Although cough and retching in dogs do not have to occur at the same time, there are times when we can notice that our dog has a dry cough and retching. In this article on our site we are going to talk about these clinical signs and their relationship. In addition, we will review the most common causes that are at the origin of gagging cough. We will also pay attention to the necessary treatment and the measures that we can adopt at home to contribute to the recovery of our dog.
Keep reading, find out why your dog has a dry cough and retching, what you can give him, what the treatment is and if there are any or not home remedies.
Dry cough in dogs
Cough is a reflex triggered by irritation of the respiratory tract. It is the body's attempt to get rid of the discomfort it feels in that area, expelling it to the outside. The cough is said to be self-perpetuating because each attack dries out the mucous membranes, so that the entire respiratory tract becomes irritated, causing even more coughing.
There are different types of coughs in dogs, such as deep, dry, rasping, wet, productive, sharp, weak, prolonged, squawking, etc. In addition, the cough can be chronic or acute. The characteristics of the cough help to determine the cause that has originated it.
Dry cough is often associated with a well-known disease called kennel cough, acute tracheobronchitis or canine respiratory complex, which is due to to various viruses and to the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. If your dog has a dry cough and gags, he could be suffering from this pathology, but he could also suffer from pharyngitis, which in dogs is associated with different diseases, such as infections in the mouth, in the respiratory system or systemic, such as parvovirus or the distemper.
Another example of the origin of a dry cough is chronic bronchitis, with the difference that the cough can be productive in some cases. But not all coughs are due to respiratory conditions, since a dry cough after exercise or more intense at night can indicate disease of one of the heart valves.
What are retching in dogs?
Gagging in dogs is very evident. They are usually accompanied by hypersalivation and repeated swallowing movements and are followed by vomiting, although this does not always occur. Although retching is usually associated with digestive problems, it is possible that our dog has a dry cough and retching, since, after a strong coughing spell, these can be triggered, just as vomiting could also appear.
Why does my dog have a dry cough and gag?
If our dog has a dry cough and gags, the first thing we must be clear about is that there is more than one cause that can trigger this condition. The most prominent are the following:
- Respiratory tract infections, such as kennel cough, but also distemper.
- Inhalation of substances with irritating effects, such as smoke.
- Congestive heart failure.
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Tumors in the respiratory tract.
- Use of very tight collars.
- Excessive barking.
- Parasites such as heartworms or some intestinal worms.
- Presence of foreign bodies in the throat, esophagus or lungs.
My dog is coughing and seems to choke
If your dog has a cough and seems to be choking, it is most likely foreign bodies in the throat causing They prevent you from taking in air normally and, therefore, the body tries to expel them. It is possible that he has something stuck in his throat that he cannot eliminate on his own, so we recommend that you go to the vet as soon as possible to verify that this is the problem and proceed to remove the foreign body.
The causes mentioned above could also cause your dog to cough a lot and choke, which is why it is so important to visit a specialist.
What do I give my dog that has a dry cough and gags? - Treatment
Unless we are clear about the cause of the cough, for example, the presence of smoke, in which case we would have to eliminate the trigger, or a too tight collar that we would only have to loosen, if your dog has a dry cough and retching you should contact the vet Above all, do not use cough suppressants on your own. Only this professional can examine the dog and perform the relevant tests to locate the cause. A chest X-ray or, in chronic cases, an intratracheal lavage may be necessary. And it is very important to reach the diagnosis, since the treatment will depend on it.
For example, when faced with a foreign body, it may be necessary to remove it, while an infection such as kennel cough will require the administration of drugs such as antibiotics to prevent opportunistic bacterial infections. This disease can become serious in some specimens, which will need admission to the clinic to receive intensive treatment to help them breathe somewhat normally. In addition, the management of dogs with acute tracheobronchitis implies keeping them in rooms isolated from other congeners, with a comfortable temperature, well ventilated and, if possible, with a humidifier. The dog also has to do moderate exercise every day. It should be noted that there is a vaccine against this disease.
On the other hand, when the cough is due to a heart problem, it is necessary to establish a veterinary follow-up, feed the dog a special diet, control the exercise and medicate according to the symptoms it presents.
My dog has dry cough and retching - Home remedies
When we hear that our dog has a dry cough and gags, our normal reaction is to give him something to make the episode go away. But, as we have seen, there are multiple causes that can explain this clinical picture. Therefore, before giving him anything, you should consult with the veterinarian. Coughing and retching are telling us that something is wrong and it is not enough just to eliminate the symptom. Before thinking about home remedies, you must have a diagnosis.
Once the diagnosis has been obtained and treatment started, in addition to following the vet's instructions, we can apply the following home remedies for dogs with cough and retching:
- Maintain good hydration to prevent dry airways.
- Avoid any potential irritants such as smoke, aerosols, pollution, dust, etc.
- Use a humidifier or take advantage of the steam generated in the bathroom while you take a hot shower.
- Do not allow excessive physical activity.
- Walking with a harness is better than with a collar.
If you do not have a humidifier, the steam baths are especially recommended to clear the respiratory tract and favor the treatment that the dog with cough and retching should follow. Likewise, following a balanced diet and, preferably, soft to favor the passage of food through the digestive system is more than recommended. To do this, it will also be the veterinarian who stipulates the best diet depending on the cause that is causing these symptoms.
