Coughing signals a problem with your dog’s airways, lungs or heart — but which one? Here’s where your keen observation and knowledge of your buddy’s history are key.

Smaller breeds may develop a cough if the trachea, or main airway, collapses. Larger breeds are prone to laryngeal paralysis, which hinders opening of the upper trachea, or larynx. The result is a wheeze more than a cough.

Coughing, induced by an enlarged heart pressing against the trachea, can also be one of the first signs of heart disease. As heart function worsens, fluid build-up in the lungs creates a wetter cough.

In other cases, coughing might signal an infection or chronic noninfectious inflammation, like asthma.

So get your coughing pooch checked out as soon as possible. And here’s a tip: bring a video so your veterinarian can see what you’re seeing at home.