My dog is coughing and making strange noises. Is it an emergency?

Poor Baxter! If he's isn't very lethargic or having trouble breathing, you can wait until the morning. If he become very lethargic or have trouble breathing, then I would take him into the ER vet now. Best of luck.

It really depends how bad his condition is, if he is very lethargic, barely walking and vomiting very often then you should take him to the emergencies right away, if he is not too lethargic and not vomiting non stop then you can wait until the morning. do not feed him anymore, just leave water available but no food until you manage to get him to the vet.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about George's troubles. Diarrhea can be the result a of a few things - eating something unusual or not good for dogs (dietary indiscretion), toxin ingestion, bacterial or parasitic infection, metabolic diseases, obstruction, etc. Based on George's history of having to go to the emergency hospital before for this, I wouldn't wait much longer. He may have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract and need more intervention than other dogs when he has an issue like this. Another reason I'd have him seen is because he is shaking and lethargic. He could feel painful (maybe he swallowed or ate something strange) and need some help there too and because he's starting to become lethargic. Also, gastrointestinal illnesses can sometimes encourage pancreatitis to develop (inflammation of the pancreas) which can be painful. Also to keep in mind is that the longer diarrhea continues the more likely it is for a patient to become dehydrated, even if they're drinking. I know my answer is pretty long, but I hope it explains why George may need to be seen right away by a doctor. Again I wouldn't wait much longer based on his history. He also seems like he's uncomfortable since he's shaking, so after a few more hours, if there's jo improvement, I'd take him in. Best of luck!

If his respiratory rate is normal, he's eating and drinking, seems to be feeling good (not acting lethargic), and recovers quickly from these coughing fits (within 2ish minutes), I don't think you need to take him to emergency. A mild degree of coughing is to be expected in these guys. Try to get a video if you can, that way when you do take him in, the vet can see the severity of what you are seeing at home. I would recommend you call your vet and see if you can increase the dose of Tussigon. Use the following guidelines for when to take him to ER: *respiratory rate at rest persistently above 40 breaths per minute *unrelenting cough or any coughing fit that causes his tongue to turn a blue or purple color *not eating, or acting increasingly tired and lethargic *any new symptoms arise (vomiting/diarrhea, change in the appearance of his belly such as appearing bloated, etc) I hope that's helpful for you! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

In general, vomiting a worm is not an emergency. Here is a link about dogs and vomiting and it identifies when pets need to be examined right away: https://www.petcoach.co/article/vomiting-in-dogs/ Make sure to have George examined right away if he seems overly lethargic, has pale gums or is exhibiting other signs of illness such as diarrhea or not eating/drinking. George does need to be examined by the veterinarian when you can get him in. If he has one type of worm, he may have others. Additionally, some worms can spread to humans so it is very important to know the parasite status and make sure all pets get appropriate treatment. https://www.petcoach.co/article/can-people-get-worms-from-their-pets/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Labored breathing and vomiting are very concerning signs. In an older, large-breed dog like your girl, I would be worried about bloat as a possible cause of her symptoms - this can be a life-threatening emergency, so needs to be treated right away. Many other things can also cause vomiting, including pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, exposure to something toxic, or an intestinal obstruction. Based on your description, I would recommend taking her to the emergency vet tonight - she may have a serious problem that can't wait until morning.

Hello! Excellent job going ahead and scheduling a vet visit. While from what you describe does not sound urgent there are diseases that still require evaluation by a veterinarian and possibly diagnostics/treatment. One example is Kennel Cough. These dogs usually have a history of being around a lot of other dogs (e.g. dog parks, boarding facilities) and usually causes a dry, hacking cough. But other possible things like bronchitis, collapsing trachea, pneumonia, or heart issues require x-ray to diagnose. It sounds as though your pets attitude is good, he has good energy and is eating and drinking well! These are all good signs and reasons that I would not necessarily run to the emergency room. However, if you feel as though he is declining in any way between now and your appointment you should absolutely take him in sooner rather than later. Hopefully this information is helpful and your pet gets better soon!