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Coughing in Veterinary Patients: A Clinical Overview
Coughing is a protective reflex action intended to clear the airway of irritants, foreign bodies, or secretions. This article provides a clinical overview of the diagnostic approach to coughing across various species, focusing on differentiating between cardiac, respiratory, and environmental etiologies.
Clinical summary
- Clinical signs
- Common presentations include dry, non-productive cough, moist productive cough (hemoptysis or mucoid discharge), exercise intolerance, tachypnea, and labored breathing patterns.
- Possible causes
- Etiologies are broad, ranging from infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites like Dictyocaulus), inflammatory conditions (chronic bronchitis, feline asthma), cardiac disease (left-sided heart failure causing pulmonary edema), neoplasia, and environmental irritants.
- Diagnostic approach
- Clinical evaluation includes detailed history, physical examination (auscultation), thoracic radiography, hematology, airway sampling (transtracheal wash or bronchoalveolar lavage), and echocardiography.
- Management
- Treatment is etiology-dependent. Options include antitussives, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, anthelmintics, or targeted antimicrobial therapy for specific infectious pathogens.
References
- [1]Nelson, R.W. & Couto, C.G.. Small Animal Internal Medicine (2019)
- [2]Smith, B.P.. Large Animal Internal Medicine (2020)
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