Why does my parents' sheltie cough?

Hey Sara! I did a bit of research, and there's many forums with senior sheltie parents sharing their responses to this same question. I would bring it to the vet's attention, if the dog only coughed a couple times in a 24hr period, odds are the vet might not have noticed the cough on examination, and it would be important for them to rule out any other issues. I also read about a medication called "Torbutrol", prescribed by a vet and given to dogs for a bad cough and it sounds like it's highly effective. However, it is a narcotic, opiod analgesic as well as anti-tussive (cough suppressant) and pretty expensive. I would weigh the pro's and con's of using a strong medication though, and would only use if you think the cough is affecting your sheltie's quality of life. Another response I saw was about the dogs being overweight, and how the overweight dogs had more issues with the coughing. Maybe you can suggest to your parents (with vet supervision) a doggy diet and see if losing a few pounds would relieve some pressure they might have on their lungs. Either way, getting them to a healthy weight is essential for a long, healthy life :) I hope this was helpful & good luck with your fur baby! -Summer