My poodle chokes and coughs quite frequently. He does not do it all the time, but when he does, he sounds like he has asthma. Is it possible asthma is causing him to choke and cough?

Yes, but other conditions are more likely causes

There are many reasons why your dog could be potentially coughing or choking. Dogs can get asthma, but it is not one of the more common causes of coughing and choking in dogs.

Dogs can develop a cough for a number of reasons. Serious heart and lung abnormalities, such as congestive heart failure or tumors, allergies, a collapsing trachea, a reverse sneeze, and many other conditions cause coughing and choking.

Dogs with problems involving the heart and lungs will cough due either to physical pressure on the trachea or large airways or because there is inflammation or fluid in the lungs.

A collapsing trachea can cause coughing. A trachea that is not as strong as it should be will collapse with breathing, especially when the dog is excited or exercising.

A reverse sneeze is a frequent cause of coughing in dogs. A reverse sneeze results from irritation to the nasopharynx. This irritation causes the loud inspiratory and expiratory snorts that prompt the owner to take the dog to the veterinarian. The nasopharynx can be thought of as the part of the throat just above the soft palate. The soft palate is a soft, fleshy tissue-extension off the hard palate, or roof of the mouth. This condition is typically harmless and only lasts for less than a minute or so. The dog is then completely normal again.

Because there are many potential causes of coughing and choking, it is necessary to have a veterinarian examine your dog. You need to take your dog to your veterinarian for a complete physical examination. The doctor will listen to and palpate the trachea, or windpipe, lungs, heart, and abdomen. Sometimes it is necessary for your veterinarian to take x-rays of the chest and neck. Bloodwork is often needed to check for infections or other systemic diseases.

08/01/00