Coughing

When pets start coughing, it sometimes a warning sign that something is serious, like pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, a collapsed windpipe or even a heart attack could be happening. In a dog, if he has been coughing more than 24 hours, something is wrong and animal should be checked out. Coughing is rare in cats, with the exception of expelling hair balls, and should always be seen by a vet. If your dog is coughing and is breathing rapidly or seems short of breath, or if he has a swollen abdomen, it could be a sign of heart disease and the animal should go to the vet as soon as possible.