Terrible Tess has started coughing. Yesterday, unknown to me, she ate half a bush, then a bowl of rice and then half of my sons school book bag!!!! (I obviously don't feed this dog at all !!). She then threw it all up, aaagh. Later last night she started coughing and retching as if she's trying to clear her throat. This has continued today, but not as often. Otherwise she doesn't seem unwell, I can't see anything in her throat (she's quite happy for me to look). I'm very worried, could she have anything stuck in her throat, or is it just likely she has scratched her throat vomiting the bits of bush up?

I'll probably take her to the vets tomorrow anyway, just to be sure, but am I worrying unneccesarily.

She's going to have an anaesthetic on Wednesday as she's going to be spayed, so I suppose the vet could have a proper look then.

Anyone any ideas/thoughts. I feel a bit uneasy even now as I think I probably should have rushed her to the vets when it started.

By the way, it's definitely not kennel cough.

Paula

hello, why definately not kennel cough ??? how old is she ?? and is she coughing not trying to vomit ??

Hi Chloe

It's definitely not kennel cough as she hasn't been near any other dogs except my other one (who hasn't bee anywhere she would get it either) because she is very aggressive towards other dogs and whilst we are trying to train her out of it, she is not yet at the stage where I can let others get too near. She is 22 months old and yes, it may well be that she is trying to be sick. Everything that should be is coming out the other end, and she hasn't been sick since Saturday evening when she threw up 3 times - a pile of leaves and twigs, a pile of rice, and a few leaves - all with bits of book bag in them (yuk)

Paula

Hi.
There is every chance it is kennel cough, it is an airborne virus, she doesn't have to come into contact with infected dogs to get it, and don't forget dogs can incubate kennel cough for upto 11 days.
Hope she is ok.
Dawn B

It just seems too much of a coincidence that it started after she'd thrown up all this stuff.

The coughing is not as frequent today, but still sounds nasty - I've made an appointment to see the vet at 4.30 today (I don't like hanging on to my money anyway :))

paula

Agreed Paula, does sound like a co-incidence, at least she is improving and that is the main thing.
Dawn

Hi everyone,

went to the vets yesterday - he thinks she's just got a scratched throat after throwing up all that rubbish & gave her an anti-inflammatory jab and an antibiotic jab so she doesn't get an infection just as she's having a general anaesthetic. She's fine now :), but yesterday threw nearly half a towel up!!! I didn't even know it was missing (the other half was hidden in the garden!

Needless to say, everything that can be has been moved out of reach!!!

Thanks for the replies :D

Paula

LOL, she didn't eat the homework, just the bag from round it :D ;D!!!!

My son didn't see the funny side :D

Paula

Hi Paula
Sorry to hear about Tess, it all sounds very familiar to me,my Lab puppy has Kennel cough and I thought he had something stuck in his throat, because he is always chewing things and trying to eat things he shouldn't (he ate my sons homework)He seemed well in every other way, eating ,drinking , toileting,but was coughing and retching, like he was trying to bring something up(very similar to your discription)He seemed to be fine while he was quiet and laying down, but as soon as he started to move around he would start to cough again. I hope that what ever it is that Tess is soon better. Let us know how she is.

So dogs really do eat children's homework ! No wonder my kids are so keen to have another one.

I can only speak for Labradors and they will eat anything!!!

My Lab will also eat anything I have lost count of the amount of bits missing of my Daughters toys.
Lab's fav seems to be jigsaw puzzles.

Karen