New onset in an older dog, or episodes that are getting more frequent or prolonged, is worth mentioning at your next visit.

What causes coughing in cats?

Coughing in cats is less common than sneezing, which is exactly why it gets our attention. Asthma is our first thought — it's allergic bronchitis triggered by inhaled irritants, and LA air quality makes it genuinely common here. Heartworm is possible, pleural effusion is possible. If your cat is in that low-crouch position with neck extended struggling to exhale — that's an emergency. Don't wait. Call us or come straight in.

Why Is My Pet Coughing or Sneezing? A Vet’s Guide to Respiratory Symptoms