What to do if my dog is coughing white foam and I can't afford a vet?

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tobi. The coughing/gagging sound you described can be a sign of a respiratory tract infection. Infected dogs can also cough up a white foamy material. If this continues, he will need to see a veterinarian. If he does have an infection, antibiotics may be necessary. I hope this information helps!

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.

If she isn't having any trouble breathing, and its more of a retch type cough, the pieces are probably in the back of her throat or they are in her esophagus (as apposed to being in her trachea/airway). I recommend that you offer her a piece of bread - preferably starchy white bread such as Wonderbread, then offer her some water or low sodium broth to wash it down. If the pieces are in the back of her mouth or in her esophagus this may help them move down. HOWEVER, if she is unable to swallow the bread, if she seems distressed when she tries to swallow, if she is drooling a lot of making a hard swallowing motion, you need to take her in. I'm sorry, I know that's hard when finances are a stress, but if she has something that is stuck in her esophagus that can be a real problem. I think that is unlikely the case, as I would expect for foam to be able to pass on down, but a big enough piece could be a problem. Likewise, even if/when we can get her to stop coughing/retching with the bread, please watch her closely for vomiting and decreased appetite. If these things occur, please take her in. It is possible that bedding can cause a blockage in the intestine (much more common than an blockage in the esophagus as I discussed above). Also, please watch her breathing. If she starts coughing again or if it seems she is breathing faster than normal (persistently faster than 40 breaths a minute at rest and when not panting) or it seems she is labored in her breathing, take her in. Anytime they have been working on "getting something up" there is a risk that some of the material, and/or some stomach acid/contents can regurgitate into the esophagus and then get sucked down the trachea, causing aspiration pneumonia. Try the bread and water or broth, then watch her closely. I hope you can avoid a visit to the vet but be aware she may need to be seen. Again what you are watching for is: vomiting decreased appetite painful belly continued or recurrent coughing breathing fast or labored Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I hope that information helps you.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic tracheitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective possibly kennel cough). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Coco. She may be experiencing congestion secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection. You can try turning the shower to hot and letting the steam build up in the bathroom. Then let her in the bathroom (not the shower) for a few minutes to breathe the humid air. This can help to ease congestion. If her symptoms persist though, she will need to see her veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

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.