Pug coughing/gagging - can anyone help?

[PrinnyPug]

I have a 6year old female pug, for the last 6 days she has been coughing/gagging but not all the time - it seems to come on randomly throughout the day and night. The coughs/gags have been dry except for one which caused her to be sick. She has always gagged but its not been so bad as this.
I am reluctant to take her to the vets - as we seem to always be there!! And I have read a lot of people say on the internet that after taking their pug to the vet with similar symptoms that the vet was unable to find the problem.

Can anyone help? Is it something that will go on its own?

[staceypal]

**weeks

[staceypal]

A few backs back, my dog was coughing and gagging (just like you are describing).  It was random throughout the day and night.  Almost seemed like he was gasping for air.    
The vet dx as kennell cough.  Please take your dog to the vet!!  Kennell cough if not treated can be fatal in dogs.  Even if he has been vaccinated, he can certainly contract the virus (there are numerous virus's out there of this!) (Happened to my dog)

Good Luck :)

[Misfits4Me]

Hello & welcome to the forum.......

Some reasons for coughing:

First, Heart Disease- With Heart Disease, the weak heart cannot pump as well...Fluid builds into the lungs causing the cough..The cough is usually MOIST like they're choking on congestion...Actually, they are...The cough is worse in the mornings & during periods of running, playing & excitement....Fluid will show in an x ray.....Fairly easy to rule out & Heart medications work well for treatment.......

Next- Kennel Cough- This is a virus and antibiotics will do nothing.....Cough syrup is very necessary to help this run it's course.....Lasts a few weeks & the cough is excessive!!!!

Collapsing Trachea- Common in small breeds- This cough is more like choke-gasp, choke/gasp....It sounds like a goose honking....Meaning like when your sucking through a straw & it collapses. Like it kinda sticks then opens, etc. It is actually doing just that.....The trachea collapses then opens back up...This ailment is treated by weight control & Medications for lung disease....Cough meds, bronchial dilators,  Asthma meds., steroids when necessary, etc.

Respiratory Diseases cause coughing....Asthma & Bronchitis are treated with the same meds as Trachea Collapse. This is more of a dry cough with wheezing at times or both....With this, sometimes the Heart shows enlargement,but it is not a Heart Problem! It's from lack of oxygen through the respiratory system.....Steroids are useful as needed for allergy season that can be a trigger.....Dust mites in the house affect this a lot (Especially in the winter when the heat is on and the house is closed up tight).......It seems they breath better outside.....Something else: Dust Mites in DRY dog food alone can trigger this.....This disease can be controlled for years once you know what to do.....

There's a common cough called A "Reverse Sneeze"...You can google it to know what it sounds like.....I can't describe it....It kinda sounds like all the above, dammit!!!  ;)  Although it sounds awful, it's really harmless.....Lots of dogs do it their whole life...

Then of course, Heart Worm Disease will cause a cough....Also will show an enlarged heart....Will be seen on an X Ray....Can be ruled out with a blood test.....If your dog has not been on monthly Heart worm medication, you need to have this blood test done..... This disease is possible at any age......

Also, Allergies can & will trigger a cough.....

All of these can be evaluated by a Vet...Good luck, Karla

[tonyb286]

The first thing to say, which you are probably already aware of, is that Pugs have genetic issues with their breathing. This means that even a slight problem with the throat or lungs or gastric tract which ordinarily might not be too big an issue for most dogs, can become a major problem for pugs.

I am going to assume she has been vaccinated for kennel cough - if not, she should be - take her to a vet asap. Even if she has been vaccinated, there are strains of the virus that vaccinated dogs can still catch. Has she been near any other dogs recently? Just because they weren't coughing doesn't mean they weren't carrying the virus - and kennel cough is exceptionally contageous.

This could also be a bowel obstruction problem. Has she been chewing at anything recently? I would suggest this needs further examination at your vet. Hopefully, they will do an X-ray of her bowel and lung area to see if it is a blockage - though of course, not all obstructions show up on an x-ray.

Just because she always seems to be at the vet, that's not a good reason for ignoring these symptoms - it may well be something and nothing, but equally, if it is something like an obstruction or a trachea problem, it will need professional treatment quickly. Let us know how you get on. Tony