Can A Dog Have A Hairball Stuck In His Throat? He Is Gasping And Sounds Like He Is Unable To Get Something Like A Hairball Up.

Dogs do not usually get hairballs because their tongues do not gather hair the same way a cat's does. It is possible he has swallowed something inappropriate and is choking, or he has some serious respiratory tract trouble. Either way, I do not think you can reasonably avoid a visit to the vet.

Maybe you should check and see if he has downed a bone or something.

It may be, but it also may be something else. The only way to be for sure, is to take him to the vet.