My puppy is hacking after eating a treat. Is it stuck or kennel cough?

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 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.

My best guess is she has kennel cough. It is the most common reason for coughing in puppies. I can almost guarantee that there is nothing stuck in her throat and that it is not an allergy. Both are very unlikely. The vet should have checked her throat as you can usually make them cough with palpation of the trachea. She should be on antibiotics and cough medicine. I suggest you call the vet back and discuss kennel cough and treatment.

Hello, at 5 months of age the most common reason for coughing/choking is kennel cough. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam and medications. This can progress to a pneumonia quickly and in a small 2# dog this can be extremely serious. I am very worried about this as you stated he was weak and lost his appetite. I don't suggest that you continue to perform any "first aid" for choking on a dog this small as you can easily injury him. I assure you that it is very unlikely he has something stuck in his throat. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds like Rocco has quite the cough if he is vomiting as well. This could be an infection such as kennel cough or pneumonia. I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. The veterinarian may suggest having chest x-rays done to evaluate the lungs. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kano. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian as I am concerned that he has an upper respiratory tract infection. Since the coughing has not resolved on it's own, he may require a medication. In the meantime, encourage him to continue to eat and drink. Keep him home to allow him and to rest and as he may be contagious to other dogs. I hope this information helps!

Poor Jax. He likely had Kennel cough (upper respiratory infection). His cough is productive and poses risk for traveling lower in the airway causing further complications, so it is imperative you get Jax seen by your vet and placed on a short course of antibiotics to clear things up right away. This is the only effective treatment for Kennel Cough in dogs.