Why is my puppy dry heaving and coughing when excited or playing?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This symptom in a small breed dog, like Axel is often related to collapsing trachea. Please, take Axel to your local vets for an appointment. Fully clinical examination and potentially x-ray of the neck and chest should allow making the definite diagnosis. If the cough is frequent and is bothering your dog, your vet may prescribe him a course of anti-inflammatory medications or/and antibiotics.

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. In a young dog like him, something like kennel cough needs to be considered. I recommend that you have Kingsley 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. If it is kennel cough often times it resolves with supportive care including antibiotics. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Although there are many causes of coughing (heart disease, collapsing trachea, pneumonia, etc.), the most likely cause for the coughing given Emmie's history is 'Kennel Cough' or Infectious tracheitis. This is a viral infection that causes irritation in the trachea and a cough. It can become very severe such that the coughing prevents eating/sleeping and leads to weight loss and depression. If the coughing is severe you can ask your vet about anti-tussives (anti-cough medication). Sometimes this infection leads to a secondary bacterial infection, and the cough becomes 'wet' and at this stage antiboitics are required. I recommend a visit to your vet, x-rays might be required depending on how the lungs sound when your vet listens to the chest. Best of luck with Emmie.

It is possible that Odin has kennel cough, which would cause him to hack and dry heave. This is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is self limiting, but it can take up to three to four weeks for symptoms to resolve. I would have Odin seen by a vet today if possible. Even though it is self limiting, the vet may prescribe medications that can help with his symptoms.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Dory! There are a few things that come to mind for causes of Dory's symptoms: the more common reason is kennel cough, which is a tracheal cough from bacterial or viral infections. The cough is "goose honk" like and is worse at night and with activity. The dog usually eats and drinks. The cough can trigger the gag reflex which causes the dog to make a gagging sound and motion that sometimes is productive. Dogs can get kennel cough from boarding, grooming, doggie day care, dog parks, playing with other dogs or even from us if we were around a coughing dog. The other possibility is she ate something that irritated her esophagus like a raw hide. I would have her seen by your Vet Wednesday. Most vets treat kennel cough with antibiotics and anti-cough medication. It usually resolves with in 2 weeks. I wish you and Dory the best!

There are quite a few things that can cause a cough like this. Some common possibilities would include allergies, chronic bronchitis, a collapsing trachea, or heart disease. If the cough has been going on for a while, I would recommend discussing options for further work-up with your vet to help determine what is causing it. Diagnostic testing such as general blood work (a CBC and chemistry panel), chest x-rays, and heartworm testing would all be helpful, if these tests haven't been done already.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Canelo! It is possible that he has kennel cough which can be cause by either a bacterial or viral infection. It is contagious between dogs. The cough sounds loud and goose honking. A lot of the time it is worse when they are resting, Sometimes they cough and gag up white phlegm. Most of the time kennel cough is self limiting and resolves in 2 weeks. But in young puppies some Vets like to start antibiotics to prevent pneumonia. Other causes for a cough is collapsing trachea which can be genetic in Pomeranians but is usually worse with excitement. I'd schedule an appointment with your Vet to have him looked at. Good luck!