PetCare: Greyhound Won’t Stop Coughing? The One Diagnosis That Finally Ended Months of Guesswork

At first, it was just a soft little huff.

Then it turned into a throat-clear kind of cough after she drank water.
Then the hacking started — at night, in the morning, after walks, before meals.

By week three, it was full-on coughing fits that sounded like choking. My greyhound, Lola, wasn’t just making weird noises anymore — she looked uncomfortable.
But every vet I saw said the same thing:

“Maybe she’s got a mild kennel cough.”
“Let’s try another round of antibiotics.”
“It’s probably post-nasal drip or seasonal allergies.”

Meanwhile, I was losing sleep. And so was she.

Why This Wasn’t “Just a Cold”

Greyhounds are quiet. Stoic. They don't complain.
So when one keeps coughing? Something’s up.

The thing is, greyhounds aren’t built like other dogs. Their chests are deeper, their throats narrower, and their gag reflex is more sensitive.

The usual treatments? They didn’t touch it.
Two courses of antibiotics, a month of Benadryl, even a steroid shot — nothing made the cough disappear.

And that’s when I realized: I wasn’t dealing with a symptom... I was dealing with a pattern.

The Unlikely Diagnosis No One Mentioned for Weeks

It wasn’t until I visited a sighthound-savvy vet (yes, those exist and yes, they matter) that I finally got a real explanation:

“I think your greyhound has acid reflux — likely caused by megaesophagus or a hiatal hernia.”

Wait, what?

Yep. My coughing, otherwise healthy-looking greyhound had been aspirating tiny amounts of acid and food — every single day.
It wasn’t kennel cough. It wasn’t allergies.
It was silent regurgitation triggering coughing fits.
And no, it didn’t show up in a regular exam. It took a barium swallow test to reveal it.

What Finally Stopped the Cough (And Kept It Gone)

After months of stress, vet bills, and guesswork, here’s what actually worked:

✅ 1. Elevated Feeding

I started feeding Lola from an angled raised bowl, almost shoulder-height, to keep gravity on her side.

✅ 2. Small Frequent Meals

Instead of 2 large meals, I broke them into 4 small portions. This drastically reduced regurgitation risk.

✅ 3. No Lying Down After Eating

She had to stay upright for at least 30 minutes post-meal. I used a body wrap sling to gently keep her propped up when needed.

✅ 4. Omeprazole (Dog-safe Antacid)

Under the vet’s guidance, I added a low-dose daily acid reducer, which helped minimize reflux that was irritating her throat.

✅ 5. No Late Night Treats

Last meal by 6PM. No late snacks. Empty stomach = less reflux during sleep.

The Change Was Almost Immediate

Within a week, the cough was down 70%.
By week two, she was sleeping soundly through the night.
A month later? Completely gone.

And now? No meds, just good habits — and a dog who doesn’t sound like she’s hacking up a hairball at 2 AM.

Why I’m Writing This

Because if your greyhound won’t stop coughing, and you’ve ruled out the usual suspects, there’s a chance you’re chasing the wrong solution.
It’s easy to feel gaslit by vague vet visits, especially when your dog "looks fine otherwise."

But coughing — especially in greyhounds — is not normal. It’s a signal.
And sometimes, the fix isn’t more meds — it’s a completely different lens.