Has your Siberian Husky started coughing and you have no idea what the cause of it? Well, as a person that knows how a Husky normally behaves and couching is not a usual thing, I would surely feel concerned.

In fact, I have been in the same situation. When my friend’s Husky started couching, she and I were not exactly sure whether the dog is sick. However, as we looked into the condition, we found out exactly what has caused the dog’s cough. So let me tell you about it too.

Why has my Siberian Husky started coughing?

The most usual condition that makes a Siberian Husky cough is an infection named “Kennel Cough” which is commonly caused by a bacteria called “Bordetella Bronchiseptica” and two viruses called “Adenovirus and Parainfluenza virus”. This infection is not severe and normally, gets cured on its own within 4 to 14 days.

However, if the coughing gets too severe to a point where the dog is just physically ill-looking and has passed the 14th day mark, you should seek veterinary help ASAP to ensure that it will not become a serious health issue.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that normally, coughing has shown to be a symptom of minor health conditions such as Infections. For example: kennel cough, upper respiratory infections and worm/parasitic infections.

However, that does not eliminate the risk that it can also be a symptom of a serious health issue such as lung or chest infection, a heart disease or even an airway disease.

So, my personal opinion is to bring your Husky to the vet and eliminate all your concerns at once (Within the first week). That way, you can rest assured that the dog is completely fine (or if not, the vet’s office will provide the required treatments for the dog)

How do I know if my Siberian Husky’s cough is serious?

When your Siberian Husky’s couch gets worsened, the dog will show a number of symptoms. Namely, they are loss of appetite, lethargy, loss of playfulness, nasal discharges, fever, diarrhea, panting or difficulty in breathing (usually, after exercising), sneezing, eye discharge and constant howling or barking along with the dry and relentless coughing.

As I mentioned above, these symptoms could mean lung or chest infections, heat diseases and airway diseases.

So, rush to the vet’s office quickly.

How does a Siberian Husky get a cough?

A cough such as Kennel Cough is extremely contagious between dogs. Bacteria such as Bordetella Bronchiseptica and viruses such as Adenovirus are transmitted to your Husky from another infected dog by airborne or via physical contact.

These Bacteria and viruses are the main cause of infections that basically cause coughs in your dog.

A Husky or any dog for that matter can get exposed to a cough such as Kennel Cough or any infection from crowded places where there is bad airflow and hot and moist air such as the dog park, dog grooming centers, dog shelters or even other random places.

Once a dog is exposed to bacteria or a virus, it develops the cough after three to four days.

Can I help my dog minimize its cough at home?

Yes, you surely can help your Siberian Husky get better at home as coughing is mostly due to viral infections and resolves within one to two weeks on its own. However, by helping I mean, giving the dog home-remedies and making sure the dog’s environment is suitable to get rid of a cough.

Here is what you can do:

• A great home remedy is honey: Mix one-half tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of honey with worm water in a bowl. Give this 3 times a day. This remedy can sooth your Husky’s throat which will help minimizing coughing.
• Do not put a leash on the dog, instead use a harness.
• Feed your Husky homemade soups or other fluids: Chicken soup is great. However do not give the canned or prepackaged soups that humans eat since they contain a lot of sodium and dog-unfriendly ingredients. Try making soups yourself and feed the dog.
• Make sure your Husky drinks plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Ensure the dog gets a lot of rest. Do not make the dog exercise as much as it does usually.
• Avoid your Husky from being exposed to smoke and other Irritants since such chemicals can worsen the dog’s cough by getting into the airways.
• Give the dog a cough suppressant: Suppressants such as Robitussin is suitable to help the dog relieve the cough but you must get the family vet to approve it since not all dogs are compatible with every suppressant.
• Keep a Humidifier near your Husky (No need of this if where you live already has humid weather): A humidifier can moisten the air the dog inhales which will sooth irritations in the respiratory tract.
• Give some steam treatments to the Husky. Keep the dog in the closed bathroom while you take a hot shower which gives off steam. The steam can relieve irritations in the dog’s respiratory system. However, make sure the dog does not get soaked from your hot shower or bath.

How long do the Kennel Cough or other infections last?

How long a Kennel cough or an infection lasts depends on the severity of your Husky’s condition. However, a Kennel Cough usually lasts for about two weeks but an infection in general could last for 2 or 3 weeks to even months.

Can a Husky’s infection such as Kennel Cough be contagious to other dogs?

Yes, most infections including Kennel Cough, respiratory and parasitic/worm infections are extremely contagious to other dogs. An infection is airborne and can be spread via direct contact between dogs. So, ensure you avoid keeping your Husky around other dogs. On the other hand, it can not infect humans though.

However, recent studies have shown that contact with a dog’s urine, saliva or the coats may put a human in possible danger but a human getting infected by a dog has never been a common occurrence.

In other words, it is rare that you would get infected by your Siberian Husky.

But for the time being when your Husky has an infection, it is better you avoid direct contact with urine and saliva (the coats too if the dog has a skin infection). Put on some gloves instead.

Final Thoughts

It is safe to say that what makes a Siberian Husky cough is infections such as Kennel Cough. These infections are caused by bacteria and viruses.

However, a simple cough usually lasts for about two weeks but if the dog still has the cough after two weeks and it maybe at a severe level, it is important that you seek veterinary help.

A Siberian Husky can get a cough by other infected dogs. An infection that causes coughing can be transmitted by airborne or via direct contact.

However, most dogs get cured on their own within the first two weeks. So, treat the dog well accordingly to speed up the recovery.

Featured image credit: Photo by Julissa Helmuth from Pexels