My 16 week old pup Digby has been doing this since 7.30 this morning. For the first 20 minutes it was quite frantic but since around 8am (for the last hour or so) it has been less frequent (every 10 - 15 mins just 2 or 3 "retches". It really sounds as if he is trying to clear his throat. He has been in his cage all night and nothing looks chewed. I haven't given him his breakfast and I can't tempt him to drink. I have phoned the vets and the lady on reception said she thinks the vet should see him and I have an appointment for 11am. He is asleep on the sofa at the moment - quite subdued and calm compared to his usual self. I'm hoping this is nothing, have foolishly googled it and he could have anything from some small piece of fluff stuck in his throat to rabies!!! Really shouldn't google stuff like this!! Having never lived with a dog before I am hoping you guys tell me this kind of thing happens all the time!! Just so alarming to see your little pup being ill like that.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Oh my goodness - just get him to the vet asap. I think they should see him earlier. If it were a child who had been vomiting white froth and wouldnt drink they would rush him in to emergency. Sorry to frighten you - but that doesnt sound like nothing. I would be worried and insist on seeing the vet earlier. Karen
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam It is a worry Karen. I have phoned the vets back, the vet came on the phone, asked a couple of questions and said it sounds like I will be fine to wait until 11. Digby is currently fast asleep, breathing normally, still no water though. Hasn't retched/coughed for half an hour.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam When Lady was that age she had several bouts of vomiting which turned out to be nothing specific. It's probably just something not agreeing with him and as he gets older he'll become resistant to that sort of thing. The vet should still check him out though for anything more serious.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Cheers David, Being a first time dog owner I didn't know whether to worry or not, or whether this sort of thing was quite common. I of course would always get the vet to check him out but its like having kids. My first one I would rush to the doctors with every small thing, by no.3 they had to have a limb fall off!!
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Sorry to have reacted in such a panicky fashion, I know what it's like with puppies and small children, you tend to fear the worst! Fingers crossed it's nothing serious and Digby'll be back to normal soon.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Don't worry Karen - I was feeling pretty panicky myself but am a bit calmer now, and it did seem pretty horrendous earlier, much less so but still not right now. I was undecided on whether to phone the vets back, so your message made me think yes I will, and then the vet did reassure me so I'm glad I did. Good grief - I thought long and hard about all aspects of having a dog, responsibility, the tie, expense, time, didn't think about the emotional trauma in terms of worrying about them when ill etc. He's been with us a mere 8 weeks and already a much loved member of the family. I'll let you know what the vet says.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Just wanted to add my good luck vibes for him , its horrible when they arent well , keeping everything crossed for you x
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam They are a worry aren't they! Fingers crossed for a rapid recovery
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Just back from the vets (she is lovely). Well, Digby since his earlier mad retching session has been sporadically coughing/retching. Vet doesn't think he has kennel cough as he has no other symptoms and she couldn't make him cough (which apparently you usually can do by putting light pressure on the throat). She thinks he probably has some kind of tummy bug / eaten something and the violence of the retching on an empty stomach this morning has made his stomach acids irritate his throat quite badly, she can feel some swelling at each side (presumably his glands). So, she gave him an anti-inflammatory/anti-biotic injection and a course of anti-biotics. She tells me if it gets worse/he vomits again straight back and they'll put a camera down his throat. Small meals - boiled rice / chicken etc and if that goes down ok back to normal kibble tomorrow. He was a superstar, such a good boy. She then asked me for the name of my breeder as she was hoping to get a dog in the spring and he was so gorgeous looking and had a lovely nature she would love one just like him! ;D Now back home fast asleep next to his constant companion (my 2 yr old), who has covered him in a blanket because he's poorly ..ahhh!
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Awww, how sweet! Just remembered we had something similar years ago with my first dog - turned out it was tonsillitis!
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam she did mention tonsillitis but said it didn't look like obvious tonsillitis, but a possibility. I'd never heard of a dog having tonsillitis before.
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Oh bless him , really hoping that the medications have him back to normal really soon x
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Poor Digby, how is he today? Lots of love from us. Helen & Charlie x
Re: Puppy coughing/gagging and retching up white foam Hi folks, Sorry for delay, I get absolutely no time on a weekend to do anything like this. Digby was very quiet and slept most of Friday, he stopped retching and coughing completely by the end of the day and ate a small amount of rice & chicken. Saturday pretty much back to normal, he must have eaten something but I have no idea what it could have been. He is supervised all the time or in his bed asleep. There's so much clobber about though with it being Christmas, those strands of tinsel get everywhere. Anyway, all good now. Thanks for your concern.
