【Choking noises in dogs: 13 reasons & solutions

13 reasons which can be behind the dog wheezing

If the dog makes noises that sound like choking, you should always be on guard: The risk that the animal could die is always the case, but not every shortness of breath means that there is a real danger to life.

Because the sounds can do a lot different reasons have. Below is an overview of the 13 most common causes.

1. Dog has himself swallowed

If your dog shortly after eating If he suddenly makes choking sounds, it is very likely that he is swallowed has. This means that some of the food has gotten into the trachea instead of the esophagus and is blocking breathing there.

This often affects four-legged friends who like to eat sling, some breeds, such as Golden Retrievers, are particularly prone to this. One way to remedy this is Anti-sling bowls: You can also find more on this topic here.

Swallowing food is a comparatively common phenomenon that often resolves itself because only small parts have entered the respiratory tract. With a bit of bad luck, it can also become an acute emergency.

2. Recording of foreign bodies

Choking noises are also very common when the dog has one Foreign body swallowed. This actually means any non-organic material that is not intended to be eaten, such as stones, small balls, pieces of clothing or leftover clothing such as socks, toys and plastic parts.

Many foreign bodies end up in the stomach, where, if left undigested, they can cause problems that can even lead to intestinal obstruction. But it can also happen that they… Affect respiratory tract and then cause suffocation. With larger pieces this can quickly become life-threatening.

Foreign bodies can actually be picked up by dogs at any time and anywhere, both in the home and outside. Very often curious four-legged friends and young animals are affected, who just wanted to try out whether they could eat something.

3. Dog-asthma

Choking sounds occur more chronically when the dog is under asthma suffers. This is a pathological one Cramping of the airways: The bronchi are then permanently inflamed and therefore fill with mucus, so it is a chronic bronchitis.

This makes the air supply very difficult and the dog begins to wheeze. Asthma in dogs is often linked to allergies, but it can also be caused by a cold. Are common older, smaller or overweight animals affected.

Hunde asthma must definitely be treated by a veterinarian. This can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

4. narrowing the respiratory tract

Also lead to frequent choking noises pathological narrowing of the airways. Very often this is due to frequent choking trauma, which causes the respiratory system to atrophy. Unfortunately, most of these problems are home-made, causes include:

  • A collar that is too tight
  • An incorrectly selected harness that, for example, presses on the neck area and
  • Dogs that often pull hard on the leash.

The sounds often begin when the dog is acutely choked. However, it is also possible that the symptoms appear “out of nowhere”.

5. Strong excitement

Some dogs – especially those who are vulnerable due to conformation or pre-existing medical conditions – also make strange noises when they excited are.

This is mainly because the Respiratory rate increases sharply when excited. If breathing is already hindered, it will be too much for the animal for a short time.

6th episode of Allergies/intolerances

Unfortunately, there are more and more four-legged friends who are under Allergies or intolerances suffer.

Sensitivities towards certain things are particularly common food However, the list of potential allergens is almost endless: there are dogs that are sensitive to certain ones Cleaning supplies react sensitively, too Pollen allergy sufferers exists among our furry friends.

A rather common allergic reaction is a Swelling of the respiratory mucous membranes. The dog then loses its breath, at least for a short time. In milder cases he may wheeze but still receive oxygen, but in a severe attack he may stop breathing.

7. Insectssting or bite

But especially in summer you can Insects be responsible for shortness of breath. A sting or bite alone can lead to allergic reactions in some four-legged friends, which then also affect the respiratory tract. In warmer vacation areas, snakes can also be culprits.

However, they are very dangerous for all dogs swallowed insects. If you sting the dog in the throat, the poison causes the throat to swell so much that shortness of breath always occurs. There is often an acute danger to life.

8. Acute Tonsillitis

Young dogs in particular are more likely to have one tonsillitis, also Tonsillitis called, affected. It is triggered by viruses and bacteria and usually occurs in the cold season.

When the tonsils become inflamed, they become very swollen. For the dog, this seems as if there was suddenly a foreign body in his throat. The animal usually reacts to this by choking and rattling.

For us dog owners, perceived shortness of breath is often the first sign that something is wrong with the animal – unfortunately, very few people think about the tonsils. This often occurs as the disease progresses other symptoms added, for example:

  • Smacking lips
  • Increased saliva production
  • Bad breath, especially with bacterial infections
  • Swallowing heavily and yawning frequently
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • cough and
  • Vomiting, usually only producing light-colored mucus.

Some breeds, e.g boxers and bulldogs, are particularly often affected by tonsillitis.

9. Flu-like infection or pneumonia

Also particularly common in colder months flu-like infections on. In most cases, these are rather harmless cold viruses, but they can also turn out to be dangerous – especially if the animal is older and/or has a weakened immune system.

Dogs can also spread colds. Then the respiratory tract is often affected, and in the worst case there is a risk of one life-threatening pneumonia. Not only viruses, but also bacteria and fungi usually play a role. In severe cases, the pneumonia then spreads to the bronchi, which then leads to shortness of breath.

10. Laryngeal paralysis

Unfortunately, dogs are also occasionally one of them Laryngeal paralysis affected. Older animals of larger breeds in particular suffer from laryngeal paralysis, as the disease is called by experts.

The cause is usually long-standing constriction in the neck area, for example due to an incorrectly fitted collar/harness, or a thyroid disorder. This will over time Laryngeal nerve damaged. In some breeds, such as Hovawarts and Leonbergers, the disease is also genetic.

The larynx then becomes so rigid that it cannot properly absorb inhaled air. The dog then not only makes choking noises, but also has problems with barking. A characteristic whining sound is another symptom of the disease.

There's actually only one thing that helps against laryngitis Operation. The arytenoid cartilages are then moved laterally.

11. Dog has one brachycephalic skull shape

Choking sounds are very common when the dog makes a so-called brachycephalic breeds belong. This is the case with these Skull significantly shorter and rounder than with other dogs, which unfortunately makes breathing much more difficult. A rattle often occurs, especially during strenuous physical activity.

The affected dog breeds include, for example:

  • Boston terriers
  • boxer
  • Bulldogs and French Bulldogs
  • Chihuahuas
  • Maltese
  • Pugs
  • Pekingese
  • Shih Tzus and
  • Yorkshire Terriers.

Unfortunately, there are many irresponsible breeders who deliberately breed dogs with particularly short skulls because these features are considered particularly cute by many buyers. But this doesn't do the animals any favors: things like that torture breeding The breathing problems often worsen to such an extent that the four-legged friends suffer permanently.

12. Cardiovascular system-problems

Choking noises can also be a symptom of… Heart failure be: If the heart does not pump enough blood through the body, lung function is also impaired and breathing is disturbed.

Unfortunately it gives out genetic reasons More and more four-legged friends are suffering from heart problems. Especially in older animals, the disease becomes so obvious that breathing is affected. In addition to shortness of breath, there are also noises that seem as if the dog is suffocating.

13. Parasites

And finally there are some parasites, which can lead to breathing being disturbed. Although most parasites work in the intestines of four-legged friends, some worms also attack the organs. These include, for example Heart and lungworms.

Unlike intestinal parasites, which quickly become visible when inspecting the feces, these uninvited guests “work” rather inconspicuously. They are often only noticed when major damage has already occurred – then breathing is almost always affected.

Most of the parasites that occur in our latitudes are transmitted by eating animals such as snails. If your four-legged friend is outside a lot, it is definitely advisable to have him dewormed regularly.

How Does a noise sound like choking in dogs?

Dogs make a lot of strange noises that worry us as dog owners. Not every sound that sounds like shortness of breath means that the dog is unable to breathe.

There are particular reasons for a suffocation attack coughing and choking sounds, where the dog does not vomit. A whistling noise can also be heard more often.

When assessing the situation, you should not only trust your ears, but also observe the four-legged friend very carefully. If he can't breathe, he will most likely Spread paws outwards and the Stretch your neck far forward – this is the instinctive posture with which the animal tries to get relief.

phenomenon Reverse sneezing

A special case is the so-called “Backward sneezing”. The dog then appears as if it cannot breathe, but the shortness of breath is usually only of a very short duration. In this case, the four-legged friend briefly stops breathing through his mouth and tries to get air solely through his nose.

To us it seems like the dog is trying to raise mucus. The exact causes of this phenomenon are still unknown, but it is usually the case brachycephalic breeds observed.