Why does my puppy keep gagging but not throwing up? Expert Advice

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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My Dog Is Gagging But Not Throwing Up – Is It A Problem?

Dog gagging is the noise that your dog makes just before or after a cough. It might sound like your dog is also trying to vomit and cough at the same time.

The usual time when a dog starts coughing was when it had too much to eat. The contents of the food might have begun to come up from the stomach. This overeating might have resulted in the food coming up into the throat. Overeating tends to make a dog vomit up on the floor.

Why does my puppy keep gagging but not throwing up?

Something is trapped in their airway

If your dog is coughing or gagging and it started while they were eating, chewing on a bone, or playing with toys, they could have gotten something stuck in their airway.

You’ll want to monitor your dog to ensure they’re eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom normally – as issues here can be a sign of a blockage.

If this is a rare occurrence, and it resolves quickly there is probably nothing to worry about. If your dog is frequently coughing or gagging after eating, drinking, or playing with toys it may be cause for concern. See your vet for an exam to rule out a blockage or a tumor that could be causing things to get stuck. If your dog is choking, you may need to administer the Heimlich maneuver, which isn’t performed the same as in humans.

While healthy hydration is very important to your pup’s overall health, it is possible for them to drink too quickly. If this is the case, it might cause your dog to gag or cough. This is not serious if it only happens occasionally and only lasts a few minutes. If your dog is consistently drinking too fast you may need to control their water intake so they don’t drink too quickly.

If your dog is nauseous, they may show signs of dry heaving. This can happen both before and after your dog throws up. Occasional vomiting may not be a cause for concern, but if your dog is going more than 24 hours without being able to even keep water down or has any other symptoms like lethargy or a fever, you should call your vet.

If your dog does vomit, you should withhold food and water for a few hours (ask your vet how many) and then start by reintroducing water slowly. You can offer a bland diet including things like lean ground beef, rice and sweet potatoes.

If your dog gets too excited they might gag. You can help them work through their excitement and calm down. If they don’t calm down and continue to gag, you might want to end the activity (or whatever is causing the excitement) or give them a quite place to relax.

Why does my dog keep gagging but not throwing up (Causes, Reasons and What to do) Explained

In this pet Q&A series, the veterinarians and technicians of the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus answer your pet-related questions on health and well-being. However, because of the volume of mail, not all questions can be answered. To ask your pet health question, email [email protected] and be sure to include your name, address and phone number.