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Retching in Dogs
Written By Grace Park
Published: 06/27/2017Updated: 04/05/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Michele K.
What is Retching?
Retching is the action of vomiting that is not productive, or does not produce vomit. In many cases, retching, or dry heaving, will precede vomiting, while in others, it may only produce a small amount of mucus or bile. Extreme coughing can also progress into retching. Noticing any other signs concurrent with the retching can help you and your veterinarian to discover the true cause. Reasons your dog may be retching include:
- Respiratory disease
- Collapsing trachea
- Throat obstruction
- Nausea
- Bloat
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Bilious vomiting syndrome
Why Retching Occurs in Dogs
Respiratory Disease
There are many respiratory diseases and conditions that produce a severe cough that can lead to retching. One such disease is kennel cough, a highly contagious disease also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis. Kennel cough can be caused by a number of viruses and bacteria, including the Bordetella bacteria. This airborne disease can be coughed into the air, infecting any other dogs in the area. A dry and unproductive cough and a characteristic “goose honk” can lead to pneumonia, weight loss, and lethargy.
Collapsing Trachea
The trachea, or windpipe, stretches from the neck to the chest and allows air to flow to the lungs.
Due to a hereditary defect of some breeds, such as Poodles and Pomeranians, the cartilage rings that make up the trachea can weaken and cause a narrowing of the trachea. This can cause severe coughing which can end in gagging and retching.
Throat Obstruction
Balls, rocks, sticks, tissues, and other non-edible things can become lodged in the esophagus or trachea and cause a blockage. This can lead to gagging, retching, and vomiting. Other signs there is something caught in your dog’s throat might include audible breathing noises, drooling, pawing at the face, and pacing. In some cases, your dog may vomit out the foreign material, but when it is lodged too securely, unproductive dry heaving can result.
Nausea
Nausea can be caused by many things. If your dog has eaten something that has upset his stomach, he may retch and attempt to expel the noxious material. Eating too much food, or too quickly, can also cause your dog to retch. Certain medications may cause nausea, as can infections in the ear. Motion sickness is sometimes seen in dogs, and can result in additional signs of whining, pacing, drooling, and diarrhea.
Bloat
A case of bloat can occur when a lot of air is swallowed, such as if food is eaten too quickly, and can cause the abdomen to swell. This may be relieved through belching. Gastric dilatation (GD) occurs when the stomach fills with gas, while gastric dilatation with concurrent volvulus (GVD) results in a twisted stomach that can become a life-threatening condition needing immediate medical care. Unproductive retching with a bloated abdomen can be indications of one of these more serious conditions. Other signs can include shallow and rapid breathing, abdominal pain, and restlessness.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Besides bloat, other gastrointestinal complaints can result in retching. Various infections, digestive issues, organ malfunction, tumors, and certain diseases such as gastroenteritis, can cause signs that may include vomiting or retching. An obstruction or impaction in the intestines can cause a disruption in the entire digestive system as food and fluids cannot pass through. All of these kinds of conditions will present additional signs, so be sure to relay any you have noticed in your dog to your veterinarian to help in a diagnosis.
Bilious Vomiting Syndrome
Bile is a yellowish green substance that aids your dog in digestion. When the stomach is empty, there is nothing to absorb the bile and stomach acids, and this can cause nausea and retching. Bilious vomiting syndrome (BVS) occurs when this buildup of bile causes irritation to the stomach lining over a long period of time. Vomiting occurs when the stomach is empty, usually in the morning or late at night, and can produce a frothy yellow vomit. Other signs include lethargy, drooling, decreased appetite, pale gums, and dehydration.
What to do if your Dog is Retching
Vomiting or retching that occurs often in your dog should be a cause for concern. Your veterinarian should be informed of all the signs you have noticed, if the retching has been accompanied by any vomited material or has been unproductive, if your dog has eaten anything he shouldn’t have recently, and his general eating habits. A physical examination may include feeling his abdomen for any bloat and checking the skin elasticity. Any samples of vomited material can be examined. Often, bloodwork, a urinalysis and fecal testing are performed.
Imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and fluoroscopy can reveal the presence of an obstruction, tumor, a twisted stomach, or a collapsing trachea. Exploratory endoscopy or surgery may be needed to definitely diagnose the problem causing the retching.
Treatment will follow according to the condition in your dog. Your veterinarian may attempt to induce vomiting in some cases. Immediate surgery may be needed for obstructions or impactions in the throat or intestines, or for a twisted stomach. These can be life-threatening conditions that will need to be remedied without delay. Appropriate fluids and anesthesia will be given. Any infections or viruses, such as those implicated in kennel cough, can be treated with antibiotics, cough suppressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Dogs with kennel cough will need to be isolated from other dogs to prevent spreading this disease.
While a case of simple bloat is relieved through belching or retching, gastric dilation can benefit from stomach pumping. There is no cure for a collapsed trachea, but it can be managed with cough suppressants, anti-inflammatories, bronchodilators, antibiotics to control infections, and keeping the dog’s weight under control, as obesity can complicate the condition. Surgically, an expandable stent or a rigid prosthesis can be inserted.
Prevention of Retching
It may be hard to predict when your dog may succumb to an illness, but there are steps you can take to prevent his risk. Monitor your dog’s area for items he may eat that could cause an obstruction, and teach him good eating habits that discourage the intake of too much air during meals. Vaccinating your dog can lower his risk of becoming infected by many types of viruses and bacteria. If you have a breed that is at a higher risk for GDV, you can have your dog’s stomach surgically tacked to prevent this potentially fatal condition from occurring. This is a procedure that is often performed at the time of a spay or neuter.
Cost of Retching
Costs for treatment of a condition that can cause retching in your dog can vary considerably. For more serious conditions, such as the respiratory kennel cough, treatment can average $650. A throat obstruction that needs more serious treatment can range from $1200 to $6000, while a collapsed trachea can average $1800. A GDV, or bloat, can be life threatening and quite expensive to resolve.
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Retching Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Golden Retriever
Thirteen Months
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
My dog Blue has been having short bouts of retching every few hours since 2 nights ago. We think he may have eaten a piece of a stick - but he’s pooping and eating fine so it doesn’t seem he has a blockage. He also did a 11 mile hike yesterday with no problems, but retched several times after the hike once he was settled.
Aug. 9, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. It seems that the stick may be part of the problem, or he could have a tracheitis or viral disease. If he gradually improves and is retching less, then he should be fine to monitor. If he continues to retch and it is not improving, then having him seen by your veterinarian would be a good idea.
I hope that all goes well for him!
Aug. 11, 2020
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Lurcher
Three Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Dry Retching, Sickness, Fatigue Not Eating
patch has been ill since 8pm last night he was crying until we went to bed when i woke this morning he had been sick 3 x which was just bile.... he also had 1 episode of explosive dihorea, he has also had heavy breathing and been very tired completely not himself he also didnt eat anything until 5pm and then at a little chicken and rice and had 2 sips of water .... on thursday patch also helped him self to half a box of after eights he had seemes fine until last night please advise as my hyper bouncy dog is now very lethargic and sick
July 25, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
From your description, he does sound really sick, I agree. It may have been the mint, or there may be something else going on, but I think it would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to examine him, see what might be going on, and help make him feel better as they have medication to help him. I hope that all goes well with him and he feels better soon.
July 25, 2020
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Maltipoo
7 months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
hi there - my maltipoo is fine in himself - he has literally today started making a weird like gagging noice - like he is trying to throw something up. it goes on for mayeb 30 seconds and then he is fine again. Eating and drinking and playing
He is eating fine and is fine otherwise
July 22, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
There is a thing that dogs do called a Reverse Sneeze. You can Google that and see if that looks like what is happening - if so, that is not life threatening but may need a veterinary visit if it continues or is becoming more frequent. If that is not what he is doing, it would be a good idea to have him seen by a veterinarian for that breathing, as he may need treatment.
I hope that all goes well for him!
July 22, 2020
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Golden Retriever
10.5 years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Retching
My dog has been fetching for several days. Two times he has vomitted and very little came up. As of this morning he’s attempted to expel something with nothing coming up. Should I take him to the vet or emergency clinic
July 19, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
If he is bright and happy otherwise, and is eating and drinking normally and retching occasionally throughout the day, you should be fine to wait until tomorrow to have him seen. If he is retching repeatedly this morning, is anxious or is not able to really focus on anything else, then he should go to the ER. I hope that all goes well for him.
July 19, 2020
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American Staffy x American bulldog
Dexter
9 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Retching
My 9 month old am staff x American bulldog has been retching in the late night/ early morning for the last three nights. Nothing comes out and then he goes back to sleep but I am worried as he is currently on medication for suspected pneumonia. He was diagnosed with pneumonia two months ago based on his temperature and lung sounds alone, and went on nine days of medication. Everything seemed fine until he started having the same symptoms last week and has gone back on the medication as they think it didn't quite clear up last time. I'm worried that they may have been too quick to think it is pneumonia without further testing, especially now with the retching which he did last time as well
Sept. 8, 2018
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Dachshund
schatzi
4 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Retching
Inconsistent Bowl Movements
Borborygmi
Schatzi our miniature 4 mo old doxie has now been retching in the morning for two days after irregular bowel movements for the past several days. At first I thought it was her diet, she was not taking her puppy dry food so we started supplementing her meals with a cooked egg or some cooked lean turkey. Her stools became inconsistent and at one point pencil thin. She was straining so I gave her a small amount of metamucil mixed with bone broth and within 24 hours she passed a decent stool but her stomach is still making very loud gurgling sounds like it's working on overdrive and her stool which though more bountiful is still thin at the end which makes me worried that there may be a blockage possibly from eating her toys fabric tag or worse an upset in her stomach flora caused from getting into something toxic she shouldn't have had access to. I've been refurbishing a wooden dresser and though shes seperated from everything I worry there may have been some stray transference. Thank you for your input.
.
terrier-pit mix
Charlie
2 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Gagging
Retching
Heaving
My dog was chewing on a tug-a-war rope the last week and I finally threw it away. He had it in pieces all over my house, but tonight he all of a sudden started to heave like he was going to throw up. He didn't end up throwing up at all and would not drink water. Do you think he has strands of the rope in his stomach causing this symptom?
