Help! My new pup is acting like she's choking

[HeatherJS]

I just got my new boxer pup yesterday and I can't believe how much I already love her. I'm already sitting up at night like a worried mother!! At 2:30 AM here she woke me up to let her outside because she was whining like she needed out (she did). Got back inside and she was acting a little weird. Took her back upstairs and she started hacking. Almost sounded like she was going to vomit but her mouth was closed. Would open a little every now and then as if she was choking on something and couldn't get it up. I have no idea what's going on. I checked her mouth and nothing in there. Her poor little eyes looked like she was scared out of her mind. Gave her a little water and it seemed to stop. She was able to fall asleep but her breathing sounds a little off. It almost seems as if she has a cold (she was sneezing a lot earlier and now almost sounds as if she has a stuffy nose at times. Any suggestions? Should I make an emergency trip to the vet tomorrow to get all checked out? Am I totally overreacting and should just go back to sleep?

 

[Debbie Magon]

Is it possible she got into something while she was outside?
Puppies are notorious for snatching things up as they scoot by!


Give her another drink and keep an eye on her for 1/2 an hour and if no more coughing go to bed.
If she is still hacking , it would pay to get her to your vet in the morning.

Stuffy nose, runny eyes and hacking cough are all symptoms of kennel cough.
DONT panic!
Kennel cough is nothing more than a canine cold and all you can do for it is give kiddies cough syrup.

 

[HeatherJS]

Thanks for your help!She's now sleeping and I'm finishing my search on kennel cough. Sounds like what she could have. I'm positive she didn't get into anything outside because she had to go potty so badly she barely made it outside!! She had to stop on the front porch because she just couldn't hold it any more. After that, it was too cold for her to stay outside so she came right back in. One site I read said that cigarette smoke and cold air could be a leading factor also. What do you know, I've been telling my family to stop smoking around her! She acts as if she's sorta allergic when she smells it. And she'd never been outside before (we still have inches of snow on the ground in some place and -10 wind chills aren't the best for 7 week old pups!!) so I'm wondering if the cold air just got to her or immune system was week. Who knows? I need to get to sleep. 3:15 AM here!! Thanks again, though!!

 

[Jan]

Neither people, nor dogs get sick from getting cold. I could be the start of kennel cough as Deb suggested or she just breathed in a lot of cold air into her lungs, but I don't think that is likely as it doesn't sound like she was out long enough.

Take her to the vet if necessary. Good luck with your puppy!

 

[sirrocky]

Poor baby. Sounds like Kennel Cough. We bought our pup from a pet store when he was 8 weeks old and he started coughing a few days after we took him home. We took him to the vets and he checked out fine, then a few days later he started showing worse signs, green secretion from his nose. This poor guy was on Amoxicilan for weeks. He actually started looking forward to his medicinal "treats". It is definitely curable if take care of early. I hope this is not what your little one has, but don't panic and just be patient. Give her lots of love, it's just like having a new baby!

Best of luck!

 

[sashamom]

We are on the outskirts of kennel cough here....I read and followed advice on here with honey and i did buy infant robitussin and follow directions according to her weight....Sasha had stopped that awful coughing within 3 days or so.....Also don't be alarmed if you see a runny nose later.....that is also indicative of the cold running its course...she has had that for the last week or so! Good luck and I hope your baby feels better soon!
Sasha, Telmar and Lisa

 

[boxers4life2001]

Since you said her mouth was closed while she was making this noise, it kinda sounds like she may have been "reverse sneezing." I don't know if you ever heard a dog do that before but the first time I experianced it I was scared to death. It looks and sounds like they are choking or having a hard time breathing. It usually only lasts for a couple of seconds, my kids still experiance this every now and then!!!!!!

~Carrie~