Coughing is a reflex action which is initiated by an irritant in the air passages. It is a sudden expelling of air from the lungs, usually accompanied with an explosive noise and with a series of efforts. It is a sign common to many diseases which occur in the dog and cat.
A cough may be caused by an infection (viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic), an inhaled irritant such as grass seeds and food particles, and pressure from tight collars on the throat, or growths (tumours) of the air passages. Some coughs are due to allergies.
The type of cough often suggests its