Older coughing dogs.

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:59:22 GMT

[quote userid="8038" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248408#248408"]Not sure if I'm allowed to post links to other sites[/quote]

Paul Harris Yes you are!

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Paul Harris — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:53:26 GMT

Not sure if I'm allowed to post links to other sites, but saw this today.
todaysveterinarypractice.com/.../

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Rob Loxley — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:54:24 GMT

[quote userid="14690" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248308#248308"]Have you tried diphenoxylate? It's an excellent cough suppressant, dose is variable but 0.2-0.5mg/kg BID is usually quoted. The main issue is sourcing it, currently we write a script and owners order from Australia (seriously! - there is an Aussie pharmacy that seem happy to post to the UK, just tell owners to Google it)[/quote]

NVS will sell you LOFENOXAL TAB 2.5MG/25MCG off the shelf with an SIC

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Dave Dickson — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:46:46 GMT

Hi Claire

I think coughing in most older, small breed dogs is an owner problem, not a dog problem. By that, I mean that it bothers/worries the owners far more than the dogs. I agree with Clive that radiographs are often not helpful (except to rule bad stuff out). I disagree with Clive that BAL is useless, I think it most often makes the diagnosis of collapsing airways and shows the owner what the real problem is, and why drugs don't work that well. But I accept the cost of BAL is outside most owner's budget.

Have you tried diphenoxylate? It's an excellent cough suppressant, dose is variable but 0.2-0.5mg/kg BID is usually quoted. The main issue is sourcing it, currently we write a script and owners order from Australia (seriously! - there is an Aussie pharmacy that seem happy to post to the UK, just tell owners to Google it). It works better than anything else I've tried for those irritating, recurrent coughs that don't seem to settle.

Let us know if it works.

Dave

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Clive Ansell — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:23:35 GMT

[quote userid="2131" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248300#248300"]I rarely found that anyone was reluctant to have Xrays, although quite often reluctant to have anything I couldn't do myself. Could this be something to do with fee structure?[/quote]

Different client demographic maybe? almost all of the practices where I work, folk just don't have the money so it is usually a case of symptomatic treatment based on the findings of a full and thorough history and clinical examination.

I many cases, if I pushed a little harder I could probably get some to agree to GA and chest rads, but I don't because as we all know in most cases in makes the diffference of the square root of FA.

Fee structure would of course have a bearing. my last 2 locums; independent GA and 3 rads about £350 - £400 for a medium dog, corporate branch £700-£800 (without any add-ons) (In fact the corporate branch has access to CT scanning at its main hospital, so they try and edge clients towards that, partly by increasing costs for radiography)

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 23:26:06 GMT

[quote userid="2792" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248291#248291"]Yes most don't want to xray. [/quote]

That's odd to me.

I rarely found that anyone was reluctant to have Xrays, although quite often reluctant to have anything I couldn't do myself. Could this be something to do with fee structure?

However a proper examination and history are of course first priorities..

Anyone want an anecdote?

When I was quite recently qualified, we did a lot of house visits. An elderly lady had a middle-aged dog, with a cough. On auscultation it was clearly a cardiac problem. So I prescribed Millophylline tablets, always our first line and generally quite successful – anyway, we didn't have much else. Next visit – still coughing – are you having any trouble giving the tablets? No, I he takes them well. Next visit – still coughing. Are you still giving the tablets? Yes, definitely, he takes them easily. It was then I noticed, tucked under the hearthrug edges, all those tablets with just the colour sucked off, where the dog had quietly spat them out and concealed them...

RE: Older coughing dogs.

David Mills — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:27:27 GMT

Most will be chornic inflammatory disease (bronchitis) or bronchomalacia and for the most part it is a clinical diagnosis - tracheal pinch normally, plus the nature of the cough. I get a lot of animals with murmurs referred for "coughing" and they are almost always cardio plus respiratory ( I think finallky we have moved away from an enlarged heart causing coughing - they don't unless there is also underlying res[iratory disease)

You will get the occasional LP and thoracic tumour, agreed, but in my experience rare.

My approach is

1. Preds (even with a murmur), plus if relatively sudden exacerbation a course of doxy.

2. Codeine

3. Methylxanthines (the "ophyllines").

But you rarely get full resolution. When to treat? Depends. If they can't go on a walk without a coughing fit or wake up multiple times coughing then that is usually the threshold.

Agree BALs / tracheal washes were massively en vogue about 10 years ago, crap results, allied to the recent reluctance of pathologists to call anything without full biopsy, save the money for meds or chest xrays.

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Claire Godfrey — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:40:11 GMT

Thanks all,

Yes most don't want to xray. Just wanted to check there wasn't anything else should be trying. Does seem a shame when they are otherwise ok.

Love the phrase meandering to the freezer!

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:15:05 GMT

[quote userid="14693" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248280#248280"]Yes I would like diagnosis too but the owner wheels out the time honoured phrase " I dont want her messed about" [/quote]

I think diagnosis can include simply examining and careful history taking. I usually accept referral for LP on the basis of those ply’s signalement, for example. Obviously I’ve no magic trick for lung tumours or bronchitis.
that advert fir Corvemtal always made me snort. You know “ for when the dogs still wheezing”. Because actually it had LP….

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Clive Ansell — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:07:24 GMT

[quote userid="8663" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31303/older-coughing-dogs/248279#248279"]I would prefer to have at least a stab at a diagnosis but bear in mind that some area likely to have LP or a lung tumour, instead of cbronchitis[/quote]

Me too, I at least try and get 3 good quality radiographs, but almost all clients decline on costs and the "don't want him/her messed with" line as Lesley rightly points out. In any event, it almost never changes the course of events. I think BAL is usually a waste of time and often misleading

Down on planet real world, most clients I deal with have no money, many struggle to put food on the table for the kids, so not happening any time soon - symptomatic treatment, suck it and see is the best that can be done.

Added to which, in many practices 3 decent chest rads under GA is going to cost £700 - £800 (>£1000 if you start adding in pre op bloods and ecg, peri op fluids etc)

It would be useful to assess outcomes; what numbers and percentages actually benefit from diagnostics, and in how many cases does it change the treatment plan.

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Lesley Strong — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 12:55:09 GMT

Yes I would like diagnosis too but the owner wheels out the time honoured phrase " I dont want her messed about" when you suggest any work up so guesswork it is. Fair enough with an ancient dog meandering to the freezer

As my old boss used to say Nothing goes on a trip to the West Country without the benefit of pred

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:13:17 GMT

I would prefer to have at least a stab at a diagnosis but bear in mind that some area likely to have LP or a lung tumour, instead of cbronchitis

Anyway. Prednisolone is going to do better than NSAIDs or paracetamol. Theophylline cam also be useful

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Lesley Strong — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:57:29 GMT

If it doesnt look like cardiac then pred Assume chronic bronchitis from a lifetime of breathing fume/ stoor at ground level

And they often do really well. Torbutol used to work quite well but last time I looked needed a 2nd mortgage to afford it!

RE: Older coughing dogs.

Clive Ansell — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:49:58 GMT

Preds or preds and pardale? (if not on any nsaid) most of these guy will have pulmonary fibrosis or bronchitis etc.

I don't usually rush to do any diagnostics unless they are ill, losing weight, or the cough is progressive. Where I have done, radiographs often not helpful and almost never find cardiac issues, neoplasia or effusions unless suspecting them anyway. BAL is less useful, and frankly a waste of time in most cases