What to do if your Dog is Retching
Vomiting or retching that occurs often in your dog should be a cause for concern. Your veterinarian should be informed of all the signs you have noticed, if the retching has been accompanied by any vomited material or has been unproductive, if your dog has eaten anything he shouldn’t have recently, and his general eating habits. A physical examination may include feeling his abdomen for any bloat and checking the skin elasticity. Any samples of vomited material can be examined. Often, bloodwork, a urinalysis and fecal testing are performed.
Imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and fluoroscopy can reveal the presence of an obstruction, tumor, a twisted stomach, or a collapsing trachea. Exploratory endoscopy or surgery may be needed to definitely diagnose the problem causing the retching.
Treatment will follow according to the condition in your dog. Your veterinarian may attempt to induce vomiting in some cases. Immediate surgery may be needed for obstructions or impactions in the throat or intestines, or for a twisted stomach. These can be life-threatening conditions that will need to be remedied without delay. Appropriate fluids and anesthesia will be given. Any infections or viruses, such as those implicated in kennel cough, can be treated with antibiotics, cough suppressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Dogs with kennel cough will need to be isolated from other dogs to prevent spreading this disease.
While a case of simple bloat is relieved through belching or retching, gastric dilation can benefit from stomach pumping. There is no cure for a collapsed trachea, but it can be managed with cough suppressants, anti-inflammatories, bronchodilators, antibiotics to control infections, and keeping the dog’s weight under control, as obesity can complicate the condition. Surgically, an expandable stent or a rigid prosthesis can be inserted.
It may be hard to predict when your dog may succumb to an illness, but there are steps you can take to prevent his risk. Monitor your dog’s area for items he may eat that could cause an obstruction, and teach him good eating habits that discourage the intake of too much air during meals. Vaccinating your dog can lower his risk of becoming infected by many types of viruses and bacteria. If you have a breed that is at a higher risk for GDV, you can have your dog’s stomach surgically tacked to prevent this potentially fatal condition from occurring. This is a procedure that is often performed at the time of a spay or neuter.
Costs for treatment of a condition that can cause retching in your dog can vary considerably. For more serious conditions, such as the respiratory kennel cough, treatment can average $650. A throat obstruction that needs more serious treatment can range from $1200 to $6000, while a collapsed trachea can average $1800. A GDV, or bloat, can be life threatening and quite expensive to resolve.
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What do I do if my dog is dry heaving?
If your dog is dry heaving you should treat it as an emergency and take your dog to the vet right away. Issues like bloat and foreign objects stuck in the throat can be fatal and require immediate medical assistance.
If your dog is suffering from another medical issue causing dry heaving, such as kennel cough, your vet will be able to diagnose the issue and guide you on the appropriate treatment for your pup.
Why Is My Dog Dry Heaving?
Dogs dry heave all the time, for a variety of reasons. Generally speaking, it’s because they’re feeling nauseated. While this can be due to an underlying illness, most of the time, it’s a temporary thing that will soon pass.
Many dogs eat grass, and since they can’t digest it, they’ll often retch trying to bring it back up. If your dog’s unable to vomit all the grass back up, you’ll likely find it in their poop in a day or so.
Some dog retching is caused because they’re feeling hungry. If it’s been a while since your pup has eaten anything, consider offering them some food. Try to keep it bland, though, so limit the options to a high-protein kibble or something like chicken and rice.
Occasionally, though, dry heaving can be the sign of something more sinister. Dogs might retch due to foreign objects or tumors in the throat, respiratory disease, bloat, or ingesting a poisonous substance. While all of these are undesirable, the last two can be fatal.
If your dog is only dry heaving every now and then, you probably have nothing to worry about — the retching is their way of solving the problem. If it’s frequent or especially bad, however, you should consult a doctor.
Watching your dog gag can be terrifying, as you’ll likely be concerned that they’ll choke to death right in front of you. However, gagging is usually caused by an inflammation of the larynx, not an obstruction of the airway.
There can be any number of reasons that a dog gags, including irritation caused by dust or smoke in the air, inhaled bits of food, or a respiratory disease like kennel cough.
You should do a little investigation to see if you can spot the reason that your dog is gagging. If the cause is obvious, like sniffing around in a dusty area, then you should have nothing to worry about. If the cause isn’t immediately obvious and the gagging continues, you should probably take your dog to the vet.
Some dogs can experience something called laryngeal paralysis. This is caused by the larynx not closing properly, allowing food, dust, and other debris to enter the airway. Some breeds are more prone to this than others, especially Labradors, Irish Setters, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Weimaraners, and Great Danes.
Why does my dog keep gagging but not throwing up (Causes, Reasons and What to do) Explained
It’s the sound that no dog owner wants to hear: their dog retching as they try to regurgitate something they ate.
While these noises are never a good sign, what do they mean exactly? When should you be concerned? After all, you don’t want to rush your dog to the vet only to find out they just ate a few blades of grass, but you don’t want to take any chances with their life either.
Below, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about this behavior, including when it’s time to worry.