My dog is gagging frequently, but nothing comes up. What's wrong?

Question

My 3 yr old yorkie is gagging but nothing is coming up.. he does it every 3 hours.. he eating a little bit but still drinking water. Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Male | neutered | 3 years and 10 months old | 18 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

This could be due to a couple of different things. One common reason is coughing. Dogs tend to gag a lot when they cough, which leads people to think that they are choking, but it's really just a common thing for them to do when coughing. Otherwise, a gag could indicate something stuck in the throat, damage to the throat, or a cyst or polyp in the throat. In order to narrow down the possibilities, a vet would need to examine Niko. Sometimes it is necessary to do a sedated exam if something is suspected to be stuck in the throat. If you suspect that something is stuck in the throat, then do not try to remove it, because it can be pushed further in the airway and lead to a full obstruction. It's best to just take Niko to the vet as soon as possible to avoid any complications. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and Niko gets better soon.

My dog is gagging frequently, but nothing comes up. What's wrong?

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