If you’re asking yourself, “why is my puppy dry heaving,” then here’s what you need to know. Dry heaving often occurs before vomiting and is often very loud and scary for a dog owner.
So, it is needful to understand the symptoms and how to provide relief for your puppy. You will need to rush your puppy to the vet to save its life in some cases. Here are the common reasons your dog or puppy is dry heaving and how you can prevent it.
Before scrolling down this guide “Why is My Dog Dry Heaving,” check out these related articles: Why Is My Dog Breathing Heavy At Night and Why is My Dog Breathing Heavily While Sleeping?
Reasons Why Your Dog Could Be Dry Heaving
Like people, dogs can experience dry heaving, which is basically when they’re trying to throw up, but nothing comes out. Here are some very common reasons your puppy or dog is dry heaving and help prevent this problem.
1. Something Could Be Stucked in Your Dog’s Throat
A dog or puppy with something stuck in its throat is likely to start dry heaving. Most times, puppies nibble on random objects, some of which are not edible. When such foreign objects are taken in, they may get stuck in the dog’s throat.
Once this happens, your dog will try to throw up. Many different objects can trigger dry heaving in dogs. Some examples include balls, sticks, tissues, rocks, paper towels, and many other objects. Dogs start dry heaving in an attempt to get rid of the object blocking their throat.
Your dog may also encounter other symptoms like pawing near the face, pacing, drooling, coughing, and different breathing noises. And in cases where the foreign object is not far down your dog’s throat, it will succeed in vomiting it out.
2. Your Dog Has Respiratory Illness
Sometimes the reason behind your dog’s dry heaving is a respiratory illness. Many people are unaware that an underlying health issue like kennel cough can trigger such behavior in dogs.
This respiratory illness is contagious, and its symptoms include dry cough accompanied by nasal discharge. When the illness becomes severe, your dog will start dry heaving.
If you notice that your puppy or dog has kennel cough, you should quarantine it to avoid spreading to other dogs. In addition, your dog may be dry heaving due to other respiratory illnesses like tonsillitis – a condition in which your dog’s tonsils are swollen.
The swollen glands prevent the dog from breathing well. In some cases, the swelling will cause a gag reflex when the dog starts dry heaving. Other conditions such as tumors near your dog’s throat can result in a dry heave. The dog may also experience other respiratory symptoms.
3. Your Dog Has GDV or Canine Bloat
If your dog has canine bloat, you should take it to a veterinary professional. This medical condition is severe and can be life-threatening. It is advisable to know the symptoms of canine bloat because it can kill a dog within a few hours.
You won’t hesitate to send your dog to the vet immediately by knowing the symptoms. That way, you will save your dog’s life. Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is a health condition in which the stomach becomes twisted up and filled with gas.
This disease causes your dog to look bloated, similar to a swollen stomach. In addition, you will notice symptoms like drooling, panting, and whimpering in pain.
Your dog will also dry heave, although it will not throw up. Once you notice such-like symptoms in your dog, you should take it to a veterinary professional. Bloating is a life-threatening condition, and you should take it seriously.
Related: Why Does My Dog Eat Only At Night?
How to Stop Your Dog From Dry Heaving
When you notice that your dog is dry heaving, you want to stop it. The first thing you need to do is consult a veterinary professional to discover the reason behind your dog’s condition.
Also, you should take a close look at your dog for other symptoms that could be present. It will help you determine how severe the dry heaving condition is.
You can prevent this by giving your dog water to drink now and then. If you require a more drastic way to stop your dog from dry heaving, you should try preventive surgery.
1. Stick to a Feeding Schedule For Your Dog
If your dog is susceptible to bloating, you should always avoid free-feeding. In this case, eating freely can be dangerous to your dog. Have a feeding schedule with little portions. Don’t leave your dog’s food out at all times.
It would help to divide its calorie needs into two or three meals per day. This way, you will prevent excessive weight gain and bloat.
Ensure that your dog eats several small meals every day. While feeding your dog, don’t use an elevated bowl. Make sure that feeding time is as stress-free as possible. You should avoid giving your dog dry kibble.
Related: German Shepherd Feeding Chart Guide and What Human Food Can I Feed My Diabetic Dog?
2. Limit Your Dog’s Activity for Half An Hour
After eating, your dog should stay calm and contained for about 30 minutes or more. But this is not easily achieved because your dog will become energetic after taking in all that calories. You can put your dog in a crate or dog gate to prevent it from playing around.
You can also take an entirely different approach. Mealtime can be treated as quiet time. Be patient and chill for at least 30 minutes before stepping out. This will give the food enough time to settle.
Conclusion For “Why is My Puppy Dry Heaving”
You know your dog better than anyone else. So, you must pay attention to your dog for any strange symptoms like dry heaving. Once you notice such behavior in your dog, please take the necessary actions to relieve its pain. After treating your dog, consider changing its lifestyle to avoid future issues.
Consult your vet to relieve bloat and dog-proof your home so that your dog won’t swallow any foreign object. In all, being ready is a surefire way to keep your puppy safe, comfortable, and healthy.
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You can learn more about this topic by watching “Signs of GDV in Dogs” down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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