When My Dog Acts Like Something Is Stick in His Throat, Is He Choking?
It’s possible that your dog could be choking from something that he ate. You will know because he will be showing signs like excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth, making choking sounds, and he may have his face on the ground.
As you know, choking is very serious. If the object is blocking his airways, he could get blue and may collapse at any minute. Bring him to the animal hospital or clinic nearest you as soon as you can.
Is something really stuck in my dog’s throat?
If your dog has been retching, coughing, and appears to be removing something from its throat, there’s a chance that a foreign body might be stuck and needs to be removed. While most cases of retching and coughing in dogs are associated with respiratory disease, there are rare instances where a foreign body is partially obstructing the upper airways or larynx causing coughing and retching. Even the smallest foreign body ingested and stuck in the laryngeal area of a dog is enough to cause severe irritation and inflammation and result in persistent coughing and post-tussive retching.
Diagnosis is of utmost importance in trying to determine what the cause of the coughing and post-tussive retching is. Your vet will perform a thorough physical exam to assess if the clinical signs are caused by respiratory disease or a foreign body obstruction. Diagnostic imaging such as radiographs (x-rays) can be helpful if the foreign body lodged in the patient’s throat is relatively big. In some cases, using a contrast medium like Barium Sulfate can help determine the extent of obstruction, an important aspect in deciding if an immediate and aggressive treatment approach is necessary.
Definitive diagnosis can be achieved through an endoscopic exam. This procedure provides real-time visualization of the patient’s throat and larynx to confirm the presence of a foreign body. The instrument used in endoscopic exams, called an endoscope, can have an attachment that will allow your vet to remove the foreign body during the procedure. In cases of laryngeal obstruction by a relatively large foreign body, surgical intervention may be needed.
Dog Coughing Treatment
A case of canine cough will be treated depending on what is causing the cough in the first place. If the cough is caused by some kind of infection — kennel cough, pneumonia, respiratory infections, etc. — antibiotics will likely be prescribed to help your dog’s immune system fight off the bacteria. Often, cough suppressants are given in conjunction to help ease the symptoms.
A case of tracheal collapse may require surgery to correct, although medications can be given to help suppress coughing, dilate the airways, and help your dog breathe easier.
Lung cancer will most likely be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Heart disease might be treated with a combination of medications and even surgery in severe cases.
Dog Coughing Sounds Like a Hairball: Do This
If your dog has started making an odd honking sound, it can be a bit concerning. It’s a strange noise that sounds a bit like an angry goose, and it may seem like your dog is having a respiratory issue that needs immediate veterinary attention.
That honking sound is called reverse sneezing, and fortunately, in most cases, it doesn’t require any medical treatment. It’s also known as Pharyngeal Gag Reflex or Paroxysmal Respiration. Reverse sneezing often sounds worse than it actually is, but it can indicate a more serious problem.
There are some telltale signs of a reverse sneeze that are fairly common. Chances are your dog will extend their neck as they gasp, snort, and make loud grunting sounds. They may turn their elbows out and their eyes may bulge a bit. Their chest might expand as they try to get more air into their lungs.
This is because the trachea is narrowed, and your dog may be having some trouble taking in air.
A reverse sneeze is triggered by an irritant in the throat and soft palate. The causes of this irritation are various and rarely a cause for concern.
It may sound like your dog is choking, coughing, or having an asthma attack, but the episode is likely to end in a few minutes without harm to your dog.
Anything that causes irritation to the throat or soft palate can trigger reverse sneezing. The causes range from harmless to more serious, but are usually nothing to worry about.
An individual episode of reverse honking will likely end on its own after a few seconds or minutes at the most. It’s rarely a cause for alarm. You may, however, want to note the cause of the irritation if you can identify it and steer clear of it in the future.
For example, if the cause is a certain kind of perfume, you may want to avoid using it near your dog. If the cause is pulling on the leash, it may be time for some obedience training for calmer on-leash behavior.
Antihistamines can be effective in suppressing reverse sneezing caused by allergens. You should consult your vet about your dog’s allergies. Your vet may prescribe medication, or you can discuss some ways to treat allergies naturally.
You can also try massaging your dog’s throat to bring an end to the episode more quickly. This can help stop the spasm.
You might also try covering your dog’s nostrils for a quick moment, which will cause them to swallow and potentially clear the irritant from their throat.
In the unlikely event that the honking continues, you can try depressing your dog’s tongue to open the mouth and move air to the lungs and through the nostrils.
Though reverse honking is generally not a cause for concern and leaves no harmful after effects, you may wish to consult your vet if you suspect allergies or a viral infection. Your vet will be able to rule out these causes and give you further advice on how to avoid potential irritants.