Dog Coughing and Gagging

Our pets stay vulnerable to develop several kinds of diseases, and one of them is the condition of coughing and gagging. This is however, an occasional incidence in all canines. Mild reasons for dog gagging and coughing could be as simple as a tight collar or aging. Such factors do not cause the condition to prolong for a very long time. However, if you notice that your pet is showing these symptoms with a non-stop pace or if you see that the condition lessens and recur, then you might have some pretty good reasons to take your pet to a veterinarian. More often than not, it is something that might have gotten caught in the animal's throat or esophagus. Apart from this, there could be a variety of medical conditions which may manifest themselves through this condition.

Meaning of Dog Coughing and Gagging

# Speaking about any foreign objects that may get stuck in the throat or esophagus of the animal, common culprits may include small rubber ball, bones, bone splinters, string, etc. Symptoms which might indicate if such an incidence has occurred usually include drooling, attempting to throw up, regurgitate or retching.

# As said earlier, your dog coughing at night or at any time of the day, could also be an indicator of some underlying condition in its body. According to experts, the most common offenders include kennel cough, condition of rhinitis and sinusitis, and roundworm infestation.

• Kennel cough is known to be a serious form of respiratory problem in dogs. It is also known to be highly contagious. Apart from gagging, other kennel cough symptoms in dogs may include dry cough and retching.
• If your dog is suffering from nasal discharge, then he might have developed rhinitis or sinusitis. The discharge would be thick and foul-smelling. Even this condition may cause the animal to gag constantly.
• In the case of roundworm infestation, the larvae can make its way into the air sacs of the lungs, and cause the animal to gag and cough. Incidences of coughing and vomiting may be accompanied by diarrhea. Roundworm infection is commonly diagnosed in puppies, and it rarely affects adult canines.

# In some cases, the cause could be an anatomical defect wherein, the soft palate gets elongated. This results in obstruction of the airway during breathing thus, causing the same condition.

# Tracheal Collapse also comes into consideration when your dog keeps coughing and gagging. As the name suggests, this condition is defined by the progressive weakening of the tracheal rings. Small breed dogs, elderly and overweight canines are more prone to develop this condition.

# Other possible causes could include problems with the heart such as congestive heart failure, parasitic disease such as coccidosis, internal parasites, or allergies.

Symptoms

It is important for dog owners to be aware of any abnormal signs and symptoms that their pets may exhibit. If their pets show the below symptoms apart from persistent coughing or gagging then they must be taken to a vet at the earliest.

• Coughing accompanied by white foam
• Nasal discharge that has been in progress for over two days
• Difficulty in swallowing food and water
• Gums that have become red and swollen
• Drooling more excessively than usual
• Long-lasting diarrhea and vomiting
• Fever
• Unusually lethargic
• Heavy panting
• Pain in closing and opening mouth
• Vomiting blood
• Coughing accompanied by constant pawning at the mouth
• Foul breath
• Anxious for no apparent reasons

As far as the treatment is concerned, it should be known that you cannot treat your pet with any home remedies. Once you notice the symptoms getting prolonged for over two days, you should take it as a sure indication that your pet needs medical help. Your mute friend won't be able to tell you about the pain and discomfort he is going through. It is you who has to notice his problems, understand the symptoms, and pull him out of his misery.