My dog has chronic hacking and belly grumbles. What's wrong?

Hi. Sorry to hear Riley is acting abnormal. Hacking could be coughing/respiratory in nature, or it could be GI in nature. Possibilities include upper respiratory infections, reflux, fungal infections, nausea, and many GI/tummy problems. To determine or lead us towards finding the cause, Riley will need an exam, and most likely some x-rays of abdomen or chest. Unfortunately he will need a veterinarian to examine him to start. Good luck

Sometimes persistent coughing or hacking can be a signs of allergies but it can also indicate something like tracheal deviation or heart enlargement. Since it has been going on for so long, I recommend to have Brealynn examined by the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

Aww Marty is so handsome!! So part of this equation is how often is this happening? Is it just once or twice a week? In that case, I’m in the camp of “continue to watch and wait”. If this is daily or multiple times a day some further investigation is needed. You need to discuss the following with your vet but some possible next steps include: Recheck X-rays if it has been 3 months or more since his last set. If not done before, also include views of the neck as sometimes a mass in the throat or neck can cause this. Testing for locally occurring fungal diseases if applicable and/or trial treatment with an antifungal medication. Trial treatment with a short course of steroids. CT scan if available in your area. Sedated/anesthetized laryngeal exam. Best wishes to you and Marty!

Hello! I would recommend taking Mercy into the vet to be checked. Excessive hacking isn't a normal behavior. Sometimes dogs that chew on sticks can get sharp pieces stuck in their tonsils, which gives them a constantly scratchy throat. It could be that the hacking is actually a cough and a sign of an respiratory problem, such as bronchitis. Some dogs also experience acid-reflux, which can cause hacking. Your vet can perform a physical exam and listen for signs of inflammation in her lungs, and may recommend some sedation for a thorough oral examination to ensure she doesn't have anything stuck in the back of her throat. I would recommend trying to get video of her hacking behavior prior to visiting the vet, as this will greatly help them differentiate the cause. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. Unfortunately, it will take a hands on exam & some diagnostic tests such as x-rays to definitively say what is going on. She may have some chronic reflux & that is why the Pepcid seems to help. I would definitely take her off the grain free diet & switch her to a sensitive stomach formula. Hill's has an over the counter food for this. The reason I recommend this is many grain free foods actually have more fat added for taste & Mia may have some problems digesting the extra fat. I would try this first, then possibly go to a limited ingredient food made for allergies in dogs. There may also be an infectious component to the cough, so we really cannot rule out chronic bronchitis or heartworm disease. And some of the grain free diets have been linked with heart disease. Your veterinarian can determine if this is a heart problem, pulmonary one, or some kind of esophageal reflux. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.,

This could be your dog coughing hard, and that could be caused by a respiratory disease or heart disease. Given your dog's age, heart disease would be my first concern. Because this is daily and frequent, he should see a vet as soon as possible. I'd take him in today if possible or first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The symptom you are describing could indicate an infection, allergies, respiratory disease, etc. If this has not resolved by now or it is worsening, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.