Dog with a gaggy cough

[newbymom05]

Our overweight, older small dog has a terrible hacking cough, like he's swallowed something he's trying to throw up, but nothing comes up. It isn't constant, seems to occur when he gets excited and catches his breath and then lasts several minutes. At first I thought he swallowed or ate something and he'd work it out, but he's still doing it almost 24 hrs later. He's perky and eating and drinking well; he just has this gaggy cough. Thoughts as to what it could be or what I should do? I can't imagine the vet can do anything w/o sedating him, esp since he isn't doing it regularly.

[womenswisdom]

Coughing after/during exertion or exercise can be a symptom of a heart problem. Or it could be irritation of the trachea, or a lung issue, or all kinds of things. Vets can usually palpate the trachea and elict a cough if there is irritation there and listen to the heart to see if there is an issue. I would take him to the vet for a full exam.

[Ola_]

Could also be kennel cough - it's similar to the flu for humans.

[newbymom05]

Originally Posted by Ola_

Could also be kennel cough - it's similar to the flu for humans.

Wouldn't kennel cough be more or less constant?

Thanks for the replies, I'll make an appt for the vet today.

[daisymama12]

Kennel cough does not have to be constant. My new dog is just getting over it.

When he came home, it was intermittent but all day, then it was mostly in the morning and after or during walks (temperature change? exertion?) and now it's tapering off, just a bit when he's outside.

[newbymom05]

Originally Posted by daisymama12

Kennel cough does not have to be constant. My new dog is just getting over it.

When he came home, it was intermittent but all day, then it was mostly in the morning and after or during walks (temperature change? exertion?) and now it's tapering off, just a bit when he's outside.

Oh no, that sounds like my dog's symptoms! Given his weight and age, I was thinking WWW's theory re: heart disease, but maybe kennel cough is a possibility as well. I don't know how he'd get it, since he's an indoor dog--I can't even think of the last time he was around another dog, leashed or not.

[ParisApril]

My 12 year old Lab has been doing something similar. She coughs and gags and has been doing it for months a few times a day. Nothing comes up and it doesn't bother her too much so She has had cancerous lumps for years that have never bothered her. She's old If she gets to the point where she's in pain we will deal with it then.

[lonegirl]

I completely agree with pps
My first rule outs would be Kennel Cough (Bordetella)-self limiting and may or may not need meds, Heart Disease, Blastomycosis (depending on your area) http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/mordecai/

AN Xray and physical will help rule out diseases.