Dog Coughing in Winter: Cold, Kennel Cough, or a Warning Sign?

Your dog has been coughing for two days, especially when they get excited, or they start coughing at night while asleep. In winter, this is common and usually mild. But a cough can also signal a problem that needs your vet’s attention.

In a dog who is otherwise well, eating and playing normally, a dry cough that starts after a stay at a boarding kennel, a trip to the dog park or a day at daycare most often points to a contagious respiratory infection, commonly known as kennel cough. It usually clears up within one to two weeks. On the other hand, a cough that comes with tiredness, fever, fast breathing at rest or difficulty breathing calls for a prompt visit to the vet.

Why your dog coughs more in winter

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Coughing is a reflex: it clears the airways. It is not a disease in itself but a sign, which can have very different causes.

In winter, dogs spend more time indoors, at boarding kennels during the holidays, at daycare or in training classes. And canine respiratory infections spread precisely where several dogs gather in the same place: through direct contact, through droplets from a cough or sneeze, and through shared objects such as toys, bowls or bedding.

What people often call a “cold” in dogs is usually one of these mild infections: a runny nose, a few sneezes, a cough, in a dog who otherwise stays well.

Kennel cough, the most common cause

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Kennel cough refers to a group of contagious respiratory infections caused by viruses and bacteria. Vets call it canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC).

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), it can be recognized by:

• a frequent, loud cough, often described as a honking sound;
• a sudden onset, a few days after contact with other dogs;
• a cough that gets worse with exercise or when the dog pulls on the leash;
• sometimes sneezing, a runny nose or watery eyes.

In most cases, the illness stays mild and the dog makes a full recovery in 7 to 10 days. In the meantime, keep them away from other dogs: they are contagious, and were already contagious before they started coughing. Also call your clinic before you go, so they can keep your dog away from the waiting room.

Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with existing health problems are more at risk of a severe form. If your dog is one of them, call your vet within the first few days of coughing.

Before a boarding stay or daycare this winter, check with your vet that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date: some protect against the main agents of kennel cough, and they are often required on arrival.

Other causes of coughing in dogs

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A cough is not always infectious. Other causes are seen depending on the dog’s age and size.

Bronchitis. A dry cough that lasts several weeks can come from inflammation of the airways, sometimes following an infection. Only your vet can tell the difference.

A weak trachea in small dogs. In Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus or Pomeranians, a dry, harsh cough, also honking, can come from a collapsing trachea. VCA Animal Hospitals note that it gets worse with excitement, at night, after eating or drinking, and when the collar presses on the neck. For these dogs, a harness is better than a collar for walks.

A heart problem. In a senior dog or a small-breed dog, a cough that happens at rest or during sleep, with faster breathing and tiring easily on walks, can be a sign of heart disease. VCA Animal Hospitals describe it as the most common sign of congestive heart failure. In that case, don’t wait for the cough to go away: see your vet.

A foreign body or an irritant. A blade of grass, a grass seed (foxtail), or smoke from a fireplace or tobacco can irritate the airways. A sudden, violent cough with gagging after a walk or a game is worth a call to your vet.

When should you see a vet?

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Most winter coughs go away on their own. Some signs, however, mean it’s time to call your vet.

See your vet within the next few days if:

• the cough lasts more than a week, or keeps coming back;
• your dog is a puppy, a senior or already unwell;
• they cough mostly at rest or at night;
• they tire more quickly on walks.

See your vet immediately if:

• your dog breathes fast or with difficulty at rest;
• they are lethargic, stop eating or have a fever;
• the cough becomes wet, bringing up mucus;
• their gums or tongue look pale, gray or bluish;
• they faint or collapse.

Tiredness, loss of appetite, fever and fast breathing are signs of a complication such as pneumonia, as described by the AVMA.

In the meantime, do not give your dog any cough syrup or cough medicine meant for humans without your vet’s advice.

Resting breathing rate, a simple benchmark

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Counting your dog’s breaths while they sleep is one of the simplest ways to tell whether their cough comes with breathing difficulty. VCA Animal Hospitals explain how:

1. Wait until your dog is asleep or resting calmly, away from any heat source.
2. Watch their chest: one breath in and one breath out count as one breath.
3. Count for 30 seconds, then multiply by two.

In a healthy dog, the resting rate is between 15 and 30 breaths per minute. If it stays above 30, count again within two hours, then call your vet if it does not come down. The AI-Collar study, led by Prof. Valérie Chetboul and her teams on more than 700 dogs using the Biotracker, uses the same benchmark: above 30 breaths per minute in a sleeping dog, breathing is a warning sign.

Write your measurements down: a single reading says little, but an increase over several days says much more.

Good habits to help your dog feel better

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While the cough runs its course, and unless your vet has prescribed anything specific:

• let them rest and limit exercise, play and long walks;
• walk them on a harness rather than a collar, so nothing presses on their throat;
• avoid fireplace smoke, tobacco smoke and air fresheners in the room where they sleep;
• wash their bowls, toys and bedding, and don’t share them with other dogs;
• postpone daycare or boarding until the cough is gone.

After walks in the rain, dry them well, especially if they are a senior or short-haired: the signs that a dog is cold are easy to spot and fix. For the season’s other risks, from sore paw pads and stiff joints to holiday food hazards and New Year’s Eve escapes, keep our winter care tips for dogs close at hand.

What daily monitoring helps you notice

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A cough is easy to notice. What comes with it is much less so: slightly faster breathing at night, a dog who sleeps more and moves less on walks. These changes often build up over several days, and it is precisely how they evolve that helps your vet.

The Biotracker continuously measures your dog’s resting breathing rate and resting heart rate, as well as their activity and sleep. It compares each night to their own usual patterns: a resting breathing rate that rises over several nights, or activity that stays low for longer than the cough, become concrete markers to show your vet, rather than a vague impression. The Biotracker does not make any diagnosis: it helps you know when to ask for your vet’s advice.

FAQ — dog coughing

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My dog coughs as if something is stuck in their throat. Is it serious?

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That is the typical kennel cough sound, often followed by gagging. It is usually mild if your dog is eating, playing and breathing normally. If the cough came on suddenly after a walk or a game, a foreign body is still possible: call your vet.

How long does kennel cough last?

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Usually 7 to 10 days, sometimes a little longer. Beyond ten days, or if your dog becomes tired, feverish or breathes fast, see your vet.

Should I vaccinate my dog against kennel cough?

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Vaccines protect against several kennel cough agents. The AVMA recommends them especially for dogs who spend time around other dogs: boarding, daycare, training classes or dog parks. Your vet will tell you whether they suit your dog’s lifestyle.

Why does my dog cough at night?

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A cough at night can come from a weak trachea in a small dog, but also from a heart problem, especially in a senior dog. Count their breathing while they sleep and talk to your vet if it goes above 30 breaths per minute or if the cough comes back every night.

Can I give my dog cough syrup?

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Not without your vet’s advice. Human medicine is not suited to your dog, and calming the cough can mask a problem that needs treatment.

In short

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In winter, most dogs who cough have caught a respiratory infection from other dogs: a loud cough, a dog who is otherwise well, recovery within one to two weeks. Keep them calm, away from other dogs, and walk them on a harness. A cough that lasts, a cough at rest or at night, a breathing rate above 30 per minute during sleep, tiredness or fever should prompt a call to your vet.