Why Does My Dog Cough After Drinking Water? 6 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

It is relatively common for dogs to cough shortly after drinking water. They can become a bit too enthusiastic about eating or drinking too quickly, leaving them coughing or gagging afterward. Although this behavior is not typically a cause for concern in most cases, many dog owners are still left wondering why it happens.

Well, this article has the answers for you!

The 6 Reasons Your Dog May Cough After Drinking Water

1. Water in the Windpipe

Dogs have two different pipes in their throat, namely their windpipe (trachea) and gullet (esophagus). Any water or food that enters their mouth flows down their esophagus, and the windpipe leads to their lungs.

When dogs drink water incorrectly or too quickly, some of the water could go down their windpipe instead of their esophagus. This happens when the covering of the windpipe, called the “epiglottis” does not close in time to keep up with a dog's rapid swallowing. They will reflexively cough up the water that flowed into the windpipe. If this happens once or twice, it could just be an accident. However, if your dog is having some persistent problems, difficulty swallowing or “dysphagia” could be occurring.

Dysphagia can occur when swallowing food too. If your dog regularly coughs when eating, this is more cause for concern. As dysphagia has a plethora of different causes, we recommend consulting with a veterinarian if you are concerned about this.

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2. Reverse Sneezing

If your dog drinks with most of their snout in their water bowl, it is easy for some of the water to get inhaled through their nose. This can trigger a reverse sneeze, also known as paroxysmal respiration. It usually sounds like a snorting noise.

Reverse sneezing in dogs can be mistaken for a cough. The body instinctively tries to expel irritants, in this case water, that has caused a muscle spasm in the roof of the mouth (soft palate). It usually doesn’t last for more than a few seconds and can happen to most dog breeds. However, it seems to be more common in brachycephalic (short-snouted) dog breeds.

3. Respiratory Issues

Dogs with respiratory issues, such as kennel cough, commonly cough after drinking water or eating. This is because their windpipe is likely inflamed, so any water that passes through their esophagus may put pressure on their windpipe. This can lead to a coughing fit that can range in severity depending on how bad your dog’s respiratory issues are.

Furthermore, your dog's irritated tissue lining their throat can make their cough sound hoarse and concerning to hear. If your dog is suffering from respiratory issues and having difficulty drinking water without coughing, you should bring it up with their veterinarian.

4. Windpipe Problems

As we already mentioned above, the windpipe or trachea is one of the two main pipes leading down a dog's throat. The windpipe is lined with C-shaped cartilage rings which keep it open for sufficient airflow from a dog's mouth to the lungs. When dogs have issues with their windpipe, perhaps from it collapsing or getting damaged, a hacking cough is common.

Their cough may worsen when they drink and inhale a little water as it is an irritant and puts pressure on their sensitive windpipe.

5. Foreign Bodies

Some dogs from time to time will decide to eat something that is not food. Sometimes these objects pass through them without any problems, other times they lodge in the intestines causing vomiting due to an intestinal blockage. Sometimes, something that they eat will lodge in the pharynx (back of the mouth) or up behind the soft palate.

This could be a bone, a fishhook, a grass blade, or even a sewing thread. Due to the foreign body, dogs may be uncomfortable and have difficulty swallowing. If there is something in their pharynx or causing irritation there your dog may cough after drinking. If you suspect a foreign body, you need to take your dog to the vet urgently.

6. Aspiration Pneumonia

If your dog is coughing to expel water from the airways, you need to be aware of a condition known as aspiration pneumonia. Aspiration pneumonia occurs because water, saliva, or food enters the lower airways, causing inflammation and infection. Most of the time if a dog inhales a little water by accident, the body’s reflex of coughing will resolve the issue and no problems will occur.

However, if this happens frequently or your dog inhales a lot of water, or food particles which are difficult to clear, especially if your dog has an underlying medical condition, aspiration pneumonia can occur. Signs of aspiration pneumonia include coughing, lethargy, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, and elevated body temperature.

Final Thoughts

While it is not unusual for dogs to cough once or twice when drinking water quickly, some reasons are a cause for concern. Dogs who are coughing after drinking water because of issues with their windpipe or respiratory system should be seen by a veterinarian. Those medical problems may interfere with how effectively your dog drinks water and can be quite uncomfortable for your dog to experience and for you to hear.

If your dog has no underlying medical problem and coughs a bit after drinking water too quickly, it's usually not much of a concern.

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