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Bronchitis in Dogs
Written By Ralph Jones
Published: 10/28/2016Updated: 03/13/2024
What are Bronchitis?
A chronic cough in dogs — or bronchitis, as it is known — can be a bit of an alarming condition if it happens to your pet. But as a relatively common problem, it shouldn’t be a cause for panic. There are plenty of conditions that can afflict both humans and dogs alike, and bronchitis is one of them.

So, to the question ‘Can dogs get bronchitis?’, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes.’ While it’s completely possible for your dog to contract bronchitis, the condition shouldn't be ignored.
In this comprehensive guide to bronchitis in dogs you’ll learn:
  • That the onset of bronchitis symptoms is rapid
  • That your dog can pass its bronchitis on to your cat
  • That bronchitis is slightly more common in smaller dogs
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Average Cost
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Symptoms of Bronchitis in Dogs
Dog bronchitis symptoms tend to rear their head pretty quickly. A pronounced cough is almost the definition of bronchitis, so this is one symptom that is certainly going to be present. This is your dog producing excess mucus as it tries to flush the virus or the bacteria out of its body. 
This in turn causes a build-up of mucus in the lungs and airways, making it hard for your dog to breathe and forcing them to cough — making a sound like the honk of a goose. 
Your dog may also be afflicted by wheezing and spasms of coughing. There is a good chance he or she may gag, have foamy saliva, swollen tonsils, and a runny nose and eyes. 
The acute symptoms — a fever; the coughing spasms — will probably only last two or three days but the persistent cough may linger in your dog’s system for a few weeks. Like so many conditions in which a cough is central, dog bronchitis is worse at night, when your pet is lying flat and mucus pools at the back of the throat, causing it to want to clear it out of its body.
If the infection is viral, then bronchitis is contagious in dogs for longer than if it is bacterial. Both types are contagious, but within about 24 hours antibiotics will prevent bacterial bronchitis from being passed on to anyone else. 
When it comes to viral bronchitis, your dog could pass it on to you or another pet in your house for a while, so try to keep them away from people and animals as best you can — for at least a week, which is approximately how long your dog might be contagious for.

It’s worth noting that although chronic bronchitis is not contagious, it’s a more serious condition, so unfortunately there’s no cause for celebration.
It’s the responsibility of pet parents to look after their pet’s health. You can compare top-rated pet insurance plans in seconds and make sure that your dog is covered should it contract bronchitis or any other health problem.
Causes of Bronchitis in Dogs
How do dogs get bronchitis? Don’t feel guilty if it happens; it’s a common problem. Pets come into contact with a lot of bacteria and microbes all the time, whether through sniffing and licking things on the floor which they shouldn’t, or simply by getting up close and personal with other animals. Occasionally, these microbes will cause them to get bronchitis, which is a significant infection of the lungs.
A dog might also contract bronchitis as the result of being allergic to something — a particular plant, for example — or because they have inhaled smoke or chemical fumes. Pet experts also say that if a dog is obese, its bronchitis may be more serious.

There are two different types of bronchitis:
Acute infectious bronchitis 
Acute cases of bronchitis are often caused by viruses, following contact with an infected pet. The most common viral causes are kennel cough, parainfluenza, and distemper. Environmental factors such as stress, temperature extremes, and ventilation appear to increase the risk of contracting these viruses.

Unlike chronic bronchitis there appears to be no age bias, although young and geriatric dogs often suffer from more severe symptoms.
Pets who have contact with areas with a number of other dogs, such as in dog parks, boarding kennels, and dog shelters, have higher incidence of contracting the disease. Known causes of acute bronchitis in dogs are: 

  • Canine adenovirus
  • Canine distemper virus
  • Canine herpes virus
  • Parainfluenza virus
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica
  • Streptococcus zooepidemicus

Chronic bronchitis
 
Cases are considered chronic when the pet has suffered from coughing for over 2 consecutive months. Often the cause of chronic bronchitis is unknown, though the following may be predisposing factors: 

  • Previous respiratory tract damage, trauma or infection
  • Prolonged exposure to inhaled irritants such as cigarette smoke
  • Age 
  • Cardiovascular disease
Diagnosis of Bronchitis in Dogs
Because the two conditions are so alike, it can be difficult to distinguish bronchitis from pneumonia. In order to determine whether your dog does indeed have bronchitis, your vet will ask about your dog’s medical history and may perform chest X-rays, an endoscopy, a biopsy or bronchial wash, or use bronchial swabs or a saline solution called lavage.
The condition is a tricky one in that it’s known as a ‘condition of exclusion’. What this means is that your vet will need to conclude that the cough isn’t being caused by anything else before announcing a diagnosis of bronchitis.

As well as performing a full clinical examination of your pet, your veterinarian will auscultate the lungs and heart of your pet to determine his lung and cardiovascular health. The lung noises during respiration will assist your veterinarian in diagnosing the illness. 
If your companion has a harsh cough and history of contact with other infected dogs, or environmental stress, it may indicate viral bronchitis. Your veterinarian may need to take radiographs of your pet’s thorax under sedation; this may show bronchial wall thickening that can indicate bronchitis.

Other diagnostic tools that may be used are:
  • Bronchoscopy to visualise the bronchial tubes
  • Cytology and microbiology investigations may also be performed using a bronchial wash which may indicate the cause of the condition
Treatment of Bronchitis in Dogs
This may sound obvious but if your dog has bronchitis, it’s not the time to take it for too much strenuous exercise. This is likely to make the problem worse, and certainly not improve it. 
When it comes to dog bronchitis treatment, the first response on the vet’s part will often be to assume that the dog will simply get rid of the infection within a week or two. But antiviral drugs or antibiotics — depending which type of bronchitis your dog has — will be administered in addition to anti-inflammatories. While your dog is taking these, which will usually be over a period of a few weeks, you need to take care not to over-exert them; they’ll need their energy to heal efficiently.
Now your next question may be: how can I treat my dog’s bronchitis at home? Here’s one technique: if you want to help your dog cough more easily and loosen the mucus in its throat, you can use steam therapy: just run a hot shower, resist the urge to get into it yourself, and bring your dog into the room to breathe in the steam.
If your dog has chronic bronchitis, its treatment will last its entire life and will involve corticosteroids, which help to alleviate inflammation in the airways. 
You may also consider adjusting your dog’s diet while he or she has bronchitis. While there isn’t a specific food for a dog with bronchitis, food that’s softer and easier to swallow may provide relief compared to some types of dry food.

Visit our online partners, Dog Food Advisor, to view recommendations for best fresh dog food and best wet dog food.

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Recovery of Bronchitis in Dogs
The prognosis for your dog will depend on the underlying cause of the bronchitis and his initial response to treatment.

Your pet will need careful veterinary monitoring and regular revisits, if symptoms worsen it is essential your canine companion be seen by a veterinarian promptly. As infectious bronchitis is highly contagious it is important that your pet is kept away from other animals for the duration of the illness.
Why not sign up for a wellness plan to cover the cost of your routine vet treatment and checks? Compare the very best pet insurance plans here.
Bronchitis Average Cost
From 446 quotes ranging from $300 - $1,500
Average Cost
$600
Top
Bronchitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Goldendoodle
Ten Weeks

4 found this helpful

4 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Bronchitis
Last week we adopted a 10 week old golden doodle and my parents adopted a 9 week old Aussie doodle. They’ve both had their first round of shots and have not been exposed (since we’ve had them) to other dogs. Are we able to have them play together? Also, my puppy has bronchitis. Is there a risk of passing it on to my parents puppy?
Sept. 27, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. It would be best to wait about 2 weeks before having them play together, to make sure that they don't develop any signs of illness. Your pups bronchitis and whether your parents dog can be around him depends on the cause of the bronchitis, and if it is infectious. It would be best to ask your veterinarian, as they know the reasons behind treatment, and I do not. .
Oct. 11, 2020
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Daschund
Fifteen Years

3 found this helpful

3 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Sleepiness
i took him to the vet for a physical and vaccine today. The vet said that had a mild bronchitis so he gave him theophylline 75 mg and Temarill-P #5. He can't sleep and he doesn't stop crying because he wants to keep eating. I gave him the medication at 4:30 pm and he fall asleep then by 10 he can't sleep. He just keeps crying
Aug. 4, 2020
Answered by Dr. Ellen M. DVM
3 Recommendations
Hello and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that your dog isn't feeling well. Without examining your dog, it's very hard for me to know what's going on. What you're describing could be a side effect of the steroid in the Temaril-P, but it's a very low dose of steroid, so I would not expect to see that reaction. Excessive crying can indicate pain as well. I recommend that you call your veterinarian first thing in the morning to discuss possible medication side effects with them. However, if your dog seems painful over night, is having trouble with his back legs or having any trouble breathing, please seek emergency veterinary care immediately. I hope that your dog starts feeling better soon!
Aug. 4, 2020
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havapoo
Koby
4 Months

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
Tired
Hacking
My puppy is a little over 4 months old. He has a dry cough and makes a hacking noise. It sounds like he is trying to cough up something but he keeps his mouth closed so it never comes out he is on 2 antiblotcs but they dont seem to do anything. He has been on the antibotics for 1 week but i see no difference. He has just threw up and is lying on the cold floor and wont move.
July 20, 2018
0 Recommendations
Without examining Coby it is difficult to say specifically what is going on, in some cases antibiotics are given in case of secondary infection but the underlying condition either needs to be determined or run its course. If there is no improvement after a week of treatment a further examination is needed and possibly an x-ray to look for anything in the lungs (inflammation etc…). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 20, 2018
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Cocker Spaniel
Joey
3 Years

2 found this helpful

2 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Gagging
Coughing
Please help! My dog is sick for 6 weeks with coughing. I took him to the Veterinarian at 1 st week of sickness and the veterinarian told me it’s look like Kennel Cough. Put him on antibiotics for 10 days Clavamox After 10 days of treatment it was not better and I brought the dog back for f/u .X-Ray was taken and steroids was proscribed, because X-ray showed that it’s Bronchitis .On day 4 I brought my dog for second opinion to different veterinarian.Another X-ray was made and confirmed that it’s Bronchitis. It was another antibiotics proscribed Azitromicyn and Robitussin DM. We finished the antibiotics but the dog still coughing after walks.What is my next step?I’m very concerned because it’s very long time now. Please help!!!
July 2, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
If Joey isn't improving on the medications, he may need stronger steroid doses, or different antibiotics, depending on the cause of the bronchitis. There may be more going on, and sometimes a follow up x-ray is helpful to see if there have been any changes. It would be best to follow up with your veterinarian and see what the next step might be for him.
July 2, 2018
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Cockapoo
Toshi
6 Months

1 found this helpful

1 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Itching
Sneezing
My dog has been itching and nibbling on his stomach and paws for the rest of his life. As soon as he turn 6 months, I took him down to Florida Keys where he had a few slight coughs at first before turning into reverse sneezes. It worsened when we got home and as the week pass, he also has developed coughing and retching. Something tells me it could be from allergies, but might also be bronchitis. I have been giving him benedryls, which sometimes work. The symptoms are the most active when he is sleeping and waking up (he usually sleeps on my bed).
May 15, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Toshi may have signs of allergies, or bronchitis, or bacterial infection. Since I cannot examine him, it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine him and determine what might be going on, and any appropriate therapy that he may need.
May 15, 2018
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Lhasa Apso
Toy
8 Years

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
Wheezing
Bronchitis
My dog is on Flovent and hydrocodone she has chronic bronchitis we stopped smoking treat her as an asthmatic child. She coughs 10 times per hour she has bronchial wash, xrays, parasite medicine, antibiotics , cytology which came back as negative for infection, she us now on flovent inhaler with aerodawg mouthpiece and theophlynne and hydrocodone which helps on if 2 whole pills and only for 6 hour duration at best and than comes back strong with coughing. We spent over $1000 in treatment options and no cure, still extreme coughing and getting progressively worse. She eats human food but we also stopped and give her a better diet of purina simple one recommended by the vet as a more affordable option. Other than that Idon't know what else to do.
Lhasa Apso
Toy
8 Years

2 found this helpful

2 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Shaking
Coughing
Hacking Cough
Dry Cough
Hello, My dog is about 8 or 9 years old she is 22 pound Lhasa Apso a little overweight for her bread but otherwise a normal happy crazy dog. We noticed that after running around the house barking and playing she would have a dry like cough as if she was going to cough up a hairball which would usually only occur during excessive running playing activity or so we though. My mom would say she's probably just choking on dust or something of this nature. About 6 months ago it got worse and today she is coughing about 5 to 10 times per hour if not more. The same dry cough as if she is coughing up a hair ball. And yes it looks painful and her thought is always swelled up and when we give her massages on her throat she lets us, and closes her eyes. Over the past 3 months we have taken her to 3 different vets she was diagnosed with bronchitis I believe chronic as its over 2 months she is suffering with it. We did the bronchial wash and cytology which came back with no infection. We put her on a cocktail mix of antibiotics anti inflamitory steroids and a powdered anti parisitc medication for 10 day trial and it did not work. Also we took xrays before the wash which the vet said it appears she has bronchitis based on the slides. The steroids made it worse, so far hydrocodone for dogs (different than for humans) it is a cough suppressant for dogs not a pain killer like the one for humans which is toxic for dogs. The hydrocodone helped but not cured, and at this current time we have been giving her theophlynne and hydrocodone and started an inhaler with the aerodog mouth peice so she can use it the inhaler is flovent basically a human medicine for asthma. And the vet told us basically to treat her as an asthmatic child. We do smoke cigarettes but have stopped smoking in doors and we light incense outdoors now as well for a few months now. However with all these medications unless we give her like 2 whole pills of hydrocodone she does not stop the coughing and the hydrocodone wears off after about 6 hours on her. She does eat human food often and has good appetite and drinks milk which we stopped because the vet said that milk can cause mucus to build up in the lungs. I'm not sure what else to do for her we have spent over $1000 in treatments for her and nothing seems to be working well. I feel very bad for her as I love her immensely :( I have quit smoking myself for her. But I don't know what else to do the antibiotics wont help because its not an infection the vet said. After the trial period of anti parisitic medicine past we put her on a full dose of liquid parasite medicine for an additional 10 days and no results. She coughs and shakes and it looks painful almost as if she wants to cough something up. After the bronchial wash she threw up,some kind of mucus discharge but that was 1 time over a 6 month period. The newest vet said they do a more detailed bronchial scope type of procedure where they sedate her. Its not about the 3 thousand dollars they want to do it its just the first time they did the bronchial wash they kept her in a cage for 4 hours and didnt do the prcdure until the end of the day I dropped her off at 9 am and they werent finished with her until 4 P.m. she has severe attachment anxiety and barks uncontrollably when we leave her for any amount of time as she was abused and is a rescue dog. Since she has not been mentally well and the new vet said the results of this special bronchial wash will not really show different results its basically just an option if you wanted to cover all the bases so to speak. So we decided not to put her through that type of trauma again. I was reading reviews for Throat Gold on chewy maybe this will help natural remedies? Like I said this is my story but also any advice would help. Because she is not better and running out of options. Hopefully this inhaler will work but as it has alresdy been almost 1 month of use its not helping greatly.
Cocker Spaniel
Berky
15 Years

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Coughing
My 15 yr cocker has been diagnosed with chronic bronchitas, now for almost 1 year. He eats and drinks well. He relieves himself well. But he also retches 5-8 times a day. We treat him at night with Hydrocodone for the cough. My question is he in pain from the cough and retching. Naturally he sleeps a lot, but I don't want him suffering from the cough. What's your opinion. Thank you.
Bronchitis Average Cost
From 446 quotes ranging from $300 - $1,500
Average Cost
$600

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