Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 4/17/2009

Question
my friends dog harks up mucus, and constantly harks without mucus, she is 12, and seems to be fine  otherwise. what could be wrong with her? she is a dachshund.

Answer
Karen -

There are several reasons why a dog would cough up mucus.  If the dog coughs frequently, that is an indication that something could be wrong with the dog's heart. The dog may have a heart problem or maybe even congestive heart failure.   There may also be a problem with the animal's lungs.  He may have bronchitis or pneumonia.  

The cough may be caused by an irritation in the trachea such as  allergen or something may be in the back of the animal's throat.  

Have the dog examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.  He/she may suggest radiographs or bloodwork to help determine why the dog is coughing.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM