My dog has been having a hacking and almost looking like she is going to throw up throughout the day. No loss of appetite, no lethargy, and she’s been happy. This happens every so often, no real pattern. She’s eaten, drank water, and played today. The symptom first appeared this morning after she was outside using the restroom.

This sounds like kennel cough. If she’s been around other dogs a few days ago she may have gotten this from them. Usually if you keep her quiet and she continues eating and drinking she should get over this without treatment in a week or so. If the coughing worsens or she stops eating or becomes lethargic then bring her in for an exam and treatment. They will probably give her antibiotics and perhaps something to stop the coughing. If it’s kennel cough she could be contagious so please keep her away from other dogs until she’s better. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

If this has gone on for over a few hours then I would recommend that he be examined by a veterinarian. Many issues can cause this. Oral or esophagus trauma from chewing on something dangerous, he could be nauseated from any number of problems. He could even have something stuck in his mouth or esophagus. Good luck, and I hope he is back to normal soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sumner. She may be experiencing an upper respiratory tract infection. If this is the case, you can try running the shower on hot and letting the steam build up in the bathroom. Then place her in the bathroom (not the shower) to breathe the humid air. This can ease congestion. If this does not help, she stops eating it has eye or nose discharge, then she will need to see a veterinarian. She could also be coughing due to a collapsing trachea as this is a common condition in small breed dogs. I hope this information helps!