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My puppy grunts when raising head, has a throat lump. What's wrong?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Boxer | Female | unspayed | 2 months and 22 days old | 13 lbs

I have a 12 week old boxer puppy. Whenever she raises her head she gives out a grunt, almost like a little growl like her throat is irritated. She has been eating drinking excrementing and breathing just fine. She is full of energy . She may cough a time or two. This is the second day I have noticed it, but started feeling her trachea and she has what feels like a knotted area. My two year old boxers trachea is similar but not as pronounced. She received her first dose of Trifexis 2 days ago

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jessica Keay, DVM

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 7th, 2018

I am sorry to hear about Layal! You may be feeling her laryngeal area/cartilages, but without examining your dog it is impossible to tell if what you are feeling is a normal structure. An occasional clearing of the throat/cough isn't unusual just like in people, but if it is happening with increasing frequency or it is happening every time she moves a certain way then I would recommend having her examined by her veterinarian. I would make a video recording of the sound if you can to show your veterinarian in case she doesn't repeat the behavior while at the vet.
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