• The type of cough may give information as to the level of the respiratory tract involved, and in some situations may assist diagnosis.
• Harsh, hacking or dry coughs are associated with the larger airways, particularly the trachea, and are often found with acute tracheobronchitis.
• A honking or seal-bark' cough is usually associated with tracheal collapse, but may also be present with inhaled foreign bodies.
• A soft ineffectual cough is associated with diseases of the lower airways such as bronchopneumonia and pulmonary oedema. The cough can be so quiet as to be indistinguishable from expiratory dyspnoea.
• The occurrence of coughing in association with exercise or when sleeping rarely assists diagnosis. Most coughing animals will cough more during exercise, and nocturnal coughing often occurs when the animal changes position or rises.
• Rarely do animals expectorate material, as most material is swallowed, and so recognising a productive cough (excess airway mucus) can be difficult. During paroxysms of coughing, saliva can accumulate in the pharynx and may be expectorated with a retching action. This material should not be confused with airway mucus.

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