I know how concerning it can be when your Dachshund coughs after drinking water. I’ve owned 4, and only my girl Summit does it, so it freaked me out the first few times.
Perhaps like you, my primary concern was that something was wrong with her. Maybe she had a malformed or collapsed trachea.
She’s always done it since she was a puppy though with no other issues, and I have since learned that it’s fairly common in Dachshunds.
In fact, it happens quite frequently if a dog drinks too fast or tries to swallow too much water at a time.
This is what I have learned about the issue.
Is Coughing After Drinking Normal for Dachshunds?
The short answer is, no, a Dachshund coughing after drinking water is not normal. As in, it is not the default that every one will cough after drinking water.
That doesn’t mean it’s not common though.
Like people, sometimes dogs drink water too fast and some of “goes down the wrong way”, trigger your Dachshund’s cough reflex and causing them to hack after drinking to clear the water from their windpipe.
While it’s not normal, it is not uncommon for a Dachshund to cough after drinking.
Your dog may also cough if the water bowl is not clean and has floaters in it or if they have just chewed a dry stick or leaf in the yard.
These little pieces of debris can catch in their throat and they may cough to try and dislodge them.
If your Doxie coughs occasionally after drinking water, there is probably nothing to worry about. However, if it happens regularly, especially if it is a new habit, it could indicate an underlying health issue and a vet visit is warranted.
Why Might a Dachshund Cough After Drinking Water?
Coughing and hacking can be caused by a few different things.
Drinking too fast
Your dog may cough after drinking water because they are simply drinking too fast!
Have you ever been so thirsty that you quickly take a gulp of water and start coughing? Yep! That happens with dogs too!
If drinking water too fast is the cause of your dog’s coughing, it is likely to happen only occasionally after drinking water, not every time.
This is especially common if your dog runs for a drink after a rowdy play session.
If this is the cause, the coughing is likely something they have always done since you brought them home, even if it is intermittent.
Drinking too much
Just as drinking water too fast can cause a gag reflex, so can trying to swallow too much at once.
If your dog’s body senses that there is too much water in the throat to swallow properly, their body may try to clear their airway so that the water doesn’t “go down the wrong pipe” and end up in the lungs.
If this is the cause, it’s also likely that it’s happened more or less consistently since the beginning. Some dogs are just gulpers by nature.
Trachea issues
Sometimes when a dog regularly coughs after drinking, it’s caused by an issue with their trachea.
A couple of trachea issues that can cause it are….
Misshapen trachea
If your dog is young, and they have been coughing almost from the beginning, it could indicate there is a birth deformity in their trachea (windpipe).
The trachea sits at the top of your dog’s airway, or windpipe, and it’s job is to keep the wrong stuff from entering your dog’s airways.
A birth defect can cause a trachea to be misshapen or not fully formed. This, in turn, can cause food or water to enter the trachea.
When foreign objects enter the trachea (ie. things besides air), it will contract forcefully to expel them. This results in coughing and hacking.
Collapsed trachea
Damage to the cartilage in the trachea that results in progressive narrowing or flattening of the widpipe opening is called tracheal collapse. This collapse makes it more difficult for air to get into your dog’s lungs.
The most common side effect of tracheal collapse is a dry, sharp cough that occurs at all times of the day (even at times when your dog has not been drinking water).
The cough from a collapsing trachea is most likely to occur when your dog gets excited, when playing, when they are wearing a collar, or at night when a dog’s sleeping position may put more pressure on the trachea.
So how does a collapsing trachea relate to coughing while your dog drinks water? the connection is not totally clear.
However, it’s suspected that a weakened and misshapen trachea may allow more debris in, like droplets of water, which need to be expelled by coughing.
While the Dachshund is not a breed that are regularly called out as being prone to tracheal collapse, it’s not uncommon in small dogs.
It’s quite easy for a veterinarian to check for a collapsed trachea. They can trigger a cough response by gently pressing on your Dachshund’s throat.
Tracheal collapse can be very minor, and get worse over time, or it may just be a slight issue for the entirety of your dog’s life. Each case varies.
Heart disease
A dog that coughs after exercising or excitement may be caused by heart disease.
One of the most common types of heart disease in dogs is congestive heart failure (CHF). If a dog has CHF, their heart often enlarges in response to the body’s diminished ability to pump oxygenated blood.
An enlarged heart can put pressure on your dog’s trachea, thus irritating it or constricting the opening.
This enlarged heart can push against the trachea, causing a dog to feel like their is something stuck in their airway, thus compelling them cough.
While this coughing typically happens at random times throughout the day, it can be exacerbated by drinking water.
Your vet can listen to the heart for signs of a murmur or irregular heart beat and determine if your dog may have heart disease.
Other potential causes
There could be several other environmental and health issues that could cause your Dachshund to cough after taking a drink of water.
Because there could be so many causes, it’s best to talk with your veterinarian about it. They are the best equipped to help you figure out what is going on.
Besides the primary causes listed above, your dog could be coughing because:
- There is dust or debris in their airway
- Lung cancer
- Kennel cough
What You Can Do to Minimize Your Dachshund’s Coughing
The first step in minimizing or eliminating your Dachshund’s coughing is to get to the root of the problem.
You should take your Doxie to a trusted veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis. The issue can’t be treated without knowing what’s causing it.
Once your vet can make a diagnosis, they will come up with the best treatment plan for your Dachshund, if one is necessary at all.
Once the reason for the coughing is determined, you can explore your management and treatment options if needed.
Minor, temporary issues may not require intervention and they may go away on their own. Some of the more major issues may require medication, therapies, or surgery to correct.
Don’t worry though, it many cases your veterinarian will advise that this habit is just normal for your particular Dachshund and there is nothing to do except for monitor for any changes.
If you are still concerned when your Dachshund drinks water and then coughs, there are a few things you can try to stop it.
First, watch as your dog drinks and make sure that the rim of the bowl isn’t so high that it presses on their throat while drinking.
You can elevate your dog’s water bowl so that your pup doesn’t have to completely put their head down to drink. Keeping their head raised while drinking will alleviate some of the stress on their trachea and esophagus.
Using a water fountain, or placing a floating ping-pong ball in your dog’s bowl, can help slow their drinking.
Final Thoughts
A Dachshund coughing after drinking water is common, but it’s not normal. Still, it doesn’t always mean it’s something to worry about.
Coughing regularly after drinking means there’s something going on like drinking too fast, too much at once, or a health concern like tracheal collapse.
If your Dachshund is coughing every once in a while, like after an intense play session, it could be nothing. But once the hacking becomes consistent or gets worse, it’s time to seek veterinary advice.
This should go without saying but I’m saying it anyway – never give your Dachshund human medication for a cough.
