Why Does My Dog Keep Gagging? Most Common Causes
Reviewed by Rhiannon Koehler, DMV, MPH | Products are chosen at the discretion of the company and do not represent a direct endorsement by the veterinary reviewer.
Key Takeaways
- Common Causes: Gagging can result from foreign objects, infections, parasites, or other underlying health issues.
- Kennel Cough: A contagious but treatable illness. Watch for coughing, a runny nose, and lethargy.
- Infections & Dental Issues: Sinus/nasal infections or dental problems can trigger gagging due to mucus and inflammation.
- Parasites: Roundworms and other parasites may cause gagging; check for worms in stool.
- Heart Disease: Persistent gagging with rapid breathing or lethargy may indicate heart issues.
- Tracheal Collapse (Small Breeds): Common in dogs like Chihuahuas, chronic gagging may require vet attention.
- Laryngeal Paralysis: Dogs with laryngeal paralysis occasionally make gagging noises.
- When to Worry: Occasional gagging is normal, but frequent or severe episodes need a vet visit.
If you live with a dog, there’s a strong chance you’re attuned to its many peculiarities. Depending on the pup, these range from munching their blankets after dinner to barking at passing tricycles.
One of the more noticeable canine quirks is gagging. Often, there's no cause to worry. But if they start making a habit of it, it might be time to call the vet.
So, when does gagging become chronic, and what are the most common causes?
Most Common Reasons for Dog Gagging
Gagging can be mild and temporary or a sign of an underlying health issue. While some cases are harmless, ongoing or severe gagging may indicate a condition that needs veterinary attention.
Understanding the most common causes can help you know when to monitor your dog and when to contact a veterinarian.
1. Foreign Object in Throat
A common reason dogs gag is that they’ve ingested something they shouldn’t have. Sticks are a favorite and infamously hazardous. Dogs that eat them risk internal splinters to the throat and esophagus. No wonder your pup gags!
The good news is that most dogs have a sixth sense for realizing when an ill-gotten snack disagrees with them, and they go out of their way to speed up the gagging or vomiting process, often by eating grass.
2. Kennel Cough
The most common cause of chronic gagging in dogs is Kennel Cough. This is a highly contagious illness that dogs catch from one another. It’s likely your pooch will experience Kennel Cough at some point in their life.
But as canine illnesses go, Kennel Cough is manageable. A veterinarian can prescribe medication that will help with the gagging.
If you think your dog has Kennel Cough, minimize contact with other dogs. Also, watch for symptoms other than gagging to confirm the diagnosis. Look for signs of:
- Repetitive coughing.
- Runny nose.
- Lethargy.
- Loss of appetite.
- Low-grade fever.
While most cases of kennel cough will resolve on their own with time, some may require antibiotics. It’s also possible for kennel cough to progress to pneumonia, so let your veterinarian know if your dog’s cough is worsening, they’re having trouble breathing, or they’re getting more lethargic.
3. Other Infections
Besides kennel cough, other infections may cause a dog to gag or vomit. There are various infections responsible for this kind of behavior, but the most likely are:
- Sinusitis.
- Rhinitis.
As the name suggests, sinusitis is a sinus infection. Rhinitis comes from infected nasal passages. In both cases, the excess mucous and postnasal drip associated with these kinds of infections can quickly clog a dog’s airways. When your pooch gags, they’re trying to make breathing easier on their congested lungs. Neither is comfortable for your dog, but sinusitis and rhinitis are often easily treatable. If the gagging doesn’t clear up on its own, speak to your vet about possible treatments.
Also, be aware that if your dog suffers from persistent nasal or sinus infections, there may be an underlying problem with their teeth. Tooth abscesses and severe periodontal disease can cause sinus infection due to the unfortunate combination of bacterial build-up in the mouth and its proximity to the sinuses. So, while you’re treating your dog for possible infections, make sure the vet examines their teeth, too.
4. Parasites
Yet another common medical reason for dog gagging is parasites. As we know, dogs will eat anything. It might be simultaneously horrifying and comedic to catch your dog eating feces or a creature they found outside, but you need to remember that many of these animals are carriers for other creatures.
One of the most common parasites dogs pick up by eating fecal-contaminated objects that they should have left alone is roundworm.
Roundworms appear in your dog’s gut. But when they hatch their larvae, the young worms promptly migrate. That is always worrisome, especially when the larvae drift up into a dog’s lungs. If that happens, your dog’s breathing may start sounding different, and it may also cause gagging.
Other symptoms of a roundworm infestation include:
- Sudden anorexia.
- Potbelly abdomen.
- Dull coat.
- Weakness.
- Diarrhea.
You may notice some of the adult roundworms in your dog’s fecal matter, so if any of these symptoms appear simultaneously to the gagging, start paying attention. If your dog has roundworms in their poo, you’ll know. They’re long, spaghetti-like worms. If what you’re seeing looks more like rice, your dog may have tapeworms. Neither parasite is good, and both can be treated with routine deworming.
Another parasite that commonly causes gagging is the heartworm. Adult heartworms live in your dog’s heart and the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. Lung inflammation due to these parasites may cause coughing and gagging. You can prevent heartworms by keeping your pup on regular heartworm prevention.
Keep in mind that some parasites, like roundworms, can be contracted before the puppy is even born. If a pregnant dog has them, so will her puppies.
5. Heart Disease
Another common cause of canine gagging is heart disease. You usually only see this in senior dogs, so keep your pooch’s age in mind before you panic. Occasionally, dogs can have congenital heart disease.
Once you’ve factored in age, there are several other symptoms to look for when confirming possible heart disease. A dog gagging due to a deteriorating heart may also exhibit:
- Cyanotic (bluish) tongue.
- Rapid/shallow breathing.
- Lethargy.
- Exercise intolerance.
- Coughing.
It’s also important to remember that there’s a significant diagnostic overlap between symptoms in dogs. Lethargy and breathing difficulty could mean anything from Cushing’s Disease to heart problems. So, while you’re right to be concerned, the best thing you can do is go to the vet and give them a detailed history of the gagging and other symptoms.
6. Tracheal Collapse
You most often see a tracheal collapse in smaller dog breeds, like:
- Dachshunds.
- Chihuahuas.
- Yorkshire terriers.
Left untreated, the condition worsens over time, and if the trachea narrows too severely, surgery may be necessary.
Because tracheal collapse can be breed-specific, it’s more likely than other medical conditions to be congenital. If your dog is on the list of breed types likely to develop the condition, monitor their gagging over time and mention it to your vet.
7. Laryngeal Paralysis
Laryngeal paralysis usually affects middle-aged to older dogs. This condition develops when the dog experiences degeneration of the long nerves that innervate the larynx. When a dog without laryngeal paralysis breathes in, their larynx opens to allow air in. If a dog has laryngeal paralysis, one or both sides of the larynx may not open correctly.
The larynx may not close properly during swallowing, so food, water, and saliva can enter the airway, causing the dog to gag.
Labrador Retrievers are the most common breed affected by laryngeal paralysis, but it’s occasionally seen in others. Dogs affected by laryngeal paralysis tend to be medium-to large-sized.
In some cases, surgery is recommended for dogs with laryngeal paralysis. Others are managed medically.
Conclusion
Dog gagging has all kinds of causes, some more common than others.
Since symptoms tend to overlap across medical conditions, it's important to mention the gagging or vomiting to your vet if you think it’s become chronic.
Pay attention to other symptoms that accompany the gagging, and how often it occurs. At the end of the day, you know what is usual for your companion. If something feels off, calling the vet never hurts.