Why does my dog keep swallowing like something is stuck in his throat?

Continual swallowing can be a sign of something irritating their phayrnx, trachea or esophagus- like an object stuck in their throat. If you can get a good look in her mouth, I would check between and around her teeth as well as further back in her mouth. If you can offer her some food this may help too. If it persists, I would recommend having her seen as she may need an x-ray or other tests. I hope this helps!

There could be several reasons why your dog is [coughing](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/coughing-1/). He could very well have something stuck in his throat or is trying to vomit something up and can't and will need medical intervention. If the symptoms continue, he needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. If you know your dog has ingested something and is indeed [choking](https://www.petcoach.co/article/what-to-do-if-you-think-your-dog-is-choking), you can perform the Heimlich maneuver if you feel comfortable doing so. A dog who is choking should also be taken to a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately. A dog may also be coughing as a result of a viral respiratory infection, like canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, or [kennel cough](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/kennel-cough). The most common symptoms of viral infections in dogs can include lethargy, decreased appetite, coughing, exercise intolerance and an increased breathing rate. If you believe your is showing any of these symptoms in addition to coughing, it is important for him to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Finally, a condition known as "reverse sneezing" might also sound like a cough and can be alarming for pet parents to witness. Reverse sneezing is very common in pets and is usually not a cause for concern. When a dog reverse sneezes, it will often pull its head back and inhale forcefully through the nose and mouth, making a cough-like sound. It is thought to have an [allergic](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies/) component as the back portion of the nasal passages work to expel an irritant.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! If you are concerned about something stuck in Doggo's throat, I would have him examined by your veterinarian to appropriately identify the cause of the symptoms. If you are unable to get to your vet right away, I would maybe offer soft food on the off chance this is irritation in the throat from something Doggo swallowed. Soft food would be much easier than hard food to swallow. An examination will help identify any obvious object lodged in the mouth or throat. X-rays may also be recommended to help determine and identify the cause. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via phone or text based consultation if needed.

If Brody exhibits this gagging and retching behavior consistently (without stopping) then I would recommend taking him in to be examined by your veterinarian. If there is something stuck in the throat or the back of the mouth the behavior will be continuous until whatever is stuck is removed. If this behavior is only intermittent and/or only occurred the one time then I would not be too concerned. Brody could have swallowed something wrong or could be suffering from allergies or the beginning of a respiratory infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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! Thank you for your post! Is there a chance that Peewee may have gotten into something? The swallowing noise you were describing might be him trying to vomit. Also, if he ate a toy or got into the trash and ate something he shouldn't have, something may have irritated his throat or is stuck back there. If he continues to make this noise, I would get him seen by his vet just to be safe. Otherwise, if he stops I would just continue to monitor and if it doesn't recur then I would not worry. Please contact me with any other concerns that you may have. I'm also available via consultation

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Biko is gagging, he may have something stuck in his throat and is trying to clear it. You can try offering him some wet dog food formed into a meatball to see if this helps push anything in his throat along. If the gagging continues or you are ever worried about how well Biko is breathing, I recommend having Biko seen by a veterinarian for an exam. Your vet may recommend chest x-rays to see if Biko has any primary lung issues or reasons for the gagging. I hope this is helpful!