My puppy sounds like gagging, but nothing comes out. Is it coughing?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mila! Was her bowel movement diarrhea? I would worry that the gagging or trying to vomit and acting more tired is because she has a GI problem (viral/bacteria, ate something gross, parvo, intestinal parasites, etc.) If she is coughing and the coughing ends in a gag or vomit motion then that isn't vomiting but coughing with a terminal retch. Causes of coughing are: Kennel cough or pneumonia which would be unrelated to the sore butt. If she is coughing, weak and lethargic and not eating then I would have her seen when your Vet opens for an exam. She is very tony at 2.5 lbs and could get sicker quickly. I wish you and Mila the best!

Poor Mila Mumu! The most common cause of coughing in a puppy this age would be a respiratory infection such as kennel cough - if this is the problem, it should be easily treatable with antibiotics. The good news is, it's really not possible for her to have heartworm disease at her age - this illness takes a very long time to develop after being infected, so we don't typically see symptoms of it in dogs less than 2-3 years old at minimum. It's good that you're planning to take your pup in to the vet today for an exam. He/she will listen to her heart and lungs, and may recommend chest x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem. If she does have kennel cough (or something similar), your vet will probably send her home with antibiotics to treat the infection.

Thank you for your question regarding Mia! Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a dog is coughing and gagging up fluid verses truly vomiting. The coughing you mentioned and white material could be a sign of an upper respiratory infection. The brown material sounds more like vomit though. I'm glad she is still acting normal. If her symptoms persist though, I would recommend that she been seen especially with the weekend coming up. Your veterinarian will do a physical examination and let you know the body system affected and how best to treat Mia. I hope this information helps!

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. This cannot be treated at home without knowing what is going on. I recommend that you have Milo 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 night!

Thanks for your question. Unfortunately from your description it is not easy to say whether she is trying to vomit/regurgitate or coughing. A consultation would be essential to try to understand that. I would recommend to take Rosa to your veterinarian for a check up of the signs are not self limiting in the next 24 hours. From what you described it does not seem like an emergency or life threatening condition. Please do not hesitate to ask more question on the forum or by requesting a consultation if needed.

Hi there and thanks for posting! Sounds like Milo may be coughing from what you described. If the cough is due to a respiratory infection (such as kennel cough), the cough will often times be productive and they may hack up phlegm which can sound like vomiting. If his nose is running as well and he is sneezing this could indicate a respiratory infection. If he recently swallowed a bone whole, it is possible he may have part of it stuck in the esophagus. It is hard to say for sure without examining Milo. Ultimately, Milo will need an exam by a veterinarian soon to determine what the cause of the cough is so he can be treated appropriately. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lilo. Some dogs with an upper respiratory tract infection can cough and gag which can look like they are trying to vomit. They can even bring up a white foamy material. Some will have eye and nose discharge as well. On the other hand, if she is retching and having abdominal contractions, but not vomiting this is worrisome, especially if her abdomen appears bloated. In this case, she would need to see her veterinarian right away. I hope this information helps!