Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 1/30/2011

Question
I had my dog outside early today, when I brought him back in he began to cough and gag spitting up some phlegm.  He was unsupervised while outside.  It seemed not to be that bad so I gave him food and water, which he had no problem eating.  He ate about a cup of food and dish of water.  He does not appear to have any problems breathing.  He is a rescue dog and we have only had him 2 days without knowing anything about his previous situation, he was picked up as a stray.  He is about 8 months old.  He does not appear to be in any distress and is very active and playful.  I do not know this dog very well but I do know that what is going on is not normal.  I am guessing he ate something while outside. I looked in his mouth and tried to see down his throat, without any luck.  I am curious if you have any suggestions in how we could help him "clear" his throat.

Answer
There are a lot of things that can make a dog cough. If he was outside and eating grass (common) then sometimes they get bits of grass in their throat and it will set off the gag reflex. Sometimes they get grass caught in their tonsils as well, and that makes them gag.

You didn't mention his age, and may not know it, but he should be tested for heartworms as soon as possible since this is a major cause of coughing. Heart problems will also cause a dog to cough as will lesser problems such as kennel cough.

Anytime a dog is coughing he needs to take a trip to the vets. That is the bottom line if the dog is coughing for more than one day.

But if it's a passing episode, it is just probably stuff that he was chewing on. Make sure your yard is clear of dangerous things for a dog and possible toxins as well. Snail bait, fertilizer, antifreeze, things you might not see can be deadly for dogs. Check your yard carefully and make sure there are no holes in the fences as well.

Since he was a stray off of the street, it is vitally important that you have him looked over and tested for heartworms. He can have a pretty nasty case already at 8 months old, especially if you live in the southern USA.

I hope his check up goes well and that he is clear. Bless you for taking him in.