Can a Dog's Coughing and Retching Resolve on Its Own? How to Handle It

A dog's coughing and retching are unlikely to resolve on their own. It's essential to promptly take your dog to a veterinary clinic for a diagnosis to identify the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment, preventing the condition from worsening.

Typically, coughing and retching caused by an underlying health issue will not resolve without intervention. If your dog coughs and retches only a few times and shows no other signs of distress, such as changes in appetite or energy levels, it might be due to eating too quickly, and this usually subsides within minutes. Using a slow-feed bowl can help correct this habit. However, if the coughing and retching persist, and are accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, abnormal breathing, or changes in body temperature, self-resolution is unlikely, and immediate veterinary attention is necessary. A veterinarian might conduct blood tests, X-rays (DR), and virus tests.

What to Do About a Dog's Coughing and Retching

When dealing with a dog's coughing and retching, the treatment plan is dependent on the underlying cause. First, for respiratory infections due to a cold or similar illnesses, anti-inflammatory medications and cough suppressants can be used for approximately 7-15 days, alongside ensuring the dog is kept warm. Viral infections also need to be ruled out with specific tests, such as a test strip or PCR, and antiviral drugs should be administered if a virus is identified. Second, if the retching is caused by a foreign object stuck in the esophagus, X-rays will identify its location, and vomiting or surgery may be necessary to remove it. Finally, coughing and retching could be caused by internal parasite migration, which requires deworming treatment. Routine deworming every three months is often recommended.


Related resource:Pet Training

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can Corgis Eat Fruit? A Guide to Safe and Healthy Options

Shiba Inu's Forbidden Food List: What Not to Feed Your Shiba

How to Tell if a Shiba Inu is Purebred and When They Start Bonding