Why is my dog suddenly coughing and obsessively licking things?

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.

Hi and thanks for posting. Coughing can have a variety of causes- respiratory infections, allergies, bronchitis among others. Licking a leg may indicate an allergy or can be a sign of pain. I would recommend Blu see his veterinarian soon for an exam and further evaluation. Your vet may recommend x-rays to get a better look at his lungs and legs. He may need antibiotics, pain medication, or other medications depending on what the vet's diagnosis is. I hope this helps!

Rolley's cough could be due to heart disease, infectious diseases (heartworm disease, pneumonia, etc.), chronic bronchitis, collapsing trachea, among other conditions. A cough that is significant enough to wake him up and affect his quality of life must be assessed by a vet. Rolley should have a physical exam, chest x-rays, and heartworm test as a starting point to determine the cause of his cough so that it can be treated appropriately.

Oh no, poro Kali! It sounds like she could be nauseous, as that causes dogs to lick their lips excessively and drool. It may be she ate something that upset her stomach, or she could have a GI illness. I can give you a home remedy to try to see if that helps her. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) and white rice in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If she continues to have these symptoms, or gets additional ones such as vomiting, lethargy, or anorexia, then I would have her seen by a vet. As for the coughing, monitor it for now. Should the coughing continue, she could be suffering from a respiratory infection or cardiac disease, and then she should see a vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Valkrie. She appears to have salivary staining around her hind quarters. When a dog licks inflamed skin excessively, the saliva stains the hair brown. This is why you are not able to wash her coat clean. The cause of her itching needs to be identified and controlled. Then she will stop licking allowing the skin to heal. She could have an allergy to something in her environment, diet or even to fleas. Anal gland issues can cause irritation in the same area. She will need to see her veterinarian to determine the best course of treatment. The cough can be addressed at the same visit. She may have an upper respiratory tract infection or be irritated from all the hair from licking. In the meantime, place an E-collar on her to prevent further licking. I hope this information helps!

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.

There are quite a few things that can cause a cough like this. Some common possibilities would include allergies, chronic bronchitis, a collapsing trachea, or heart disease. If the cough has been going on for a while, I would recommend discussing options for further work-up with your vet to help determine what is causing it. Diagnostic testing such as general blood work (a CBC and chemistry panel), chest x-rays, and heartworm testing would all be helpful, if these tests haven't been done already.