In addition to causing coughing, foreign materials can travel down the airways and through the lung causing an infection with a large amount of pus to develop in the space surrounding the lung. This disease is called pyothorax. Animals that have exposure to other animals in a shelter or boarding facility are more likely to have an infectious cause for coughing. Heartworm disease occurs in both dogs and cats and is most common in parts of the country that have lots of mosquitoes. The age and breed of the pet also influences what causes of cough are most likely.
Young animals are more likely to develop a cough due to infections with bacteria or viruses.
Young to middle aged cats may develop wheezing and cough due to asthma. Cats with asthma have sudden episodes of wheezing and coughing but are normal in between episodes. Middle aged to older, small breed dogs are more likely to have heart disease due to leaky valves. Middle aged to older, large breed dogs are more likely to develop paralysis of the larynx. Tracheal collapse occurs most commonly in middle to aged overweight small breed dogs .