Dog Coughing Up Blood: Understanding the Risks & Preventive Measures

It can be highly alarming to see your dog coughing up blood. This symptom, known in veterinary terms as hemoptysis, is rarely observed and can happen for various reasons. Taking your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment is essential for a good recovery.

Unfortunately, if you see your dog coughing up blood, it’s often an indication of a serious underlying condition. Understanding the risks of this symptom and taking the proper preventative measures is necessary to keep your dog happy and healthy. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Is My Dog Coughing Up Blood?

Coughing up blood is an extremely rare symptom in dogs. Unfortunately, it’s often associated with severe illnesses and anemia — but if you seek treatment early, you will improve your dog’s chances of recovery. Here are some common causes of bloody cough.

Bacterial Bronchopneumonia (Lung Pneumonia)

The most common disease associated with coughing up blood observed in the study by Reinero (2002) was bacterial bronchopneumonia, which was the underlying cause of 30% of cases.

This disease is associated with labored breathing, reduced exercise tolerance, anorexia, and high fever. If you suspect your dog is suffering from a disease like bacterial bronchopneumonia, seeking veterinary treatment is essential to help your dog recover.

Tumors (Neoplasia)

According to Reinero (2002), tumors were associated with 13% of cases involving dogs coughing up blood. Unfortunately, around 25% percent of dogs will develop a tumor at some point during their life — and older dogs who live to 10 years old have a 50% chance of developing cancer.

Tumors are often associated with symptoms like swelling, lumps, sudden changes in weight, and unexplained serious symptoms. Taking your dog to a veterinarian and following their advice on caring for the disease is recommended.

Internal Trauma

Internal trauma is one of the most common reasons dogs start coughing up blood. It was responsible for 13% of the cases observed in Reinero (2002). This serious issue can present in various ways, depending on how the trauma presents and what caused the internal injury.

Your dog will most likely exhibit pain symptoms, such as depression, whimpering, lethargy, and inability to focus. Symptoms of internal bleeding, such as black stools and pale gums, are also commonly observed. Veterinary intervention is necessary for survival.

Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia (IMTP)

As seen in Reinero (2002), IMTP was associated with 11% of the cases that involved dogs coughing up blood. This serious disease can cause an incredible amount of bleeding, with blood in urine, stools, saliva, mucus, and even bloody vomit being the most common symptoms.

As the blood loss progresses, a dog with IMTP may also exhibit symptoms like difficulty breathing, lethargy, pale gums, and reduced appetite. This results from the immune system attacking platelets, which are essential for your dog to produce blood clots. Treatment requires veterinary attention and often immunosuppressive therapy.

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is notorious for causing severe respiratory disease in dogs, with symptoms including a dry cough, weakness and lethargy, and shortness of breath. As seen in Reinero (2002), heartworm disease was also associated with 11% of cases that involved dogs coughing up blood. Taking your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible is essential for killing heartworms and ensuring your dog has continued good health.

Rodenticide Poisoning

According to Reinero (2002), 8% of cases involving a dog coughing up blood resulted from rodenticide poisoning. These poisons often cause excessive internal bleeding as your dog’s blood clotting is blocked, resulting in symptoms like depression and lethargy, vomiting, bloody stools, swelling and bruising joints, and coughing up blood. In severe cases, treatment usually requires induced vomiting, medication administration, and transfusions.

Lung Lobe Torsion

While lung lobe torsion is uncommon, it is often associated with symptoms like coughing up blood. This condition commonly occurs in large, deep-chested male dogs between 4 and 5 years old. Dogs with lung lobe torsion often suffer from lethargy and depression, labored breathing, and coughing. Treatment usually requires surgery in addition to oxygen therapy.

Left-Sided Congestive Heart Failure

If your dog is coughing up blood and struggling with exercise and activity, it may be a result of left-sided congestive heart failure. Some other symptoms of this serious condition include pale gums, heart murmurs, weak pulse, standing in unusual positions for pain relief, and lung crackles.

Heart failure can occur for various reasons and generally requires medication and oxygen therapy for treatment. Dogs with congenital defects or other forms of heart disease may also benefit from surgery.

Pulmonary Hypertension

If your dog has pulmonary hypertension, it essentially means that the blood pressure in their lung arteries is much higher than it should be. Coughing up blood is rarely observed as a symptom of pulmonary hypertension.

Other symptoms include difficulty exercising, rapid breathing, fainting, and distended veins in the neck. Pulmonary hypertension can occur for various reasons, but it can usually be treated with medication, oxygen therapy, and stress reduction.

Foreign Body Aspiration

If your dog accidentally inhales an object that reaches their respiratory tract, it can quickly cause serious symptoms like coughing up blood. Other symptoms associated with foreign body aspiration are gagging, pawing at the face, sneezing or head shaking, retching, wheezing, gum cyanosis, fever, anorexia or depression, and respiratory distress.

Presentation varies depending on where the item is lodged in your dog’s respiratory system. Aspiration can lead to a secondary respiratory infection, which can complicate recovery. This issue requires treatment, but if veterinarians can remove the object, your dog’s health prognosis is often excellent.

Risks of Dog Coughing Up Blood

If your dog frequently coughs up blood, they may begin to exhibit severe signs of illness. Your dog needs the right amount of blood for their cells to receive oxygen. If your dog loses too much blood, their cells won’t receive the energy they need to function — and without veterinary intervention, this can have serious consequences.

Here are some of the most common symptoms observed as dogs cough up or lose too much blood.

• Trouble breathing
• Vomiting
• Clammy, pale skin and gums
• Lethargy and lack of response
• Dizziness, confusion, and weakness
• Weak pulse

Preventative Measures You Need to Take

Taking the proper preventative measures can reduce the probability that your dog will develop a serious illness later on. Here are some of the best steps to reduce the likelihood of diseases associated with symptoms like coughing up blood.

• Vaccinate your dog against common strains of disease like pneumonia.
• Avoid sick dogs or crowded public places like boarding facilities.
• Use air purifiers in your home, and avoid smoking around your dog.
• Monitor your dog’s weight and address unusual changes in weight.
• Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet for your dog.
• Don’t use pesticides, rodenticides, or carcinogenic chemicals on your lawn or in your home.
• Prevent your dog from accessing dangerous areas like roadways.
• Don’t allow your dog to swallow or play with small objects.
• Encourage your dog to eat slowly and carefully with the right feeding dish.
• Ask your veterinarian if your dog’s medications contain quinine.
• Medicate your dog against heartworm disease.
• Understand the disease risks and predispositions associated with your dog’s breed.

Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

Coughing up blood is a severe issue in dogs but is also extremely rare. Understanding the most common underlying causes of this symptom is essential to preventing disease and protecting your dog’s health.

With the knowledge from this article, you’ll find that helping your dog recover from their bloody cough is much less intimidating. The most important step you can take next is to visit a qualified veterinarian.