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Why is my dog coughing and throwing up white foam but still eating?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | unspayed | 25 lbs

My dog keeps coughing and throwing up white foam. She is eating and drinking still. What could this be?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 24th, 2017

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Coughing can be a symptom caused by many different things. Heart failure, respiratory infections, collapsing trachea, allergies, etc. Can cause coughing. It best to have a veterinarian examine Aurora to rule out different causes. I would consider having chest x-rays done to assess the chest for disease. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns that you may have.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 19th, 2019
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear Prince isn’t feeling well. I recommend taking him to a vet to find out why he isn’t feeling well because it is hard for me to say why he isn’t eating or drinking. A vet will start with an exam- feel his abdomen for pain and listen to his chest for abnormalities. Sometimes white foam is from coughing. Coughing can cause discomfort in the throat causing pets to not want to eat. The vet may need to take xrays or run blood work to determine what’s going on inside. They may be able to prescribe medications to stop the vomiting and make him comfortable to eat. They can also give fluids to make up for not drinking. Good luck and kisses to Prince!
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on April 22nd, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Coughing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Panda evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My dog is coughing and trying to throw up white foam. What's happening?

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

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Why is my dog coughing, throwing up white foam, and has a fever?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with a respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a tracheitis/bronchitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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My small dog is coughing frequently with white foam. What's happening?

What you describe sounds a lot like symptoms of canine infectious tracheobronchitis, also known as kennel cough. If she has been exposed to any other dogs, such as groomer, dog park, boarding facility, newly adopted dogs etc within the last 2 Weeks then this would be high on my list of concerns. Kennel cough is often self limiting. However if no exposure known then I would be more Concerned about issues such aspiration pneumonia, object lodged in throat, heart disease, and heart worm. Coughing is always concerning to me and I would highly encourage you to have Pinky evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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My dog wheezed and threw up white foam, then stopped. Vet needed?

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Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cedar is very cute! I think Cedar should be seen by someone today. If he has finally settled down call your Vet first thing and get an appointment. If he is coughing the "vomiting" you are witnessing could be a the end of the cough. Sometimes a dog can cough so hard they trigger their gag reflex and bring up bile or white foam. So if every vomit follows a cough, Cedar may actually be coughing and not vomiting. Causes of coughing are kennel cough, pneumonia, allergies, bronchitis, heart failure. He is 8 months old so I would assume kennel cough is the number one possibility. If he has been boarded lately, around other dogs, at doggy day care or the groomer that will make it more possible. Causes of true vomiting are: dietary indiscretion, foreign body, toxin, viral/bacterial infection, pancreatitis, etc. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery for Cedar!

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