My dog is coughing, dry heaving, and won't eat. Should I worry?

If the vomiting occurs at the end of a coughing fit then it is likely to be related to the kennel cough. I know it can be pretty scary, and make them quite poorly too. However, the worse is over in 3 days then things start to look a bit better. Kennel cough has its own course of about a week but can last 10 days or even a bit longer if the immune system is a bit depressed for other reasons.Have you tried to offer small amount of food throughout the day ? Something like Hill’s A/D or RCW recovery that you could mix with water and then just offer lukewarm. It is a diet that is quite rich in energy so he would not need to eat as much as his normal food. The most important thing in the acute phase, the first 3-4 days from when its starts, is supportive care. Make sure Peanut rests, encourage him to eat a palatable diet, keep comfortable, warm but not too hot. If you are worried, that he is vomiting all the time, he is too lethargic, have him checked over, better to be safer than sorry.

With his consistent symptoms, I recommend having him seen by the vet. There are many causes of respiratory symptoms, including heart disease, and I’m a bit concerned about his decreased exercise tolerance. Cantona may need medication to manage what’s driving his symptoms. Your vet will likely recommend chest x-rays to different a respiratory problem from a heart problem. Hope this helps!

Poor Jax. He likely had Kennel cough (upper respiratory infection). His cough is productive and poses risk for traveling lower in the airway causing further complications, so it is imperative you get Jax seen by your vet and placed on a short course of antibiotics to clear things up right away. This is the only effective treatment for Kennel Cough in dogs.

Hello. At this age, Shortie needs a good workup by your veterinarian. A cough can be from many causes including inflammation, bronchitis, pneumonia, tumors & heart disease. No appetite can also result from the above, but also from oral infections, liver, kidney or other endocrine diseases. So in order to help him, you need to know what is or is not going on with him. With a proper diagnosis, the appropriate treatment can be started to help Shortie feel much better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, at 5 months of age the most common reason for coughing/choking is kennel cough. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam and medications. This can progress to a pneumonia quickly and in a small 2# dog this can be extremely serious. I am very worried about this as you stated he was weak and lost his appetite. I don't suggest that you continue to perform any "first aid" for choking on a dog this small as you can easily injury him. I assure you that it is very unlikely he has something stuck in his throat. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It could be kennel cough, scratch in the throat from chewing on hard objects or swelling in the throat from being stung in the throat by an insect. As long as your dog is acting as normal, eating food and keeping it down you should monitor him at home. Kennel cough symptoms usually resolve within 7-10 days without treatment. However, if your dog continues to cough or becomes lethargic and off food, you should get him checked by your local vets.

This sounds like he may have an upper respiratory condition. This could be something as common as kennel cough, especially if you take Bakster to dog parks or if he has contact with other dogs. Usually, kennel cough is self-limiting, ie goes away within 3-4 weeks without treatment. It is caused by a number of different virusesw and bacteria, the most well-known being Bordetella bronchiseptica. Treatment is only necessary if the coughing get s excessive, and/or Bakster gets a fever or otherwise appears ill. You should take Bakster to a vet for an exam if he shows any signs of breathing problems, lethargy, not eating and/or drinking. Treatment for upper respiratory disease consists of cough medicine and antibiotics if indicated.