Why is my dog dry heaving all day but eating and drinking normally?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Chronic heaving / gagging can be caused by problems with larynx or trachea, like laryngeal paralysis, chronic infection / inflammation, laryngeal mass, mass on the neck and more. A visit at your local vets is recommended to establish diagnosis and implement treatment as required. Your vet may want to examine the throat under sedation and/or take radiographs of the neck and chest.

Hello! Sometimes coughing sounds a lot like dry heaving, so it is possible that Otis might be coughing! If so, there are infectious coughs (such as kennel cough), that might be causing the trouble. Or, there could be something irritating his throat. GDV (gastric dilation/volvulus) is the classic cause of dry heaving, but since Otis is playing and eating, this is next to impossible! My recommendation would be, that if this continues, particularly if he is becoming lethargic or losing his appetite, he should ideally be checked by his vet! In the meantime, probably best to isolate him from other dogs, in case he has a contagious cough! Best of luck with Otis!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sampson. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. There is the potential that he is choking on a portion of the plastic bag. He could also be experiencing an upper respiratory tract infection that is characterized by a hacking gagging cough. Some dogs will hack up a white foamy material. His veterinarian should be able to differentiate between these scenarios given his exam findings. I hope this information helps!

Dry heaving/coughing at night is usually a sign of heart disease, this could explain the lack of appetite as well. you need to take him back to the vet he will need an xray done to evaluate the heart and lungs.

Based on your description, I’m suspicious that your dog may simply be experiencing a reverse sneeze. This is completely normal and benign. Sneezing usually occurs with irritation to the front of the nasal passages, but reverse sneezing occurs with irritation to the back of the nasal passages. Consider looking up a video of reverse sneezing to compare with your dog’s actions. If your dog is retching to vomit unproductively, isn’t eating or experiencing other problems, I recommend a trip to the vet. Feel free to post additional questions or a request a consultation if you have further questions for us. I hope this helps!

It isn’t normal for a puppy to dry heave. However it is a good sign that he is still active and eating well. He may be eating too fast and it’s getting stuck in his upper GI tract ( esophagus,stomach). He also may have a motility issue (unable to move his food along at a proper pace). You can try purchasing a maze bowl from your local pet store or online store. Also you can try feeding him canned food instead for a week or two to see if this makes a difference. Feeding him smaller portions more frequently throughout the day may also help. If he is still dry heaving after a week or two of trying these suggestions, then it’s best to have him seen by your vet for a thorough physical exam. The vet may suggest trying him on acid reducer medication and/or promotility medication. I hope this helps and best wishes with your puppy Jasper. Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Roxxi. I do recommend that she sees a veterinarian if her symptoms do not resolve soon. What you described can be consistent with an upper respiratory tract infection. The dog will commonly cough, gag and may bring up a white foamy material. If she is not getting better, the veterinarian may need to prescribe an antibiotic. If she is not eating/drinking or acting sick, then I recommend that she be seen today. In the meantime, keep her at home as she may be contagious to other dogs. I hope this information helps!