Kennel cough is usually mild and self-limiting, but sometimes it can cause more severe illness. If you've had a dog with kennel cough, you've heard the sound: a dry hack often followed by retching or gagging. Some people describe it as sounding like a cat hacking up a hairball.

Why does my dog sound like she has a hairball in her throat?

Kennel cough is a dry, hacking, persistent cough that can sound like the dog has something stuck in its throat. This dry hack is often followed by gagging or retching that sounds like the dog is coughing up a hairball, like a cat.

What does it mean when my dog is gagging but not throwing up?

Sore Throat & Tonsilitis

Like humans, your dog's tonsils can become swollen and inflamed, causing a sore throat. This could potentially interfere with your dog's swallowing and natural gag reflex. If your dog has swollen tonsils it can cause repeated gagging and dry heaving.

Can dogs get kennel cough at home?

Your dog can pick it up anywhere, but most cases happen after your dog has been near an infected dog or had contact with contaminated objects. The current medical name for kennel cough in veterinary circles is canine infectious respiratory disease complex, or CIRD.

Why is my dog coughing like he has something stuck in his throat?

If your dog is hacking or constantly making noises that make it sound like they are choking on something, they may have a case of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), or kennel cough, or sometimes called canine infectious tracheobronchitis.

Dog Coughing Sounds Like a Hairball: Do This

Will kennel cough go away on its own?

Kennel cough is rarely severe, and uncomplicated kennel cough will usually go away on its own. However, medications are commonly given to help your dog recover quicker and prevent the condition from worsening. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, take them to the vet for an examination.

Why is my dog coughing like something is stuck in his throat and eating grass?

As a result, dirt, grass, and other unwelcome materials can easily get into their throats, often causing irritation and coughing. The occasional cough could mean your dog's just clearing their throat, while a chronic cough could mean you need to visit your veterinarian for treatment options.

What can I give my dog to stop coughing and gagging?

You may be able to give your older dog a spoonful of honey combined with coconut oil to help them get over a case of kennel cough. Other options may include wild cherry bark syrup or an over-the-counter dog cough suppressant. Be sure to speak to your vet first.

What home remedy can I give my dog for coughing?

Generally, you can give your dog 1 teaspoon of honey with their meals to help soothe their irritated throats. Try placing it on top of their food or allow them to lick it off a spoon. Alternatively, you can mix the honey with a little warm water and squirt it into your dog's throat with a syringe.

How did my indoor dog get kennel cough?

Places like boarding kennels, dog daycare facilities, dog parks, dog training groups, and dog shows, or even your local dog-friendly brewery or cafe. Dogs can spread kennel cough to one another through airborne droplets, direct contact (like touching noses), or contaminated surfaces (including water or food bowls).

Why does my dog keep sounding like he's going to throw up?

Balls, rocks, sticks, tissues, and other non-edible things can become lodged in the esophagus or trachea and cause a blockage. This can lead to gagging, retching, and vomiting. Other signs there is something caught in your dog's throat might include audible breathing noises, drooling, pawing at the face, and pacing.

When should I be concerned about my dog gagging?

Older dogs will be especially susceptible to gagging because they can produce more mucus, this will cause them to gag occasionally. Recurring gagging or non-stop gagging is a cause for concern and will require veterinary intervention.

Why is my senior dog coughing and gagging?

Coughing in the older dog is often related to airway inflammation, airway collapse or bronchiectasis. Definitive diagnosis can require blood tests, radiography and airway sampling under anesthesia. Chronic diseases typically need long-term management and can be variably controlled, but rarely cured.

Why is my dog coughing and gagging but nothing comes up?

Foreign Object in Throat

Another serious cause of dry heaving in a dog could be a foreign object stuck in their throat. A dog with a dry heaving cough could be trying to clear a blocked airway. If at all possible you should have the object removed by an emergency vet.

How to help a dog pass a hairball?

Laxatives and digestive aids, including pumpkin, to help break down or pass hairballs when they occur are available and can be administered to dogs that are prone to accumulating hairballs. Ensuring your dog is well hydrated so their digestive system will naturally pass hair accumulations.

What does a heartworm cough sound like?

The first and most obvious symptom of heartworm in dogs is the persistent cough, which is often likened to the sound of a goose hoking. This goose honk cough occurs whether the dog has been active or not, but it is more common after a dog has just exerted himself in some way.

Why does my dog cough like something stuck in his throat?

Choking in dogs is a common emergency. It's typically caused by a foreign object getting stuck in the throat, or by objects getting wrapped tightly around the neck. Choking can be life-threatening so it's vital that you contact your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now, immediately.

What OTC meds can I give my dog for cough?

Dextromethorphan temporarily suppresses coughing in dogs that are suffering from mild irritation of the airway, thereby reducing the risk of the condition worsening through the strenuous act of coughing.

Why does it sound like my dog is trying to cough something up?

A dry, hacking cough can sound like a dog is trying to dislodge something from their throat or mouth. A raspy-sounding, hacking cough can be a symptom of kennel cough, a contagious upper respiratory illness that dogs often get from places where many dogs congregate.

How do I know if my dog's cough is serious?

You should take your dog to the vet for coughing if: They are coughing up blood (emergency) They are showing signs of having an injury or a foreign body (emergency) They are showing signs of poisoning (emergency)

Why does my dog keep coughing gagging like he's choking at night?

Two very common things that can cause gagging in dogs are infectious problems and laryngeal paralysis. Kennel cough, which is a type of respiratory infection, is a common cause of dog gagging, which results in a harsh, goose-like cough, sometimes followed by a gag.

How do I soothe my dog's cough?

Give your dog half to one teaspoon of honey, mixed with a little warm water. Give as it is, mixed with some food, or add the honey to some lovely soothing sage tea.

How do I clear my dog's throat?

Carefully hold your dog on your lap and turn them onto their back, then using the palm of your hand apply pressure right beneath the rib cage and push firmly inwards and upwards 5 times in a thrusting motion. Roll your dog back onto their side and check their mouth for the food or object that was causing the issue.

Why does my dog keep coughing and gagging up spit?

Health problems that cause coughing include kennel cough, respiratory infections, heart disease, fungal infections, lungworm, heartworm and distemper. If your dog's cough is persistent, contact your vet. If your dog coughs up white foam, treat this as an emergency.

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