My dog is jolting and panting, but it's not hiccups. What's wrong?

This could have been caused by many things including: reverse sneezing due to irriation of the throat, panting due to pain, underlying heart disease or a primary lung disorder. Here is a video of a pet doing a reverse sneeze --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8wPnkNOIy4 If this is not the cause, then it is best to monitor Taurie for now since it has stopped, and then video record it if it happens again. Then you should certainly see your vet for further testing to definitively diagnose the underlying problem and start treatment right away. Hopefully this is just a reverse sneeze and nothing to worry about. Best of luck moving forward with Taurie. Take care.

This can be a number of respiratory issues including laryngeal paralysis, laryngeal obstruction, or just a benign condition called reverse sneezing, where it appears he is struggling to breathe but it is actually a tickling of the larynx and completely harmless. See this video for an example of reverse sneezing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IszRBYxsGI The event has to be seen to give you a better idea of if this is something to worry about or not. I would recommend recording the next episode on your phone and then showing the video to your vet for advise on what to do. If at any point your pet's tongue turns blue or he passes out or if you feel that he is in respiratory distress, then I encourage you to go to an ER vet.

Poor Tess! This sounds like quite a severe cough, so I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam to find out what is causing it. Some common possibilities in an older dog like this would include heart disease, chronic bronchitis, a collapsing trachea, or a respiratory infection of some kind. Your veterinarian can listen to her heart and lungs, and may recommend chest x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

Are you sure it's dry heaving and not reverse sneezing or something else? It would be best to video tape and episode so your vet can see it. We can determine a lot by seeing what the animal is actually doing. Sometimes what owner's describe is not medically correct. Please videotape an episode and show your vet. That would be extremely helpful. My best guess is that he has reverse sneezing or a collapsing trachea. Neither of which would be diagnosed easily with an x-ray. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If Marley is making snorting spasmodic inhalations that stop within a minute or so, it may be a benign condition called reverse sneezing. The best way to shorten these episodes is to gently stroke her to attempt to calm her down. If the episodes last longer than a minute or if it is accompanied by nasal discharge...I recommend videotaping the episode and bringing her to your vet to rule out other conditions such as seizures, asthma, etc. Good luck!

Hi there. Since this has happened to Bentley several times today, I would recommend having him seen by a vet and having an xray taken of his chest. It could still be a reverse sneeze but it's always better to be safe than sorry. I would also check and see if he'll stop if you briefly cover his nose. This is typical with a reverse sneeze and may give you some clues as to what is happening. Also try and get a good video to show your vet. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!