Have you noticed that your normally happy, healthy dog has started coughing constantly? A lot of things could be the cause of your dog's distress—some of them pretty harmless, others more ...

Dogs with a chronic cough need a chest X-ray and blood work to help diagnose the reason for the cough. Coughs are generally caused by inflammation in the lungs or trachea. One of the main concerns ...

But why is your pet coughing now? “Heartworm disease is often forgotten when we evaluate pets for a cough, but certainly has become more prevalent in our state in recent years in all ages of pets.

Such a cough can also mean a heartworm infestation, a danger that can be easily avoided by periodic checks for the parasite as well as the regular administration of a heartworm preventive.

Signs seen in dogs with heartworm infection range from no signs (majority of dogs) to weight loss, reduced ability to exercise, cough, difficulty breathing, and formation of abdominal fluid. Heart ...

DEAR C.S.: I doubt there is any connection between the Heartgard and the cough — unless your dog already had heartworms and the medication is killing them and their remains are getting into the ...