Dog coughing and gagging

[RickySpanish]

My little dog has been dry coughing and gagging on and off all day.

She seems otherwise fine, perfectly happy and healthy, but is dry retching occasionally with a weird dry cough. She hasn't actually vomited though.

I thought maybe she has something in her throat but not sure, she did cough up a tiny feather earlier.

Wondering how serious this is, should we monitor or take to emergency vet? Like I say, she's otherwise fine and quite playful.

[Wyldfyre]

Could be kennel cough. Check with a vet and keep her away from other dogs in the meantime as a precaution

[chelle792]

Sounds like it could be kennel cough. My boy gets it every year, he's pretty prone to it.

If you go to the vet they will give antibiotics as there is the panic because it's contagious. I tend to wait 5 days before taking him now to see whether it's bacterial or viral. Sometimes it clears up on his own - if he goes off his food for a couple of days I take him in. I don't believe regular antibiotics is good for him and it builds up resistance.

Just remember to keep your dog away from other dogs until the cough has gone. It's got the reputation of the plague which is ridiculous because really it's not much more than the common cold

[mirren3]

Our Lab started doing this yesterday, we took her to the vet and she has kennel cough. We were told to keep hwer in the car and the vet came out to her. We have to keep her away from other dogs and monitor her, they didn't givw her anything for it but if her breathing gets croaky or we are worried we can take her back.

[chelle792]

X posted with wyld. I feel like I should be a vet because we came to the same conclusion

[pigsDOfly]

Have you tried rubbing her throat to see if you can ease it a bit. Or you could try giving her some like a carrot to see if it helps if somethings stuck.

The feather's a bit odd. Has she had the opportunity to eat a dead bird?

If it were me and it had been going on all day I think I'd probably have a word with the vet and see what they think, although they'll probably tell you to come in anyway.

My dog usually does this if she's got a piece of grass or rabbit dropping stuck but it doesn't usually last all day.

Why do dogs always do this sort of thing at the weekend?

[pigsDOfly]

Ah yes, never thought of kennel cough.

[Wyldfyre]

chelle it has the reputation of the plague because although most cases are mild it can be serious and spreads like wildfire. My spaniel was never the same after catching it as a pup.

[RickySpanish]

You're all brilliant she's having a nap at the mo and seems ok. I will keep my eye on her tonight and call vets in the morning.

Think the feather was from a cushion, was one of those tiny white ones and can't see any bird remnants in the garden.

DP is taking her for a walk poo in a mo so will tell him to go round the back field instead of the main route to avoid other dogs.

[Floralnomad]

My dog is also very susceptible to KC ,having had the battersea strain as a pup and I usually give him tixylix .

[RickySpanish]

Update: the coughing has stopped! Mutt will be sleeping upstairs tonight for monitoring and hopefully that's the last of it thanks all for advice!

[chelle792]

wyld that's interesting. I know it can have serious complications but I guess I've become blaze about it because my boy gets it so much. I do keep him inside for a few days and then away from dogs for two weeks after symptoms though so wouldn't put other dogs at risk.

Forgot to say - a teaspoon of honey works wonders

[Wyldfyre]

chelle she always had a hoarseness afterwards.
I'm hyper aware of KC as I do Flyball and can spread through the teams if not picked up. Luckily most people isolate their dogs the minute they suspect - even if it turns out to be a false alarm, it's better safe than sorry.

[KindDogsTail]

It could also be that she's swallowed something and trying to cough it up.
My dog swallowed a lolly stick then eventually coughed it up a day later.

But maybe you'd better go to a vet.

[KindDogsTail]

Or a stick wedged in the far back of her throat.

[Floralnomad]

My dog has also been left with ongoing issues as a result of KC .