If your dog is struggling for breath then it is highly advisable to take it to your vet immediately. As if you couldn't breathe very freely you would certainly be heading to the doctors or hospital straight away.
Although we are not animal experts or qualified veterinarians, by your description and extensive research, it may well be something called kennel cough, if it is not this then it could well be canine influenza. Your vet may prescribe the dog Robitussin DM which will help aid its breathing while also controlling any cough present. You will find useful information about dosage and how to correctly apply to the dog at - www.petplace.com/drug-library/dextromethorphan-robitussin-dm
If you believe it could be hairballs then this is not common in dogs like it is in cats. This is due to the oils in the dog's mouth and throat that would usually break down any excess hair. There are some treatments for such a problem and so as earlier advised the best thing to do is to take your dog along to the vets immediately. The sooner the problem is diagnosed and the appropriate medication prescribed the quicker the recovery back to full fitness it will be.
Your dog needs to be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. I am concerned your dog has a serious cardiac or respiratory condition. Some panting and exhaustion is normal in heat or after exercise but prolonged heavy or laboured breathing and lethargy is a sign your dog is not getting enough oxygen to the tissues. Some things which may be causing gagging include fluid build up in the lungs from inefficient pumping of the heart, by compression of the airways from an enlarged heart, by primary lung disease, or tracheal collapse. This is an emergency situation and I would urge you to seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.
There could be a foreign body stuck in your dogs air canal, or the dog could have picked up an infection or virus which is causing the coughing.
Either way, both are dangerous, as the dog can stop breathing at any moment if there is choking, or the infection can get much worse if not treated (if the dog is coughing). You need to take the dog to a vet and get it checked for parvo, kennel cough, and even get tests done to see if there is something stuck in the dogs airway and that is stopping the dog from breathing. Usually something like a bone or a piece of a toy can get stuck in the dogs airway and make it choke and reduce the amount of air the dog can take in. This will cause the dog to choke and gag in an attempt to remove this.
My ran about 20 to 30 feet and started choking and gagging. A white mucous was visible coming from her month. The vet seem to think that limp nods (spelling) are swollen and growth in her shoulders and hips. The bisopy came back as fat. A second bisopy was taken and no results as of yet. She was not eating but now she is. She is Chocolate Lab mixed. She is about 5 years old. What can this be?
My 11 year old dog has been gagging/choking for past 3 months. At first it was only occasionally. We took her to the vet and she has had 2 sets of x-rays and 2 times with antibiotics. The last two nights she has gagged a lot during the night . The vet has prescribed another dose of antibiotics and prednizone. In the day she rarely gags. In the night she lies down flat on her side, but during the day she lies down with her paws in front, and rests her head on her paws. Her x-rays show no change from 3 months ago - with her lung showing signs of abnormality - you can see white lines in the x-ray. The vet doesn't believe it is cancer - could be pneumonia, fibroid in lung etc.The vet says the next step is getting a scope and sample of lung - at a cost of $2000. I would love to hear suggestions for next step.
I have a small daschund/boston terrier mix, she has the same problem, I have had her on pred till she just about blew up she go so big I have taken her for the trachea wash, many x rays, even a natural vet who uses chinese herbs plus traditional medicine.
The only answer I got was that she has the same lesions in her lungs, the trachea wash showed pasturella. I also took her to a specialist at the university of florida, who looked at the test results. She concluded that my pup had chronic bronchial disease,with possible early signs of emphysema.
I took her off the pred, and will only use it if she gets so bad that I can't stand it.
The natural vet gave her fish oil, and some chinese tea pills for breathing, and some natural cough syrup, which does help.
The vet after being diagnosed gave her a course of I believe 6 shots, one per week of convenia, a newer antibiotic. And she takes theophyline, 100mg (half pill in the morining and half at night).I also get a script for cough syrup with codine for her.
This helps a little, but I have spent a small fortune on my 4yr old little dog.
I really don't think they know what is wrong with her.
She will have 2 or 3 bad days then perk up and be her fun loving self. Her long term prognosis is guarded-and the vet noted that she should avoid exposure to smoke, perfumes, deodorants, aerosols, carpet cleaners and noxious chemicals. She also advised that she should be kept in a temperature and jumidity controlled environment. And to limit the amount of exercise.
Sorry I don't have an answer, but the symptoms are the same.
I keep looking on the internet for some kind of treatment holistic or traditional to try.
Chocking/ gagging, hiccups and coughing should be differentiated from each other because these looks like same thing. Choking sounds can be listen when something stuck up in throat. Reasons of chocking in dogs can be obstruction of air passage due to
Food particles
Any foreign material
Inflammation of throat
Constriction of neck
Bacterial and viral infection of throat can cause inflammation in throat. So, your dog needs to be investigated for any foreign material in throat and inflammation of throat. Take your dog to vet.
My basset hound, Candy, is twelve years old. And we are from the Philippines, in a small town in Samar. Candy have this "stubborn" cough. A vet has been seeing her for the past two years. She is getting thinner and the cough has worsen. It breaks my heart seeing and hearing her coughing. What are the right medicines to give to her? Help! Putting her to sleep is something very hard to do. And I owe so much to her, the laughter, the friendship...so much happiness. I have to do something for her. I am desperate. Please tell me what medicines to buy for my dog...please...
Coughing mucus in dogs can be due to pneumonia or distemper. Another major reason which might be true for your dog is kennel cough. Kennel cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordatella bronchiseptica. Sever Kennel cough is treated with antibiotics like azithromycin. Mild to moderate kennel cough continue for few days and requires no treatment. But if cough persists for more than 7-10 days then investigations for other airway or lung diseases is recommended. If your dog is having good health and eating and drinking normal then no need to be worried. Other wise visit to vet is necessary.
Chocking in dogs is characterized by gagging, drooling, difficulties in swallowing, regurgitation, pawing at face and breathing problems. This condition develops when something is stuck up in throat like food particles, any foreign material, and inflammation of the throat etc. Among other causes, constricting neck injuries caused by collars and ropes are also important. Chocking in dogs requires differential diagnosis that can be done by vet.So, see a vet for this purpose.
