My Shih Tzu coughs and chokes after drinking water. Should I worry?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very common for Shih tzus to have small nasal openings. Sometimes they grow as the puppy grows and sometimes they need cosmetic surgery to open the nostrils. This typically causes a lot of sneezing. I would worry the coughing could be something else, like Kennel Cough. I recommend discussing this with Coco's vet so they can see the size of her nose and listen to her lungs. Good luck and kisses to your new baby!

Older dogs can get some functional weakness around the throat, causing water to leak during swallowing even though everything looks healthy. Acupuncture and chiropractic care can help and i recommend raising her water bowl to elbow height

Unfortunately this is not common and the majority of dogs will drink with no problem. I imagine that when he drinks a little water is going down the wrong way. This is possibly due to an issue at the back of the throat effecting his swallow mechanism. Don't panic about it as I'm sure he is doing well otherwise, but I think it would definitely be wise to have your vet investigate this. They will likely need to sedate him and do imaging.

Hazel could have tracheal irritation from the collar or prong collar. Some dogs have more sensitive tracheas than others and some dogs have genetically smaller or collapsing tracheas that are predisposed to problems. However, I would also be concerned Hazel may have picked up a bacterial or viral infection that is causing her to cough. I would recommend taking her in to your vet to have them evaluate her lungs and throat to see if she needs any medication or potentially switch her to a harness instead of a collar.

It could be some tracheal irritation due to dry air or residual congestion from laying down all night. If he isn't coughing all day/night, exhibiting lethargy or does not tire easily then just mention it to your veterinarian during the visit. Your vet will likely listen to the heart and lungs during the exam. Chest xrays may be recommended if indicated by something found on exam. Sparky should have a heartworm test if this is his yearly exam. Heartworm disease can cause also coughing as can various infections.

Small breed dogs can sometimes have an issues with the trachea, and if they drink too quickly it can sometimes cause them to choke and sputter. It is a good idea, however, to schedule a vet check if you haven't already to make sure there isn't a more serious cause behind it. The licking and chewing at air could be a stress response, however if he is choking and gagging while doing this, there may be something else going on that should be checked out by your vet.

With her age I recommend letting a veterinarian listen to her lungs. It can be heart or respiratory. If she has a murmur you may want to consider taking her to a cardiologist to have her heart evaluated. If her heart sounds fine I would talk to your veterinarian about tracheal collapse or respiratory diseases. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.