Possible grass seed in throat? Any experience?

[StaplesCorner]

Earlier this week my 5 year old cockerpoo began coughing/gagging occasionally, he'd been in the paddling pool not sure if that's relevant - anyway last night he was clearly uncomfortable; if you gave him something like, say, a dog biscuit he'd gag briefly then get it down. Didn't eat as much as normal yesterday. My first thought is those horrible spiky grass seeds, but maybe there are other seeds as well that might be responsible (I would have thought?)

Today he's very quiet, has eaten a bit of leftover egg and only a couple of biscuits from his portion of dry dog food, didn't gag on it but coughed a bit afterwards. Is this a possible grass seed I wonder? Can it wait till tomorrow for the vet? Also how would the vet examine him as he normally has to be muzzled. How do they remove these things, its is only surgery?

TIA

I would call the vet, he could be in pain and if he has something stuck it needs to be removed, it could cause infection or a tear. I am not a vet but presumably he could be sedated so the vet could examine his mouth and throat and might be able to see whats causing this and if there is something there remove it by forceps or surgery if he needs that. Whats the alternative, you cannot just leave it.

Is he drinking ok and 💩 ok. If he does the same today, I would definitely take him to vets. They may have to give him anaesthetic and put him out, if they think something is obstructing his throat. My Border Collie isn’t keen on vets either and they’ve already told me if anything happens and he needs a thorough examination, they would have to do this.

Could be a grass seed, or kennel cough if it's like a hacking cough?

Our dog needs to be muzzled at the vet too, and if they have to examine his mouth or ears etc., they sedate him :) Worth calling the vet for advice as to whether you should bring him in straight away or whether it could wait until tomorrow.

Hope your doggo gets better soon!

Thank you - yes that’s what I’m thinking wait or go today 🤔if I call they’ll say today it’s a bit like 111 - always an emergency! He is drinking and toileting fine but if not then I would be taking him now.

Not our dog but ILs. They had a grass seed that worked it’s way through and punctured a lung and DDOg was very poorly indeed. If you think it’s a grass seed I wouldn’t delay and would try to get seen today. Sorry it’s not the news you want!

Agree with pp above - call the vet for advice, they should be able to tell you whether he needs to be seen today or tomorrow. And yes, they'll probably sedate him for exam.

Ok I’ll update later thanks all

I thought mine had inhaled grass seed after he started hacking after a walk through king grass. Turned out to be kennel cough, was coincidental that he started after grass walk!

I had this happen this week - pup dived headfirst into a load of dried grass, seeds and burrs before I could stop her :-( Got covered in vegetation crap, started retching, ate some dirt and threw it up and continued to look miserable.

Took her round to the vets as an emergency when the throwing up didn't work. Funnily enough they also mentioned kennel cough but because it came on so quickly they investigated. They sedated her and did an endoscopy. Once she was sedated (i.e stopped retching) the seed in her throat got loose and went into her stomach - vet said it would pass naturally.

I would contact the vet ASAP - your pup doesn't sound in as bad a way as mine, but def get it looked at sooner rather than later.

Hope all goes well!!

To be honest there's very few dogs who would permit a really thorough examination of their mouth and throat without sedation anyway. Bring him in without breakfast so that he can be admitted if necessary.

I thought mine had done this a few weeks ago, and of course it was on a Saturday. I'd only just recovered from the sedation he'd needed on a sunday a few weeks beforehand when he tore his ear and it wouldn't stop bleeding.... £450 he cost me that time.

Thankfully I waited until the Monday, as by that stage, it was obvious that he'd got kennel cough as had our other dog.

Sorry, forgot to add that mine went off food, and warmish honey on a spoon seemed to ease their cough. If you look on Youtube for kennel cough, it's a horrid hack that sounds like they're trying to bring something up and quite a unique sound.

Just to update I spoke to the vets they thought kennel cough - he took around a week to become unwell and from this post maybe 3/4 days to recover. He didn’t really have the symptoms of kennel cough as he was choking when he ate not random coughing but in any case he is really well now and has a full bark capability! Glad your boy is ok now @Badger1970

on reflection I think it’s right to assume grass seed and at least contact the vet as the consequences can be pretty dire. Thanks all

Glad he's okay now OP. I think people are always afraid of out of hours bills, but from my experience, good vets will always help you work out whether it's something that can wait or not. I don't think they like to waste their time any more than we do!

Never underestimate the dreaded grass seed glad he's on the mend.