a hacking sound

[tutebugs]

Chipper got up this morning and started making this deep throated hacking sound. It kinda scared me. He was on my lap and stretched his neck way out and started hacking or whatever. What is this he's doing? Should I be concerned when he does it?

[lv4dogs]

is he on heartworm meds? deep throated coughing can be a sign of heartworms & kennelcough. Of course there is a chance it could be that he just swallowed food or something wrong or got into something that upset him. And it could be something else even. it can mean heart problems & all sorts of pther things.

If he is showing no other symptoms & he has not had contact w/ another dog that could of had kennel cough & he is on heartworm meds I would personally just keep a watchful eye on him for a couple days, if it persists or worsens then i would get him into a vet.

how old is he?

good luck, hope chipper feels better soon!

[tutebugs]

He isn't on heartworm meds but I'm gonna ask the vet on Monday when he goes in to have his teeth cleaned. He very rarely does this, I think this is only the second time he's done it in the last month we've had him. Oh, and he's 6 years old and didn't have kennel cough from the kennel when we first got him and he hasn't been around other dogs cuz he doesn't get along with them.

[tutebugs]

I just came in from shopping and Chipper got all excited and then started doing that hacking thing again. He was like all sprawled out on the floor doing it. Everything else seems normal with him, he's happy and playful and eats and drinks.

[lv4dogs]

i would have him tested for heartworm ESPECIALLy if hes going under anesthesia for teeth cleaning, the vet should reccomend it be done even if he had no symptoms especially before going under! goog luck keep us posted.

its not always a sysmptom that is constant, sometimes it flares up & sometimes not, also as the heartworm get more mature & larger the cough will become much worse & constant.

[tatsxxx11]

Even if Chipper does test negative for heartworm, please, please get him on a preventative program asap! It's a most serious, life threatening condition that can be easily prevented. The treatment is drawn out and very pleasant:( Did your vet ever mention putting him on a heatworm preventative plan? I'm sure your vet will help you to figure out the cause!:) Please keep us updated on the coughing heartworm and teeth cleaning!:) Hugs to Chipper! (Do you have any pictures???:))

My girls occasionally make that hacking sound, neck outstretched. But, it's usually from a small bit of debris, bit of kibble at the back of their throats that they want to clear.

[tutebugs]

I just called the vet and talked to the secretary and she said that if it's a dry hack then it's a sign of heart worm, if it's just like he can't breath, which his is, then it's called a reverse sneeze and it's very common in dogs. Heartworm can't be gotten until mosquitoes are out and here they don't start coming out until April so between April 15-June 1st I should bring him in for testing and a prevention.

[micki76]

Originally posted by tutebugs
I just called the vet and talked to the secretary and she said that if it's a dry hack then it's a sign of heart worm, if it's just like he can't breath, which his is, then it's called a reverse sneeze and it's very common in dogs. Heartworm can't be gotten until mosquitoes are out and here they don't start coming out until April so between April 15-June 1st I should bring him in for testing and a prevention.

IMO you still need to have him tested, soon. He could already have them and they are maturing. This really didn't sound like reverse sneezing from your description.

[tutebugs]

It sounds like he is trying to get air, guess I really can't explain it but I was on the phone for quite a while trying to get it figured out and from the different sounds we figured out it's not heartworm.

[wolfie]

That's good it's not heartworm! I hope Chipper is doing better. :)

[tatsxxx11]

Hope Chipper's doing better today! Sounds like it just might be a reverse sneeze...? Please check in when you can!:)

[lv4dogs]

How did chippers appoinment go yesterday?

wishing you the best!

[tutebugs]

He's doing good. They pulled his two front top teeth so he has to have amoxil twice a day for a week. When we picked him up he was still a little tipsy, it was like he was drunk. So we brought him home and he slept for about 4 hrs and then was just fine. They said not to let him eat til this morning but he was so hungry he was begging at anything we had in our hands, so we let him have some food, and he didnt' throw up like they said he would. Today he seems great, he's chewing on his nylabone and just ate and had his medicine.

[lv4dogs]

did they test for heartworm? or give you any info on his hacking?

[tutebugs]

Heartworm isnt' happening here yet, they said they dont' test until April cuz that's when the mosquitos come out. It's just a reverse sneeze that happens when he's gets excited or is on his back.

[lv4dogs]

Originally posted by tutebugs
Heartworm isnt' happening here yet, they said they dont' test until April cuz that's when the mosquitos come out. It's just a reverse sneeze that happens when he's gets excited or is on his back.


although mesquitoes are not out yet your dog could of got infected last year or the year before or the year beofre etc...
a dog ussually lives only about 5 years after infected without treatment, some can live a little longer or go sooner.
I would seriously seek another vet if he says he only tests for it in warm months. I would of seeked another vet if he did not reccomend testing before going under anesthesia.

it could just be that reverse sneezing but i would like to be on the safe side. Reverse sneezing is not ussually a deep throat dry hacking sound it is more like a snorting type of breathing kinda sound, it can be kinda scary sounding.

[tutebugs]

We already cleared up that it's not a deep throat hacking, it's more like he's trying to get air. I explained that to the vet and that's how we came up with the reverse sneeze. It's only happened like 3 times, not very often, so I'm not fretting too much over it.

[lv4dogs]

glad to hear that! I just wanted to make sure cause he sure is a cutie, wouldnt want anything to happen to him.;)