'Dramatic' Husky With Kennel Cough Leaves Internet in Hysterics

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A dog owner has delighted viewers online after sharing a social media video of her "dramatic" husky, who had been coughing in an animated way while fighting off kennel cough.

The viral video, which has been viewed more than 358,000 times since it was first shared to TikTok on July 24, captured the female husky looking fed up at the camera while coughing loudly.

Although the dog's bout of kennel cough could cause audiences online some concern, her owner, Sophia Casola, made light of the situation to assure TikTokers that the diva-esque dog is just fine.

"She's so dramatic," Casola wrote under the video.

The video had been captioned: "POV: your dog has kennel cough but she's a husky."

What Do the Comments Say?

Since it was shared to the social media platform by @SophiaCasola, the post has been liked by more than 70,000 users and commented on more than 2,700 times. Plenty of TikTokers have poked fun at the viral moment in the comments section below the post.

"My dog had kennel cough and the vet bill was $600. She sounded like she was honking," one user wrote.

"Me trying to hold in my cough," another user added.

"Mine does this after she drinks her water," shared a third user.

A different user joked: "Me mid pandemic when I swallowed water wrong in class but didn't want to scare anyone."

Husky wearing a collar
Stock image of a husky. A dog owner has delighted viewers online after sharing a social media video of her "dramatic" husky, who had been coughing in an animated way while fighting off kennel cough. Ksenia Raykova/iStock

How to Spot Kennel Cough?

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), kennel cough which is also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects dogs. While it can cause some unpleasant symptoms, kennel cough is highly treatable, especially in young and otherwise healthy dogs who are looked after by a family or rescue shelter.

Common symptoms of the condition include a strong cough with a "honking" sound, which can explain why the husky in the TikTok post was coughing in such a pronounced way.

Other symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, lethargy and a loss of appetite. Pet owners that spot any of these concerns in their dogs should seek the professional support of a vet.

"Although kennel cough is easily treatable in healthy dogs, Kevin Fitzgerald, DVM, a columnist for AKC Family Dog, explains that it's important to report any coughing symptom to your veterinarian because it could be a sign of a more serious disease," the AKC writes online.

The TikTok post can be seen here.

Newsweek reached out to @SophiaCasola via TikTok for comment.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

About the writer

Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and human-interest features on a variety of topics ranging from relationships, pets, and personal finances to health, work, travel, and family dynamics. She has covered current affairs, social issues, and lifestyle stories extensively.

Melissa joined Newsweek in 2023 from Global's LBC and had previously worked at financial news publication WatersTechnology, tmrw Magazine, The Times and The Sunday Times, Greater London-based radio broadcaster Insanity Radio, and alongside other journalists or producers for research purposes. Since joining Newsweek, Melissa has been especially focused on covering under-reported women's health and social issues, and has spent a large part of her time researching the physical and mental impact of both the contraceptive pill and abusive relationships.

Prior to that, Melissa had been specialized in reporting on financial technology and data news, political news, and current affairs. She has covered data management news from industry giants like Bloomberg and Symphony, alongside the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K economy's 2022-pound sterling crash, multiple National Health Service (NHS) strikes, and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran.

A show that she produced and presented at the Greater London-based community radio station, Insanity Radio, was awarded 'Best Topical News Show' and the runner up award for 'Best New Radio Show' on the network.

She is a graduate in MA History from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Languages: English, Persian.

You can get in touch with Melissa by emailing m.afshar@newsweek.com.

You can follow her on X or Instagram at @melissafleura.


Melissa Fleur Afshar is a Newsweek reporter based in London, United Kingdom.

Her current focus is on trending life stories and ... Read more