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Why is my old poodle still coughing and gagging after vet treatment?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Toy Poodle | Female | spayed | 13 years and 5 months old | 9 lbs

My toy poodle is 13 years old and has been coughing as if she's trying to clear her throats and she's gagging, had her checked by vets, he says her heart and lungs are better now she's on tablets (vetmedin 1.25mg and upcard, but still she's doing it, she has been on congestion tables and had injection whiched did help her, but still don't know what's wrong with her, very worried

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Published on June 29th, 2017

Poor baby. With heart disease, their heart will sometime get larger and push up on their trachea and that will make them cough. You unfortunately cannot fix this. I would recommend to have your vet do some chest X-rays to see if this could be the cause of her coughing. Your vet will also be able to look at her lungs to see if she has any fluid in her lungs. If so, then she may need to be put on a diuretic to help with her coughing. I hope this helps!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    The coughing could be caused by heart disease or she could have a collapsing trachea (common in small breed dogs). You should call your vet and let him/her know that she is still coughing. Your vet may want to adjust her medications or could also try a cough suppressant to see if that helps. If she hasn't had a recent chest x-ray then she should have one so your vet can evaluate the size of her heart and look for a collapsing trachea. Hope she feels better soon!

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