Why is my dog gagging and hacking for a week? Is it heartworms?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My dog has been gagging and hacking, almost like he has something in his throat, for about a week. It sounds almost like a car would with a hairball. His appetite is normal. Could it be heart worms?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 4th, 2017
This cough could be due to heartworms, especially if your dog isn't up to date on his heartworm treatments, but it could also be due to cardiac disease, respiratory disease, or kennel cough. Given that he has been gagging and hacking for about a week, I would have him seen by a vet tomorrow. The vet can diagnose what is causing his symptoms, and can discuss treatment options with you.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 15th, 2018
Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral/bacterial infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is coughing a lot,does that mean he has heart worms
Hi I do not know the age of your dog because this plays a factor is the causes for coughing. Coughing can be as simple as Kennel cough, if he has been around other dogs or to a vet, groomer or dog park recently. It can also be caused a collapsing trachea, which is common in small dogs, and can vary on how serious it gets. Or it could be heart disease or cancer. I see from your location that heart worm is quite possible as well. I would take him to the vet for a heart worm test which is a quick blood test. He would be coughing if he had adult worms in him. Only your vet can determine the cause of the coughing and I would take him as soon as possible to go over treatment options for him. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My dog went to the vet for heart worm treatment while I was in class yesterday morning from 9am until about noon. On the way home he started hacking and gagging and threw up once. He can breathe normal some times but it is now 3am the next day and he
What you are describing sounds like a reverse sneeze. Typically, we are concerned with patients developing respiratory distress associated with heartworm treatment secondary to worm die off and blood clot formation. It does not sound like a that is the case here. Nonetheless, contact your veterinarian and let them know. He may need to be evaluated if the sneezing and gagging continue.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 yr old female NSB dog coughs while lying down. Local Vet has tried different approaches but just a few days after treatment has started, the coughing and gagging reflect continues.
It could be kennel cough, in that case coughing could remain up to 2 weeks after treatment started, but it could be something else such as a heart condition, heartworm or a lung disease. If the cough does not resolve within a few days I would recommend having an x-ray done in order to find out what is causing this.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
When thinking that your dog has heartworm, would the cough be light or kinda hard? Also, would the cough be continuous or not happening often?
Hi and thank you for using Boop by Petco. Unfortunately, there is no classic cough for a heartworm dog. A cough can be caused by a primary pulmonary disorder like inflammation of the lungs (bronchitis) or infection in the lungs (pneumonia, kennel cough, the flu) or a parasite (heartworms). A cough can also be caused by a primary heart disorder like congestive heart failure. If your pet has not been on heartworm prevention, it is possible it can be heartworms but if your pet has been to day cares, dog parks or around other dogs, it is possible it can be an infection. I recommend visiting your veterinarian to perform a full physical exam and determine if xrays are warranted or a heartworm test. And ultimately, if any treatments are needed. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Stray dog has severe cough since February 2018 I given him medicine in May whole month it become okay as soon as I stop giving medicine knowing that he is ok now he started to cough again so what possible reason it could be bronchitis or something el
I am sorry to hear that your dog is coughing. There are so many reasons for chronic cough such as allergic bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, heartworm disease, enlarged heart, fungal infection, parasites, and cancer. To answer your question heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes only and can not pass through people. Also, there is no answer to how long it takes for a cough to resolve. It completely depends on what is causing the cough. I would highly encourage you to consider a follow up appointment with your veterinarian soon. X-rays, bloodwork, and a fecal exam may be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Fiffy is about 7 years old, not sure as I found her in the street and took her in, and occasionally maybe 3-6 times a day she will cough or gag like if she's choking and she stiffens up like if she's trying to throw up but it sounds like she chokes o
If it has been happening for more than 2 weeks, it's likely to be a chronic problem, it could be a heart condition, hearthworm, a chronic lung disease or a collapsed windpipe. i strongly recommend taking her to the vet to get that checked.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
So I have a puppy that is 9 weeks old and has been on dewormer since they were 2 weeks old every 2 weeks like directed, but as of 2 days ago one of the puppies has begun coughing and then today has thrown up twice. I'm really worried that it's heart
If you are concerned about the puppy at 9 week old having heart worm disease this is not possible. Heart worm disease takes 6 months to develop from immature to adult worm. That means a 9 week old puppy is not able to have heart worm disease. However bacterial, viral and even parasites like roundworms can cause coughing. I would recommend taking the puppies to a vet for a good check up that way you can determine why they are coughing. hope that helps
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I have a puppy 6months old. Pin Tzu(Mini Pincher x Shitzu.) She began coughing since Sunday(june18,2017) until today of June 20,2017. The coughs seem to be worsens. The cough produce loud gaggles, which is like she's about to throw up. I was susp
Poor Mila Mumu! The most common cause of coughing in a puppy this age would be a respiratory infection such as kennel cough - if this is the problem, it should be easily treatable with antibiotics. The good news is, it's really not possible for her to have heartworm disease at her age - this illness takes a very long time to develop after being infected, so we don't typically see symptoms of it in dogs less than 2-3 years old at minimum. It's good that you're planning to take your pup in to the vet today for an exam. He/she will listen to her heart and lungs, and may recommend chest x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem. If she does have kennel cough (or something similar), your vet will probably send her home with antibiotics to treat the infection.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Scooby will occasionally have a cough that reminds me of a heart worm cough (he’s going to get heart worm tested soon) I’ve only really noticed the cough after he eats or when he gets too hyper. Could there be a different cause besides heart worms? H
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! Besides being due to heartworms, coughing can be a sign of many conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, heart disease, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Scooby evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Treatment would be dependent on findings. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What tyoe of cough dog do if he has heartworms also stray dog outside mybshop is coughing since February 2018 till now i started giving him medicine from may whole month i give him his cough got better and went away then aftee 4 days again he started
There are many different causes of cough, especially in a stray. Unfortunately without diagnostics there is no definitive way to diagnose it. Heartworm disease, lungworm, tracheal collapse, infectious or allergic bronchitis, tumor, fluid in the lungs, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure are among some of the common reasons for coughing. I would encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. A heartworm test and x-ray may be recommended to help determine the diagnosis and best treatment plan. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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