My puppy is throwing up white foam and coughing. Is it an emergency?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Coughing can be a symptom caused by many different things. Heart failure, respiratory infections, collapsing trachea, allergies, etc. Can cause coughing. It best to have a veterinarian examine Aurora to rule out different causes. I would consider having chest x-rays done to assess the chest for disease. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns that you may have.

Hello, and thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm glad that you contacted your local vet already - even if they don't have availability today, I recommend scheduling the earliest opening they have to get Louis examined. With his history of going to doggy daycare, his age, the comment from your vet that they've been seeing other cases recently, and Louis' symptoms, this sounds like it may be kennel cough. Until Louis is seen by your vet, keep him away from other dogs as he is likely contagious. Kennel cough can be caused by either a virus or a bacteria, but your vet may decide to start him on an antibiotic if they suspect it may be a bacterial cause such as bordetella. As long as Louis is acting bright and happy at home, and eating normally, then this isn't an emergency and can wait until your vet is available. However, if at any point you notice Louis becoming lethargic, his breathing becomes exaggerated or labored, or if he loses his appetite, then you should bring him in to an emergency clinic if your primary vet can't fit him in sooner, to make sure he's not developing something more concerning such as a secondary pneumonia. There are other things that can cause coughing in dogs, such as parasites, allergies, and heart problems, but I would rate these much lower on the list of concerns. Hope this helps!

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or eventually to a chronic tracheitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective possibly kennel cough). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I'm so sorry Mayor is having this problem. Unfortunately, puppies can cough enough that they cough up foam. I would recommend contacting your vet. They may have you take Mayor's temperature at home to see if he is running a fever. We see a lot of upper respiratory diseases in puppies that are contageous, so they may or may not want you to bring him in to the vet. Be sure to let them know if he is lethargic and not eating or just coughing. I have attached information below about kennel cough in dogs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=600 Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Aira! Coughing up mucous and vomiting up mucous are 2 different things. Causes for coughing up mucous are: kennel cough (inflammation of the trachea) caused by viral, bacterial and mycoplasa, pneumonia or something stuck in the mouth or throat or was chewing or eating something that irriated the back of her throat. Kennel cough in healthy dogs is self limiting but in the young and the old there is an increased risk of developing in to pneumonia. Most vets start antibiotics in puppy's with kennel cough. The cough is dry and "goose honk" like. The dog with cough and then gag (cough hard enough to hit the gag reflec) and sometime will bring up white foam or bile. They are usually eating and happy still. Causes of vomiting in puppies are: intestinal parasites, viral (especially parvo virus) or bacterial infections, dietary indiscretion (ate something gross), foreign body ingestion (ate something that is stuck causing a blockage), toxin ingestion, food allergy/intolerance, reaction to a new food/treat or table food. If this was a one time episode and Aira has been fine since then I would watch her. As long as she is eating, drinking, playful and no longer coughing or vomiting sit tight. If the episodes continue she should be examined by your Vet. i wihs you the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Vomiting can be observed with conditions such as gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, dietary indiscretion, gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion and obstruction, among other possibilities. For this reason, I highly recommend that you have Diesel evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as soon as possible as I am afraid he is likely becoming dehydrated. They would be able to check for these possibilities and also check his hydration status and give him medications to make him feel better. Good luck!