Coughs may have either a dry, hacking quality or a moist quality. The time of day or the type of activity associated with coughing should be noted. Also, observations covering a 24 hour period would be beneficial when describing the symptoms to the veterinarian.
A dry cough is associated with diseases of the trachea (tubular airway that descends from the larynx into the chest) or the bronchi (large air passages that lead from the trachea and branch out in the lungs), allergies, irritation of the pharynx (area extending from the rear of the mouth and nasal passages to the larynx) and tonsils. Common causes include:
A moist cough is an indication of the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, the airway, or the mouth. The fluid may be caused by:
Coughing that occurs primarily at night can indicate congestive heart failure.