hacking? not really a cough.....help me figure out how to describe my dog's symptom (labrador, vet) - Dogs - - City-Data Forum

Hopes · 09-23-2007, 10:34 AM

Over the past week, my labrador has been making a hacking sound. It's not a cough. It sounds more like when a cat has a hairball. Just an exhale hack in the throat.

When I do a search on the internet, it only brings up "hacking cough" but he's not really coughing---just hacking.

It's not constant, just on and off with some days not happening at all.

It's not asmtha. My beagle/basset has asthma, not my lab. It's not allergies either.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what's up with my labrador?

Anyone ever had a dog who was hacking like a cat does with a furball?

ominumberone · 09-23-2007, 10:45 AM

This sounds just like what my dogs do and it is from allergies. My one dachshund has a snorting like sound that come with his hacking but that is from a collapsing trachia. I hope your Vet can help him.

Padgett2 · 09-23-2007, 10:47 AM

Do you live in an area with mosquitoes? There is a chance that it could be heartworms. It needs to be checked out.

Hopes · 09-23-2007, 10:58 AM

Can heartworm be treated at this stage of one week of hacking? Or is that a late sign of the desease?

My son reminded me that he is wheezing too.

I guess it could be allergies/asthma or heartworm.

My other dog's asthma comes out as a honking.

I'll definitely call the vet tomorrow for an appointment.

I'd love any information on heartworm. Does anyone here have any experience with it? Is there hope for him if he has heartworm?

Is heartworm contagious? Could my beagle/basset catch it from the lab?

We don't live in an area with a large amount of mosquitoes, but there are mosquitoes like everywhere else.

I live in Pittsburgh, not swamp land.

Hopes · 09-23-2007, 11:12 AM

I think he was tested for heartworm last month.

He was tested for lyme's disease last month for sure.

I could have sworn that she said that he didn't have heartworm when the test was completed.

Is there a test that tests for lymes disease AND heartworm at the same time?

Or am I just not remembering last month correctly?

Hopes · 09-23-2007, 11:15 AM

I just did a google search.

The blood test was a three part test that checked for lyme's disease, heartworm and ehrlichiosis.

He is blood test was normal last month.

I'm still calling the vet tomrorow.

dogpaw · 09-23-2007, 11:31 AM

Is it possable he has something stuck in his throat? I think a vet visit is a good idea.

cleosmom · 09-23-2007, 12:46 PM

I agree with taking him into the vet it can be a myriad of things; allergies, asthma, a growth that you can't see, reverse sneezing... the list goes on. Please let us know how he is.

Turtle · 09-23-2007, 01:53 PM

Has the dog been exposed to other dogs, especially puppies, or other dogs that may be carrying bordetella? (kennel cough) It could be some kind of upper respiratory infection. Kennel cough often sounds like there is something stuck in the throat. My dogs got it when my mom adopted a dog and though she wasn't showing symptoms, had recently gotten over kennel cough and was still carrying it, and it sounded like they had a bone caught in their throats or something.

citybythebay · 09-23-2007, 02:08 PM

My dog was diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease over 10 years ago. Typical symptoms are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath.
Yep, it's the same thing humans are diagnosed with.
While there is no cure or reversal for it there is therapy through meds.

I'm not saying this is what your dog has I am only sharing my experience.
It's best not to ignore even something that some people would think is minor such as a cough. Rule out as many things as possible. (pneumonia, canine cough, etc.)