Dog Sore Throat, Can Dogs Get a Sore Throat?

Dog Sore Throat
Dog Sore Throat

Can a dog get a sore throat? What are the symptoms of a dog sore throat? Dogs can get sure get throat infections. However, unlike humans, sore throat infections in dogs do not occur singly but as a secondary infection to respiratory tract infections or sinus infection.

According to pets.webmd.com, most sore throat infections

are associated with infections of the sinuses, mouth or the respiratory tract. They may also come together with systemic infections such as herpes virus, pseudorabies, and parvovirus. Below is more information on dog sore throat after vomiting and surgery. Also, find out what the common symptoms are an effective sore throat remedies.

Dog Sore Throat

A dog sore throat is a pain anywhere in the throat caused by inflammation and irritation of any kind with swollen glands and a hoarse bark. The throat will be red and inflamed. What are the common causes of a sore throat in dogs? A dog sore throat may be caused by viruses or bacteria. Viral dog sore throat is commonly accompanied by symptoms of a cold such as a runny nose and watery eyes. Other viral causes distemper, herpes virus, and pseudorabies.

Dog strep throat, also known as a streptococcal sore throat, is an infection of the throat and the tonsils caused by a group A streptococcal bacteria. This type of infection is also common in young children and cause a more serious and persistent infection. It can, however, produce a mild sore throat in dogs. This bacteria can also cause tonsillitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis.

Note that dogs can get a strep sore throat from human members of the household, it is not contagious the other way round. It is however recommended that while treating persistent strep throat in the house, dogs should be treated too.

Dogs with anal infections can also get a sore throat from licking their glands. Other causes include:

  • Tartar and other problems teeth problems
  • Gum disease
  • Scrapes, cuts, and burns in the throat
  • Metabolic diseases
  • Foreign bodies stuck in the mouth
  • A kennel cough
  • Surgery
  • Persistent vomiting
  • Allergies
  • Sinus infection

A dog sore throat may present in different ways and sometimes it may be difficult to tell whether it is a bacterial or viral infection. It is best to take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice any signs of a sore throat such as gagging, hoarse barking, swollen glands and a fever.

Dog Sore Throat Symptoms

A dog with a sore throat will always show a symptom depending on the causative agent or the severity. It is often hard to tell whether a dog has a sore throat because the symptoms may not be very noticeable. Only when a dog has severe pain then it will gag and try to cough up due to difficulty in breathing. The throat may be red and inflamed with a purulent discharge coating the throat. Here are some of the most common symptoms of a sore throat in dogs:

Dog sore throat and swollen glands may cause fever
A dog sore throat and swollen glands may cause fever
  • A dry cough
  • Gagging
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite; refusal to feed or drink or discomfort when swallowing
  • Excessive drooling
  • Swollen glands under the jaw

Since a sore throat in dogs commonly occurs alongside other infections, it may have multiple other symptoms which makes it hard to make a proper diagnosis. It is best to take your dog to a vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Can Dogs Get a Sore Throat?

Can dogs get a sore throat? Yes, they can. Dogs are quite similar to humans in many ways and are prone to throat infections just like we are. Dog sore throats do not occur as isolated infection and are associated with infections of the mouth and the respiratory tract. A dog sore throat and tonsillitis tend to occur together as they have a common cause.

Can Dogs Have Sore Throats If They Are Barking Too Much?

Can dogs get a sore throat from barking too much?
Can dogs get a sore throat from barking too much?

Dog barking is their most effective means of communication and it may be a way of telling many things from simply getting attention to no reason at all. While this may not be a problem at all, getting the dog to be quiet when needed to may be the real issue. Can barking too much be a cause of a sore throat? Yes, too much barking can cause hoarseness. Barking too much for any reason may irritate the throat and cause the throat to be sore.

Dog Sore Throat Hoarse Bark

Hoarse barking may be among the first signs of a dog sore throat. Hearing hoarseness in your dog’s bark is just another point of concern. If you spent a long time shouting, your voice tends to get raspy and hoarse. The same applies to dogs- if your dog spends quite some time barking loudly, it will surely take a toll on his throat causing hoarseness.

Once there is a throat irritation is one of the causes of a sore throat with or without viral and bacterial invasion.

Dog Has a Sore Throat after Surgery

My dog has a sore throat after surgery, should I be concerned? A dog sore throat is one of the common complications after surgery. This is usually attributed to the insertion of tubes (that aid breathing) into the airway through the mouth. It is especially common when general anesthesia is used and is reported a few days after the procedure. In rare situations, sore throat after surgery may be accompanied by damage to your dog’s vocal cords which may cause a hoarse barking voice.

Since dogs would normally refuse to eat or drink for a while after surgery, your dog may get a sore throat from long hours of dehydration. You may be easily get rid of a sore throat after surgery by rehydration and some over the counter dog sore throat medication, it is always good to consult your vet if a sore throat does not go away soon. This will help prevent serious and permanent damage to your dog’s vocal cords.

Vets will usually use a smaller endotracheal tube to prevent the possibility of your dog getting a sore throat after surgery. Introduce small amounts of fluids to keep your dog’s throat passages moist.

Dogs Sore Throat with Swollen Glands

Swollen lymph nodes or glands as they are commonly known may occur in any part of the body. Those commonly inflamed are the ones located on either side of the neck below your dog’s jaw. This is usually due to an infection be it bacterial or viral near the affected glands.

Swollen glands usually accompany a sore throat
Swollen glands usually accompany a sore throat

Swollen lymph nodes or glands usually accompany a sore throat and are treated variably depending on the cause. A dog with swollen glands due to a sore throat will usually show signs of difficulty in breathing such as gagging, difficulty in swallowing and unusual excessive drooling.

It is best to take your dog to the vet for a checkup so that he can tell the cause. If he does not find any obvious reason for the swollen glands, he will run blood tests, look at his teeth and ears to pick out any other possible causes.

A Sore Throat in Dogs after Vomiting

Can a Dog Get a Sore Throat from repeated bouts of vomiting? Dogs may vomit for a number of reasons which may sometimes be normal. While occasional vomiting may not be an indication of anything serious, repeated vomiting should be accorded some attention.

When vomiting, the presence of gastric juices may irritate and burn the throat lining leading to inflammation. The more your dog vomits, the more the burning and inflammation. With time, it may become difficult to swallow and bark.

The best remedy for a sore throat after vomiting would be to determine the cause of the vomiting and talk to your vet about ways to stop it. Repeated vomiting can cause esophageal tears and rupture.

A Dog with Sore Throat after Kennels

Dogs may be left in their kennels for a number of reasons such as house fumigation. Boarding kennels can be a cause of distress and anxiety to your dog. Imagine taking your child to a new place and leaving it with strangers. Most times dogs that have been confined to kennels may show aggression and anxiety by excessive barking and whining. As described above excessive continuous barking is one of the most common causes of irritation and sore throat. However, if he is coughing, you should have him checked out for a possible kennel cough.

Can dogs get a sore throat at the kennels? It is not very clear whether dogs can get sore throats from other dogs at a kennel.  The only clear way that dogs can get a sore throat after kennels is from continuous barking.

Dog Sore Throat Treatment

Dog sore throat treatment depends on the underlying cause. Sore throats secondary to ear, eye or dental infections are effectively managed by treating the underlying problem. If the underlying cause cannot be determined, the 10-day course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications are given alongside a soft diet of canned mashed dog food.

A dog sore throat due to kennel cough usually resolves once the coughing subsides. Try natural sore throat relief methods to manage the symptoms. The condition can be prevented with regular bordetella vaccinations.

Dog Sore Throat Home Remedy

A dog sore throat is a manageable condition and should not be left to complicate into more serious that may be harder to manage. There are effective natural sore throat remedies that can offer relief from pain and discomfort.

  • Remove any leashes and collars around your dog’s neck to ease up breathing and sore throat pain.
  • Give your dog plenty of fluids to help with soreness and dryness of the throat. Place water in places that are easily accessible.
  • Feed your dog on pre-moistened foods to make swallowing easier.
  • Add a vitamin C supplement, antibiotic and antiviral to your dog’s food to reduce the time your dog suffers from a sore throat. Vitamins formulated for dogs naturally boosts immunity and helps speed up the healing process.

Dog Sore Throat Honey

Is honey good for a dog sore throat? While this is a common recommendation on forums, you should note that sugary substances are generally not recommended for dogs. Honey should not be given to puppies. It may contain harmful botulism spores that may affect dogs that aren’t mature enough to tolerate it.

Small amounts of honey are however safe for your adult dog- just a teaspoon a day is enough. Giving too much of it could cause diarrhea. You can mix this up with coconut oil for even better results.

Herbal tea for a dog sore throat

  1. Boil a cup of tea with a teaspoon of peppermint, sage, and thyme for a minute
  2. Pour the tea into a cup and add a teaspoon of honey
  3. Allow the tea to cool for at least 10 minutes
  4. Offer the tea as often as possible until the symptoms improve