Why is my senior dog coughing and gagging

When we look at the dog at home that has been with us for many years and has already entered old age, the once lively dog now occasionally coughs and retches, and our hearts seem to be gently pricked by countless fine needles. Every cough, every retching, is like a heavy hammer striking our hearts. Elderly dogs are our most precious companions in life, providing us with endless companionship and warmth over the long years. At this moment, their physical discomfort is causing us great concern, and we are eager to explore the reasons behind it, relieve their pain, and regain their vitality.

From the perspective of physiological decline, the respiratory function of elderly dogs will gradually decline. As age increases, the trachea and bronchi of elderly dogs will experience varying degrees of relaxation, and the elasticity of cartilage will decrease, which weakens the support of the respiratory tract. The originally smooth airway may become narrow during breathing due to a lack of sufficient support, obstructing the flow of gas in and out, leading to coughing. At the same time, the defense function of the respiratory mucosa in elderly dogs is not as strong as before. The ciliary movement of the mucosa becomes slow, making it unable to effectively expel foreign objects, secretions, and other substances from the respiratory tract like when young. These substances accumulate in the respiratory tract and irritate the respiratory mucosa, which can easily lead to coughing and dry vomiting.

Heart problems are also a common cause of coughing and retching in elderly dogs. Older dogs are prone to heart disease, such as congestive heart failure. When the heart function is impaired and unable to effectively pump blood out, it can lead to pulmonary congestion. Pulmonary congestion can fill the alveoli with fluid, affecting gas exchange, stimulating the respiratory tract, and ultimately leading to coughing. Moreover, coughing caused by heart disease often worsens at night or after dog exercise.

In addition, the throat of elderly dogs may also undergo some changes. The muscles in the throat gradually relax and swallowing function decreases. When eating or drinking, food or water may not pass smoothly through the throat into the esophagus, but may accidentally enter the trachea, leading to coughing and dry vomiting. This situation is more common in elderly dogs when they eat solid food. For example, when an elderly dog wolfs down dog food, it is easy for some of the food to choke into the trachea due to delayed swallowing, causing severe coughing and retching. In daily life, we often see elderly dogs coughing suddenly after eating, which may be caused by swallowing problems.

Disease factors cannot be ignored either. Respiratory infections are an important cause of coughing and retching in elderly dogs. Pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi invade the respiratory tract of elderly dogs, causing diseases such as tracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. These diseases can cause inflammation and swelling of the respiratory mucosa, producing a large amount of secretions that irritate the respiratory tract and trigger coughing. Due to weakened immunity, elderly dogs have weaker resistance to pathogens and are more susceptible to infections. Moreover, once infected, the condition is often more severe than in young dogs, and symptoms of coughing and retching can last for a longer period of time. For example, during seasonal changes and significant temperature fluctuations, elderly dogs are more susceptible to respiratory viruses, leading to symptoms such as coughing, dry vomiting, and runny nose.

In addition to respiratory infections, some chronic diseases may also cause coughing and retching in elderly dogs. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can cause permanent narrowing of the airways in elderly dogs, making it difficult to expel gases and leading to coughing. Mitral regurgitation caused by heart disease can lead to increased left atrial pressure, which in turn can cause pulmonary vein congestion, stimulate the respiratory tract, and cause coughing. Hypothyroidism in elderly dogs may also affect the function of respiratory muscles, leading to coughing and difficulty breathing. These chronic diseases often have strong concealment, and the initial symptoms may not be obvious, but as the condition progresses, coughing and dry vomiting will gradually worsen, seriously affecting the quality of life of elderly dogs.

Environmental factors also play an important role in coughing and retching in elderly dogs. Pollutants in the air, such as dust, smoke, pollen, etc., can irritate the sensitive respiratory tract of elderly dogs. After long-term exposure to these pollutants, the respiratory mucosa of elderly dogs may experience inflammatory reactions, leading to coughing. Especially in hazy weather, harmful substances in the air increase, and the frequency and severity of coughing in elderly dogs will significantly increase. In addition, an excessively dry indoor environment can also cause dry respiratory mucosa in elderly dogs, which can easily lead to coughing. We can imagine that in a dry environment, the respiratory mucosa of elderly dogs is like a dry riverbed, lacking moisture and becoming fragile and easily damaged, leading to coughing.

The causes of coughing and retching in elderly dogs are multifaceted, covering various fields such as physiological decline, disease factors, and environmental influences. As owners, we should carefully observe the symptoms of elderly dogs and pay attention to their daily life details. We hope that under our careful care, elderly dogs can alleviate their physical discomfort and continue to accompany us through more warm times. When we see the symptoms of coughing and retching gradually alleviate in elderly dogs, and they regain their familiar and warm smiles, we know that all the efforts put in for them are worth it.