My senior Shih Tzu chokes, coughs mucus, and gurgles. What's wrong?

I would recommend bringing Chelsea back to the veterinarian and getting x-rays of her chest. This will tell you if she has something lung related. There are a lot of different things that can cause a cough. It can be anything from a tracheal collapse to a lung lesion. Without chest x-rays it is hard to say what is causing the cough. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Luna sounds like she isn't doing well at the moment. I would take her into the vet first thing in the morning. Her quality of life does sound poor at the moment, and maybe putting her to sleep is the best option. But discuss it with your vet first, they may have additional ideas as to how to make her quality of life better. I would be prepared, however, that it may be time to let her go. I hope this helps.

Based on the symptoms you've provided, it is very possible Mimi has a collapsing trachea. This is when a portion of the trachea (the wind pipe) is too narrow for one reason or another. This is can be due to structural abnormalities, inflammation in or around the trachea, and can also be a secondary result of cardiac disease. As the heart gets bigger, the trachea can get pushed up until it has no place to go. If your dog isn't having any active distress from these episodes, it isn't an emergency. However, since it is something abnormal that is happening with great frequency, I would recommend having your regular vet check your pup from head to toe. Getting a chest xray will confirm or rule out if this is the issue. Hope this makes sense.

I'm sorry to hear Lala is having issues. There can be multiple causes for wheezing in dogs, including heart disease, a collapsing trachea, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, or another underlying issue. If she does not seem in distress, you can monitor her to see if it is persistent. If she is having trouble breathing or you are concerned, I would have her evaluated by a veterinarian right away. Otherwise I would touch base with her regular veterinarian to discuss what may be going on and if she needs an exam or X-rays to get to the bottom of it. Good luck!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Luna. If there is nothing stuck in her throat, then I worry that she is coughing due to a respiratory tract infection. Has her veterinarian discussed the possibility of an upper respiratory tract infection or the more serious case of pneumonia? She may need antibiotics. I hope this information helps!

I would be extremely concerned about her having a cardiac issue. Please take her to your vet so they can check to see if she has a heart murmur as that can lead to heart failure. Coughing is one of the first symptoms. She is the right age and breed for this to be happening. The other likely cause would be a collapsing trachea. So again, please take her to your vet for an exam. Best wishes.

A cough associated with drinking can be a sign of dysfunction of the nerves that affect the larynx and the vocal cords. There are many other potential causes of a cough ranging from bronchitis to heart disease. I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian for a physical exam. X-rays might be recommended as a first step.