There it is again—that horrible sound coming from your dog at night that almost reminds you of a goose honking in their sleep, and it’s almost always followed by a harsh gagging sound. Show
While dog gagging can be a benign behavior, there are things you need to know and be aware of so that you know when it is time to visit your veterinarian. The Difference Between Dog Gagging, Coughing and Vomiting, and Why It’s ImportantDog gagging is sort of a nonscientific description of the noise an animal makes usually just before or after a cough. It sounds sort of like they are trying to vomit while also coughing. There is a difference between coughing, vomiting and dog gagging, and it is important to be able to distinguish between them. If you can take a video of the behavior, it will help your veterinarian to distinguish what is happening. Loosely speaking, however, when a dog coughs, this really doesn’t bring anything up, other than perhaps spraying some saliva or some mucus, which is usually quickly swallowed. When a dog vomits, it is usually pretty obvious because food or stomach contents wind up on the floor. Dog gagging usually happens in conjunction with a cough. When a dog is gagging, they may widely open their mouth and make a retching sort of sound. But unlike with vomiting, nothing will come out of the dog’s mouth except just a small amount of mucus that may or may not be swallowed. With gagging, there will be no expulsion of stomach contents, like with vomiting. It is important to notice whether your dog COUGHS and then gags or GAGS and then coughs. Believe it or not, it does matter. For a veterinarian, the order in which these two actions happen can help them determine which types of diseases they need to be considering. What Causes Dog Gagging?Gagging is caused by inflammation in the area of the larynx. There are a number of things that can cause a dog to gag, and it will often require a veterinary exam to sort the problems out. When a dog coughs first and then gags, we are commonly thinking about problems which cause bronchitis and lower respiratory disease. When a dog gags first and then coughs, we are considering things along the lines of dysfunction of the larynx. 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. There are other infectious diseases that can also cause gagging, and a more severe disease—pneumonia—can sometimes cause gagging in dogs, as well. Laryngeal paralysis can occur often in older Labrador Retrievers. In this condition, the larynx no longer closes properly, allowing some food and fluid to access the airway. Another feature of this condition is a very loud, harsh panting. Laryngeal paralysis often starts out subtly and worsens with time. When Should I Be Concerned About a Dog Gagging?Just like us, every dog sometimes swallows wrong and has a bout of dog coughing and gagging, so this isn’t a problem to immediately be concerned about. If your pet is bright, alert, breathing normally, eating and drinking as expected, and appears to be feeling fine, you should monitor the problem for 48-72 hours. If the gagging lasts longer than this, it may well be something more significant than just some minor reaction from swallowing wrong. If any other symptoms are present—your dog appears worried or distressed, is having ANY trouble breathing, has an increase in noise during breathing, or is not feeling well in any fashion—I would recommend an exam sooner rather than later. Whenever the respiratory system is not quite right, we tend to take the condition seriously as veterinarians. So, if you sense something isn’t right, I would recommend taking steps to get it diagnosed. What Can a Veterinarian Do to Help Dog Gagging?What happens at the veterinary appointment will vary quite a lot depending on the specifics of what your dog is displaying. In all cases, a complete physical examination is indicated. Sometimes, the doctor may be able to make a tentative diagnosis based on this exam alone. Other times, some additional tests may be required. The most common initial tests include blood work (looking specifically for signs of infection) as well as radiographs of the neck and lungs. Particularly, if the veterinarian is concerned that laryngeal paralysis is a possibility—or if the dog may have swallowed some foreign material such as a ball that is lodged—sedation may also be required for a complete exam of the larynx. The good news is that most cases of dog gagging are relatively straightforward to treat. Even the causes that are more significant, such as from pneumonia or laryngeal paralysis, do have treatments available to either cure or significantly reduce the gagging and make your dog more comfortable. By: Dr. Sandra Mitchell Featured Image: iStock.com/Blaza1980
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. Some dogs have coughing fits every few minutes, while other dogs are constantly coughing throughout the day. The cough usually sets in 5 to 10 days after initial infection and can last up to 3 weeks. Kennel cough, or Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, is an upper respiratory infection that affects dogs of all ages. Caused by a range of different viruses and bacteria, kennel cough’s main symptom is inflammation of the dog’s upper respiratory tract, including the larynx and windpipe. This inflammation leads to the most well-known symptom: the cough. What Are Other Signs of Kennel Cough?Though the signature cough is the main symptom of kennel cough, there are other symptoms that can serve as warning signs of the infection, such as:
In some cases, usually in puppies or older dogs with compromised immune systems, kennel cough can lead to a more serious infection that manifests as pneumonia and secondary bacterial infections. Serious symptoms like the following are signs of these severe cases:
What Causes Kennel Cough?Kennel cough is caused by a range of different viruses and bacteria that are inhaled by the dog into its respiratory tract. Sometimes the infection is a combination of both a virus and a bacterium. The most common kennel cough bacteria strain is Bordetella bronchiseptica, and the most common kennel cough viral strains are canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes, parainfluenza virus, and canine reovirus. These viruses are generally seen in conjunction with a second bacterial infection, as the viral infection weakens the immune system, making it easier for the bacteria to take hold. Kennel Cough TreatmentsKennel cough generally resolves all on its own without any treatment. Most cases clear up in 3 weeks, with dogs returning to their normal behaviors, eating habits, and personalities. However, there are a few home remedies that can ease symptoms to keep dogs more comfortable for the duration of the infection. For example, keeping the dog in a humid environment can help soothe the dry cough and reduce the frequency of coughing fits. Try using a portable humidifier to add more moisture to the air if necessary. If the dog exhibits serious symptoms or the infection doesn’t seem to be clearing on its own, it’s time to see the veterinarian. Be sure to call the office before coming by so the vet can prep their exam table and minimize infection exposure for other dogs and animals. Most vets prescribe antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection. They can also prescribe cough medicine to calm the cough. Updated July 17, 2022 ‘Emergency Care’ (details below) How to Tell Reverse Sneezing from Choking
If in doubt, see a vet immediately. True choking is often fatal. No vet will criticise you for being careful, even if there is nothing wrong. Now dive deeper… Reverse sneezing is dramatic and scary. Many times a dog in the middle of a bout has been rushed to me for choking. That’s not an unreasonable thought when you see what it looks like. However, while certainly unpleasant to the dog, reverse sneezing is virtually harmless. Since most dogs will do it at some time, it’s important for dog owners to understand. What Is Reverse Sneezing?Reverse sneezing is repetitive sucking of air through the nose, accompanied by a harsh grunting, snorting or gagging noise. It can last anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds, during which the dog stands with outstretched neck, lips drawn back and a ‘far away’ expression. The noise is created by air passing between the nasal passages and the soft palate. When you watch these dogs in the videos, it looks like they do it to itch the throat or nose. I believe they deliberately push the soft palate against the back of the throat in order to create the vibration that we hear. What Causes Reverse Sneezing?Reverse sneezing is never normal. It occurs due to irritation of a part of the throat called the nasopharynx up behind the nasal passages. Common causes of throat irritation are:
The last video shows a dog with rhinitis. This characteristic noise is nasal stertor, not reverse sneezing. It’s caused by something irritating the nasal passages. Often the causes are the same as above, so it’s not a terrible mistake to make. However, the location of the problem is different, so you might like to look at the causes of true sneezing in dogs too. For most dogs, an occasional reverse sneeze is acceptable and no cause for alarm. However, if your dog has started reverse sneezing constantly or is getting worse then you need to help. It’s also worth reading our page on the causes of coughing in dogs. How To Stop Reverse SneezingReverse sneezing is a semi-voluntary behaviour, so anything that distracts or disrupts your dog will often stop it. This might include picking a dog up, rubbing the throat, pinching the nostrils or even a tasty treat. However, just like any other itch, you aren’t fixing the underlying irritation, just suppressing the symptoms. To stop reverse sneezing properly, you need to recognise and treat the cause. Treatment of Reverse SneezingReverse sneezing is treated by reducing the irritation to the airways. Always start with a diagnosis from the vet of the likely cause.
What Else Causes Dogs To Cough?Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you of more serious diseases that can be confused with reverse sneezing.
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Why does my dog sound like hes choking?
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