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My puppy is throwing up white foam and coughing. Is it an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 9 months old

Vomiting white foamy slime repeatedly and coughing for the past few hours. He was puking every 5-10 minutes for about 4 hours, he finally fell asleep about 30 min ago. He may have eaten a tuna salad sandwich with onions from the garbage. He also was in the car for about 3 hours earlier and he tends to get car sick. He is an 8 month old daushchund/terrier mix. Do I need to take him to the emergency vet or should I wait to see if he stops?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on September 1st, 2017

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cedar is very cute! I think Cedar should be seen by someone today. If he has finally settled down call your Vet first thing and get an appointment. If he is coughing the "vomiting" you are witnessing could be a the end of the cough. Sometimes a dog can cough so hard they trigger their gag reflex and bring up bile or white foam. So if every vomit follows a cough, Cedar may actually be coughing and not vomiting. Causes of coughing are kennel cough, pneumonia, allergies, bronchitis, heart failure. He is 8 months old so I would assume kennel cough is the number one possibility. If he has been boarded lately, around other dogs, at doggy day care or the groomer that will make it more possible. Causes of true vomiting are: dietary indiscretion, foreign body, toxin, viral/bacterial infection, pancreatitis, etc. I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery for Cedar!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 1st, 2017

    It sounds as Cedar is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP, he will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection he will need an anti vomiting injection, antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better.

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