If you are dealing with a respiratory disorder, or if you can talk to someone who suffers from one then you know that it is not a fun thing to endure. Your dog is unable to tell you when he has a problem but if you notice some of these things in your dog hopefully this article will help you to better deal with it.

Acute Coughing: This is different from a persistent coughing problem, and it is a sign (generally speaking) of something less serious but it could be important to note the situation regardless. Acute coughing can be a sign of kennel cough, bronchitis, pneumonia or even something foreign in the airway. It could also signal some form of infection that needs attention. Kennel cough if passed on from dog to dog (like a cold) and causes an inflammation in the voice box. Bronchitis is a bacterial or allergic inflammation of the bronchi that are located in the lungs.

If your dog has Kennel cough you should make sure to keep him away from other dogs as it is highly contagious and the other dogs could end up with the same disease. Take him to the veterinarian immediately for treatment (call ahead to make sure of a good time to come in when other dogs are not present). The vet can give him cough suppressants to ease the discomfort of the illness. Medications will also be given to help treat any of the illnesses that we discussed. Of course if a foreign object is lodged in your dog’s throat this is a serious situation and should be treated by a veterinarian right away. He should be able to remove the object with forceps.

If snoring is a problem (in your dog, not your husband) this can come from something that is breed specific. Some breeds have elongated soft palates that are hanging in the backs of their throats and they can cause a partial blockage of the larynx which in turn makes the dog snore. It can also be cause by an allergic inflammation in the dog’s throat, this would cause the dog to snore and the snoring could be worse if the dog happens to have narrow nostrils.

Snoring in itself generally does not signify a serious issue but if it is a problem it is always best to ask your veterinarian for his opinion. In the worst case, in some breeds, it could signify a heart or breathing problem which would need to be addressed immediately.

Sometimes a dog’s voice will change and you will notice that his bark is different than it was before. This can be caused by a number of things such as a damaged larynx, allergic problems or a reaction to bee stings or, in rare cases, a tumor has developed that caused the dog’s voice to change.

You should take your dog to the vet for a check up as he may be able to give your dog antihistamines or some other medication to help reduce the swelling. If the worst is true and there is a tumor it may have to be removed with surgery.