My collie poodle can be very active and loves to chase other dogs for fun. Recently I noticed that once a day or every three days my dog at rest (just walking in the house) would have a standing coughing fit (multiple coughs in a row for 10 to 20 seconds). In the past he could coughed once or twice a week or much much less. The only thing that has changed in his life is that I'm switching his food and I'm now adding fish oil to his food. I'm mixing his old food with his new food so his stomach can adapt.
I was worried about this enough that I brought him to the vet. The vet told me that they think they could hear a heart murmur.
I know that with age a heart murmur can develop in dogs, but I haven't heard about a heart murmur causing coughing fits. I am planning in getting the diagnostic tests done to be able to confirm the heart murmur but I was wondering if I should still be looking for the cause of the coughing fits.
Notes about my dog:
- He's been playing with neighborhood dogs his entire life.
- He has an odd practice of eating dirt (especially while playing with other dogs).
- He is 8 years old.