Studies that have been carried out into canine health over the years have concluded that a dog can lose its voice for a variety of different reasons in the same way as humans can. This includes overuse of the vocal chords, which is a common reason for short-term voice loss.
If you noticed that your dog lost its voice after excessive barking, the hoarseness should resolve on its own within a few days. However, if the hoarseness persists for more than a week or two, it is important to take your dog to see your veterinarian so that they can rule out any other potential causes.
The dog's bark may sound different. Bad breath and difficult, noisy breathing may also be noted, and the animal may stand with its head lowered and mouth open. Swallowing is difficult and painful. Death due to suffocation may occur, especially if the animal is exerted; however, this is rare.
Just like humans, dogs can become hoarse when they overuse their vocal cords barking. If your dog has been barking for a long period of time and starts to sound hoarse, this is most likely just normal hoarseness. You should still consult your vet, but the required treatment will most likely be vocal rest.
YES! Dogs can get hoarse. It can be a sign that they have barked so long their larynx has become irritated. At the same time, it can be an indication that they are suffering from periodontal disease, gingivitis, pharyngitis, or laryngitis.
Some of the causes that have been identified through years of study into canine voice loss include laryngeal collapse, obstruction of the airway, injury to the vocal chords, infections, and respiratory problems.
Vocal Stress or Health Issues
If you have a dog that has suddenly stopped barking or appears to be trying to bark without making any noise, it could be that too much barking has strained his voice. Recent surgery is another reason your dog might be more silent than normal, or he simply might not be feeling well.
Like us, dogs can get a sore throat. It's rare, but canines can also have tonsillitis. If you notice your dog licking his lips and making swallowing motions, and he has a high pitched gagging cough, it could be a sign of a sore throat, or an indication he has something caught in his throat.
Honey can be a great home remedy for kennel cough as it can help soothe your dog's throat and minimize coughing. You can give your dog 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with a little warm water in a bowl. This can be offered up to three times a day depending on how often your dog is coughing.
The most common symptom of laryngitis is hoarseness. Hoarseness is usually a raspy or husky sound of the voice resulting from swelling within the vocal fold. Swelling limits the normal vibratory movement of the vocal fold during phonation, which causes the sound produced to be less harmonic and raspier.
Dogs, like humans, can suffer from laryngitis, a common respiratory condition that affects the vocal cords and causes hoarseness or a raspy voice.
A hoarse bark can have many causes including an upper respiratory tract infection and laryngitis. Dogs can also become hoarse if they were barking excessively prior. Yelping indicates pain and if his ear is sore, there may well be an infection. A vet visit is best so they can check him all over.
If your dog is hacking or constantly making noises that make it sound like they are choking on something, they may have a case of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), or kennel cough, or sometimes called canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
A dry, hacking cough can sound like a dog is trying to dislodge something from the throat or mouth. A raspy-sounding, hacking cough can be a symptom of kennel cough, a contagious upper respiratory illness that dogs often get from places where many dogs congregate.
Common clinical signs include a loud cough, often described as a 'goose honk', runny eyes and nose, swollen tonsils, wheezing, lack of appetite, and depressed behavior. Most dogs with infectious tracheobronchitis will cough when the throat is rubbed or palpated or during and after exercise.
Complications of laryngeal paralysis can be fatal. It is very important for the pet parent to monitor their dog for respiratory distress and have them seen immediately should any of those signs arise.
A hole in the trachea in dogs is a condition caused by trauma or injury. It is, in some cases, self-healing. More serious cases may require surgical intervention.
Laryngitis In Dogs
Like humans, dogs can develop laryngitis, an inflammation and swelling of the larynx secondary to infection, irritation by dust or smoke, inhaled foreign bodies (grass, bones), or trauma due to excessive barking or pulling against a collar.
Like all mammals, dogs are subject to the ravages and physical decline that accompany advancing age. These include changes to the tone and pitch of their voices.
Dogs with full tracheal collapse can't bark loudly, and in many cases, will experience respiratory distress, too. But partial tracheal collapse is often much more subtle; your only sign may be wheezing or issues with your dog's bark.
Behavior Changes
Some dogs will become restless, wandering the house and seeming unable to settle or get comfortable. Others will be abnormally still and may even be unresponsive. Your dog's sleeping patterns may change. He may become cranky and difficult to handle, either due to pain or disorientation.
Autoimmune conditions — An animal's own white blood cells can turn on its own nerves, injure the nerve, and limit nerve impulses to the larynx and vocal cords. Muscle disorders — The vocal cords are a muscle. Autoimmune muscle disorders can block the neuromuscular junction and result in voice change or loss.
Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen.