What should I do if my puppy is coughing and gagging?

*Puppy coughing and gagging may be caused by various reasons, such as foreign objects in the esophagus, respiratory infections due to cold or viral infections, and internal parasites. Due to the numerous potential causes, it is not advisable for owners to self-medicate. Instead, they should take their puppies to a pet hospital for diagnosis and treat the underlying cause to prevent further complications.

How to handle dog coughing and gagging

To treat dog coughing and gagging, it's essential to determine the cause first:

If the cough and gagging are caused by respiratory infections due to a cold, anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic drugs can be given for a treatment period of about 7-15 days. During the treatment, proper warming measures should be taken for the dog. It's also necessary to consider whether the cause is a viral infection, which requires a paper or PCR test. If there is a viral infection, antiviral drugs should be used.
For coughing and gagging caused by esophageal foreign objects, a DR examination is needed to determine the location of the object. The object can be removed through vomiting or surgery.
Coughing and gagging caused by the return of internal parasites can be treated with antiparasitic drugs. It is generally recommended to perform internal deworming every 3 months.

Can a dog's cough and gagging be self-healed?

Usually, coughing and gagging caused by diseases cannot be self-healed. If a dog coughs and gags a few times and has no abnormalities in spirit and appetite, it may be caused by eating too fast, which usually resolves within a few minutes. Owners can use a slow feeder to correct their dog's eating habits. However, if the dog has persistent coughing and gagging, accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, abnormal breathing and temperature, it cannot be self-healed and requires timely medical attention for blood routine, DR, and virus tests.