Why is my dog coughing and gagging like something is in his throat?

There could be several reasons why your dog is [coughing](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/coughing-1/). He could very well have something stuck in his throat or is trying to vomit something up and can't and will need medical intervention. If the symptoms continue, he needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If you know your dog has ingested something and is indeed [choking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-dog-is-choking), you can perform the Heimlich maneuver if you feel comfortable doing so. A dog who is choking should also be taken to a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. A dog may also be coughing as a result of a viral respiratory infection, like canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, or [kennel cough](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/kennel-cough). The most common symptoms of viral infections in dogs can include lethargy, decreased appetite, coughing, exercise intolerance and an increased breathing rate. If you believe your is showing any of these symptoms in addition to coughing, it is important for him to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Finally, a condition known as "reverse sneezing" might also sound like a cough and can be alarming for pet parents to witness. Reverse sneezing is very common in pets and is usually not a cause for concern. When a dog reverse sneezes, it will often pull its head back and inhale forcefully through the nose and mouth, making a cough-like sound. It is thought to have an [allergic](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/) component as the back portion of the nasal passages work to expel an irritant.

I hate to hear your pet is coughing so much. Unfortunately, it's impossible to know the underlying cause of the coughing without a physical exam and possible radiographs. Pets can cough due to allergies, parasites, collapsing trachea, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, infections or something stuck in the throat. Treatment is different for each of these conditions. I recommend to have your pet examined by again the veterinarian. if a treatment doesn't work, it usually means the true cause of the coughing has not been discovered. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm sorry your dog is having this issue. Kennel cough is typically a dry, almost "honking" cough that can produce a white foamy/mucus substance- they can cough so hard it causes a gag reflex. It usually starts at one time of day and then gets worse and more frequent. Do you have other dogs in your home or neighbor dogs that play with your dog? If so, are they gagging or coughing? Kennel cough is very contagious thus can spread to other dogs in close contact. If you are noticing this, I would contact your vet so they can determine if your dog needs an antibiotic. Some other possibilities for what you are noticing are other respiratory infections, allergies and/or a reverse sneeze or there may be something stuck in your dogs throat (like a grass seed or part of a rawhide chew). Also, some dogs can simply drink too fast especially when it's very hot- this can cause some water to go down "the wrong pipe" and then a gag response. If your dog continues to gag or, especially if the gag becomes more frequent or severe, I would take him back to your vet. Your vet can listen to your dog's lungs for sounds of infection and may want to take a chest X-ray as a next step in working this up. I hope your dog feels better soon!

It's pretty rare that dogs actually get something stuck in the back of the throat. More likely her throat is irritated, or she has an infection like kennel cough. If the cough continues I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian: while it's difficult to see the very back of a dog's throat without sedation, your vet can help determine what is causing the cough.

Hello! This can be a sign of a problem such as a tracheal collapse, but that typically occurs in small breed dogs. I see that Joker is 45 pounds, which makes a tracheal collapse unlikely, but it doesn't sound normal that this is happening. Given that this is a new thing that hasn't happened before, I do think it's best to get him checked out by a vet to be safe. Give his vet a call today to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

It sounds like DanDan may be in a bit of distress and may have something stuck in his throat. Other causes could include irritation of the throat or lungs either from eating something, infection, etc. If he seems in distress and is continually trying to vomit, cough, or gag without results, bringing him to a vet ASAP for an exam is best, especially if he is also lethargic and not acting himself.

It's hard to say, but if there is concern about something being stuck in the throat, I would have Bruno examined by a vet ASAP. Sometimes infections that cause kennel cough can cause these symptoms, but it is safer to rule out a possible foreign body or blockage first.