Weird Honking Noise

[Guest SillyIzzysMom]

Just the past few days Izzy has started making this strange honking noise which ends with a gag/barf but I never see anything come up. She'll do it in the middle of the night or during the day. Maybe I hear her do it a half dozen times a day? Maybe less. Sounds like she has something stuck in her throat, but I don't see anything (as well as I can look which isn't great) and she's eating drinking everything else fine.

 

I hate to take her to the vet for this unless everyone says I should. She'll never do it there and I already think that he sees me as a nervous new parent!

 

Anybody have a clue? I would think it was just an odd behavioral thing except that we've had her 3 weeks and this has only been happening maybe the last week or so.

 

thanks

[Guest Greyhoundbaby]

Reverse sneezing perhaps? Tapsy had that - I never checked with the vet because it didn't seem to bother him...

[turbotaina]

Reverse sneezing doesn't usually end in gagging/barfing. It's basically a quick intake of air through the nose and exploding it out immediately through the mouth. It's also known as pharengeal gag reflex and can be caused by a minor irritation in the throat (dust, pollen, toy fuzz (!!!). Turbo does it frequently enough. The first time I saw it, I thought it was an asthma attack. Does that sound like what your dog is doing? How old is your pup?

Edited February 23, 2008 by turbotaina

[patricia]

Our Angel Truffles had a nasty honking cough that ended with a gag when he had kennel cough. It upset me because he was in for his senior exam and we sat in the waiting room with many sick babes for a long time as there was an emergency. I think he probably got it then as he had never been boarded and was our only babe at the time. I just felt bad...like if I had taken him in another day it may not have happened. Anyway....he did recover nicely but was quite uncomfortable for several days.

[Booker_Aye]

It does sound like kennel cough, and a visit to the vet is indicated. Here is a symptom description:

 

Symptoms

 

The most common symptom is a dry hacking cough sometimes followed by retching. Many owners describe the cough as having a 'honking sound.' A watery nasal discharge may also be present. With mild cases, dogs continue to eat and be alert and active. Many times, there is a recent history of boarding or coming in contact with other dogs. In more severe cases, the symptoms may progress and include lethargy, fever, inappetence, pneumonia, and in very severe cases, even death. The majority of severe cases occur in immunocompromised animals, or young unvaccinated puppies.

 

Kennel Cough

 

That is the article. It would be reasonable to see this in a dog who has been in contact with other dogs, as your new adoptee certainly has been.

 

Feel better soon, Izzy!

[Guest SillyIzzysMom]

Ah well. . .I guess I'll take her in then.

 

It does kind of sound asthmatic, so it might just be some dust or something (Lord knows there's plenty of dust around here !) But that honk-gag also sounds like it could be kennel cough although she just does it pretty infrequently so I wouldn't say it's bad or making her miserable. I guess I assumed that they would have given her a kennel cough vaccination since she lived in a KENNEL for several months before she went to her foster home. Shows you what I get for assuming!

 

Oh, and someone asked how old--she turned 3 in November so she's still a "baby"

 

She's pretty smart--kind of taught herself the stairs by watching my other dog--didn't want any help from me but one day just walked down them after my other dog like she'd been doing it for years! We're working on the doggy door now--she's getting closer to figuring that one out too.

 

[turbotaina]

The kennel cough (bordatella) vaccine is not terribly strong and should be given every 6 months for any efficacy at all. None of the dogs we get in off the track are vaccinated for bordatella before coming to us. I don't know if it's done during their racing careers or not (I know other vaccs are mandatory and I'd think they'd give bordatella, too, but I don't know). At any rate, if she's been off the track for more than 6 months, any prior bordatella vax likely wouldn't be holding up.

[Guest vampthing]

It depends if it's a cough or more a sort of snuffle. If it's a cough then definitely see the vet.

 

If it's more of a deep snuffle / chesty snort, then it could be he has breathed in something he disagrees with (a bit of pollen or even his own snot) and he's trying to get it out.

 

I always stop him when this happens, if his nose is wetter than usual I rub it, then I rub under his chin vigorously a few times, and if he's still trying to cough, rub or pat his ribcage quite firmly. It seems to help him cough it up and then stop, much quicker than if he does it on his own.

 

My boy is always sticking his nose into plants and grass when we are out and often does these snorts on walks, but rarely around the house (maybe if he took some water down the wrong way or something).

 

So I guess if it happens only when out on walks, or if it happens often at home, that's another possible clue.

 

If it's getting worse and it worries you then do see the vet of course.

[Guest greytpets]

Souns like kennel cough.

 

She doesnt neccesarily need to go to the vet, it will cure itself in 2-3 weeks you must need to keep her isolated (no walks etc) because its highly contagious. Unless shes not eating/drinking as normal she should be fine.

You can take her to the vet but theyll just give you antibiotics to speed up recovery.

[Guest SillyIzzysMom]

I actually suspect that she picked it up at the vet--the timing is about right for onset of symptoms. No walks huh? Oops. She's had this about a week and I've taken her on a walk every day! We haven't encountered any other dogs, so hopefully she hasn't spread it to anybody--unless it can be passed through pee. She pees several times during a walk--as much as any male dog. It's pretty funny.

 

I actually think she's coughing less today--so far anyway. I looked at the info and I think it said that it takes about 10 days for it to run it's course and that would put her at about day 8 or so--might be starting to subside. If that is what's going on, I guess she just had a very mild case. I'll probably just call the vet to tell them about it and find out when she can get vaccinated for it so it won't happen again, hopefully.

 

I'm going to get a urine sample and take it to the vet tomorrow anyway. She's had a couple accidents in the last few days and hadn't had any before. I should have been watching her more carefullly (obviously). . .but both were just about 2.5 to 3 hours since the last time she had gone out. Seems pretty frequent for a 3 year old dog (not a puppy and not a granny). Probably just needs more outside reinforcement, but I want to rule out a UTI. With the Erlichia, worms, terrible diaharrea (possible Giardia) and now Kennel Cough her immune system might be a little worse for the wear, poor baby. She might have picked up a UTI pretty easily.

 

Thanks for all the patient, kind advice. This forum is so helpful!!

[GreytHurleyDawg]

As soon as I saw your topic, I clicked on it because Hurley has always had a respiratory issue that we suspect cut his racing career short (he only ran a few maiden races). I could describe his noise as a honking but we have always called it a snort or hack. Anyway, he does it occasionally and it always seems to stress him out, the same as when I swallow something down the air passage or if I mildly choke. It did take a few weeks for us each (my DH and I) to hear it and talk to one another about it when he first came to live with us. It does usually pass without intervention but we usually call his name to divert his attention or I will gently pet him and tell him it will be alright if I am near him.

 

We mentioned it to the vet and he traced the trachea with his fingers, listened to his breathing and heartrate and asked us how often it happens and what happens when it does. Everything sounded normal so the vet thought it seemed like a coughing from food or coming back up or maybe some dust or toy stuffing from the environment.

 

I'm never quite sure what happens when we are not home, however, and he did get aspiration pneumonia last thanksgiving which developed because he vomited (while we were away from home)and then tried to swallow it and it went to his lungs instead of down the esophagus. I'm not blaming his coughing for this or even connecting the two but I know that I shouldn't stress him out when he hacks and I still have to work on myself with that. So, don't let your stress transfer to your pet!!

 

Hurley does breathe abnormally hard after running really fast.....we have always thought his lungs are not exactly perfect...but it could be his vibrant and very excitable personality. However, I think he is not as well-suited for racing as some greyhounds are. Luckily, he has no need to race anymore, it's all just for fun now!

 

Let us know what happens at the vet. It's never a bad thing to learn more about your new addition at the vet even if it is just for an odd noise. Our vets love to see our greyhounds and they usually find an immunization or other scheduled test to throw into an unexpected visit just to make it worth our while. And the stories they tell can be pretty interesting too....my greyhounds seem to loosen the vet's tongues a bit!!

Edited February 26, 2008 by GreytHurleyDawg

[Guest SillyIzzysMom]

Well, as you know, because she only "honked" occasionally (it peaked at maybe 7 or 8 a day?) and didn't seem to distress her and didn't affect her eating I had kind of dragged my feet about the visisting the vet (Izzy doesn't really"load" in the car well--once there she's a peach, but you have to muscle her front feet up and lift her back ones--we're going to work on that soon).

 

Anyway by the end of the weekend, her honks were getting fewer and farther between maybe only one on Sunday, so I just stopped by the vet without her to talk about it and to get something for her constant runny poo (sigh! Still working on that!) The vet said that it sounded exactly like Bordatella and the probably the reason she had such a very mild case was because her records show she'd been vaccinated for it in early January. Apparently, the vaccines don't always work completely.

 

So, no worries. no more honking, just the same-old runny poo We're trying another round of Flagl. . .we'll see. (and yes she's had pumpkin added at every meal for weeks--since i read it here!.) I haven't posted this problem because there's always lots of other posts on it and I am just learning from them. I suppose we'll have to start tryng to food swap game, but I'm dreading that. She's on regular adult Innova now and I had hoped she'd do as well on it as my other dog. But, that would be too easy, right?

[GreytHurleyDawg]

Good luck with the poo!!!!

 

Stress from being in a new home can affect that too so maybe if things settle down, it might be easier to control the doo doo.

 

Pumpkin does work for my pups. Cottage cheese or yogurt works for others.

 

[Guest greytpets]

good to hear its getting better

 

If shes getting wet food aswell as biscs (kibble) maybe cut it back to just biscs??

[kudzu]

As soon as I saw your topic, I clicked on it because Hurley has always had a respiratory issue that we suspect cut his racing career short (he only ran a few maiden races).

 

Actually, I clicked on this for a similar reason. It sounded like two possibilities I had experienced. First was kennel cough & am glad that seems to be what the cause was. The second was a dog who had a neurological disorder. One of the symptoms was this strange noise sometimes that was finally chalked up to laryngeal paralysis. The description of Hurley now makes me wonder if something similar to LP may be going on with Hurley. LP is not quite as uncommon or as serious as many of the other neurological disorders. It is something that bears watching & some caution. Just something to keep in mind for Hurley.

[Guest Cooter77]

Great Topic! I am a proud new owner of a retiered greyhound named Eeyore! I was worried cause he seemed to have this asthma like fit for a second, then he was better. He has only done it a couple times and seems to be fine. After reading the above posts, I going to conclude that he is just getting into dust or something else that is not agreeing with him. I'm not going to say it's kennel cough just yet, but I'm going to keep my eye on him.

 

thanks,