My dog ate bed foam and is coughing. How can I help at home?

Question

Hello my 20 month old Husky chewed her dog bead and has small particles of foam in her throat and is trying to cough them up. She doesn’t appear to have any difficulty breathing. How can I quickly resolve without an expensive vet visit. Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Female | spayed | 1 year and 10 months old | 55 lbs

Stacey Anstaett, DVM · Accepted Answer

If she isn't having any trouble breathing, and its more of a retch type cough, the pieces are probably in the back of her throat or they are in her esophagus (as apposed to being in her trachea/airway). I recommend that you offer her a piece of bread - preferably starchy white bread such as Wonderbread, then offer her some water or low sodium broth to wash it down. If the pieces are in the back of her mouth or in her esophagus this may help them move down. HOWEVER, if she is unable to swallow the bread, if she seems distressed when she tries to swallow, if she is drooling a lot of making a hard swallowing motion, you need to take her in. I'm sorry, I know that's hard when finances are a stress, but if she has something that is stuck in her esophagus that can be a real problem. I think that is unlikely the case, as I would expect for foam to be able to pass on down, but a big enough piece could be a problem. Likewise, even if/when we can get her to stop coughing/retching with the bread, please watch her closely for vomiting and decreased appetite. If these things occur, please take her in. It is possible that bedding can cause a blockage in the intestine (much more common than an blockage in the esophagus as I discussed above). Also, please watch her breathing. If she starts coughing again or if it seems she is breathing faster than normal (persistently faster than 40 breaths a minute at rest and when not panting) or it seems she is labored in her breathing, take her in. Anytime they have been working on "getting something up" there is a risk that some of the material, and/or some stomach acid/contents can regurgitate into the esophagus and then get sucked down the trachea, causing aspiration pneumonia. Try the bread and water or broth, then watch her closely. I hope you can avoid a visit to the vet but be aware she may need to be seen. Again what you are watching for is: vomiting decreased appetite painful belly continued or recurrent coughing breathing fast or labored Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I hope that information helps you.

My dog ate bed foam and is coughing. How can I help at home?

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