If dogs make noises like choking, it may indicate asthma, bronchitis, or an allergic reaction. Under certain circumstances it can also be a collapsed trachea, kennel cough, poisoning or blocked airways.
If your dog has acute shortness of breath and is almost suffocating, you should take action immediately. The “Heimlich maneuver” can help in such emergencies:
- 1) Stand behind your dog
- 2) Raise the dog's hind legs upwards
- 3) Press your hands against your abdomen under your ribs [1]
You should only use this method in emergencies. You shouldn't test this on healthy dogs. Below you will learn about the 10 most common causes and their symptoms.
Are you worried or unsure? Then click here to start a live chat with a veterinarian.
#1 Asthma
Asthma is always referred to when the dog's airways are hypersensitive to certain substances. Chronic inflammation is very common here.
If the airways suddenly swell and the dog has difficulty breathing, doctors speak of an “asthma attack”. Typical triggers for this are:
- pollen and dust
- mold spores
- Perfume and home fragrances
- Cat hair
- Air pollution
- Pesticides and cleaning products
- Cigarette smoke [2]
During such an attack, dogs also make noises like they are choking. In addition to labored breathing, there are usually other symptoms:
- Breathing with mouth wide open
- Wheezing and coughing
- Dog has trouble breathing
- Gums turn blue
- Loss of appetite and energy
- Rapid breathing [3]
There is currently no cure for asthma. The symptoms can be treated well with the help of medication. The veterinarian should be consulted about this.
When dogs suffer from asthma, sudden attacks are more common. During these attacks, affected dogs have difficulty breathing and make sounds like they are choking. This can be counteracted with suitable medication.
#2 Kennel cough
Doctors distinguish between the upper and lower respiratory tract. When the dog's upper respiratory tract becomes inflamed, it is also referred to as “kennel cough”.
This type of illness is also known colloquially as “dog flu”. Bacteria or viruses are usually behind it. The most common symptoms of this are:
- Constant coughing
- Dog gets a fever
- Gagging and vomiting
- Dog sneezes and snorts
- Runny nose
- Rattling breathing
- Loss of appetite [4]
The inflammation often makes breathing so difficult that the dog makes noises that are reminiscent of suffocation. However, acute shortness of breath is rare.
If you suspect it, you should be careful around other pets. Because kennel cough is transferable. This is often fatal, especially in animal shelters.
In most cases, kennel cough resolves on its own. However, various medications and antibiotics can speed recovery. [5]
In dogs with kennel cough, the upper respiratory tract becomes inflamed. This usually makes breathing difficult, so affected dogs often make noises similar to choking. Fortunately, dog flu like this can be easily treated with medication.
#3 Bronchitis
In addition to inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, there can also be an infection of the lower respiratory tract – the bronchi. In this case we are talking about “bronchitis”.
Compared to kennel cough, this type of inflammation is also more often chronic. This primarily goes back to the causes. Typical triggers for this are:
- fungal infection
- Tracheal collapse
- bacteria
- Allergies and viruses
- pneumonia
- Foreign body
- Parasitic infestation [6]
The most common complaints here include breathing problems. Sometimes affected dogs also make noises as if they are choking. Other symptoms include:
- Strong cough
- Frequent whining
- Lack of motivation
- Dog keeps choking
- Bluish gums
- fainting
- Loud breathing [7]
Depending on the severity and cause, oral medications, antibiotics and other anti-inflammatory agents are used. For this you should visit the vet.
Dogs with bronchitis are more likely to have breathing problems. In addition to rattling, affected dogs also often make noises that resemble an acute risk of suffocation. This type of infection can usually be treated well with medication.
This website is for sale.
#4 Tracheal collapse
In some dogs, the stabilizing cartilage along the trachea is very weak for genetic reasons. This can lead to a narrowing or even a collapse.
In most cases, the symptoms do not appear abruptly, but rather appear over a period of weeks and months. This is most common in the following breeds:
- pug
- Shih Tzu
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Pomeranian
- Chihuahuas
- Pekingese
- Toy Poodle [8]
But other small breeds with a short snout are also more common. Affected dogs breathe heavily and tire excessively quickly. Other symptoms include:
- Rapid breathing
- Gums turn blue
- Dry cough
- Sounds like suffocation
- Dog gets tired quickly
- Strange breathing
- Lack of energy [9]
What is striking is that the symptoms increase over time. Depending on the severity, in addition to medication, surgery may also be necessary.
Dogs with a tracheal collapse become increasingly unable to breathe over time. Depending on the severity, affected dogs also make noises more often, as if they were choking. If you suspect anything, you should seek professional help here.
#5 Swallowed foreign body
In terms of behavior, dogs are sometimes quite comparable to young children. They like to put everything in their mouth and chew on it out of curiosity.
It becomes a problem when they accidentally swallow objects. The following foreign bodies in particular are more likely to cause breathing problems:
- Table tennis and golf balls
- Whole potatoes
- Food packaging
- Whole ears of corn
- Large pieces of bone [10]
Swallowing such things often causes shortness of breath. Affected dogs also make choking-like noises more often. Other typical causes are:
- Constant coughing
- Dog rubs his mouth
- Profuse salivation
- Dog chokes without vomiting
- Shortness of breath and shortness of breath
- Strange breathing noises
- Dog refuses food [11]
Depending on the species, this could be a veterinary emergency. In other cases, the problem partially resolves itself. A visit to the vet is still advisable.
If dogs swallow a foreign body, it can cause breathing problems. In serious cases, dogs make noises similar to those in acute danger of suffocation. If you suspect something, I recommend seeking professional help immediately.
#6 Cold
When the upper respiratory tract becomes inflamed due to viruses, it is commonly referred to as a “cold”. Such viruses are usually transmitted by other animals.
Depending on the type of virus, the symptoms can vary greatly. In almost all cases, affected dogs cough frequently. Other typical symptoms are:
- Rattling breathing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Tears in my eyes
- Sounds like suffocation
- Labored breathing
- Dog has a fever [12]
A measurement of body temperature is often sufficient for diagnosis. Fortunately, dogs usually recover from a cold on their own. A lot of rest is often enough.
In addition, it is advisable to shorten dog walks, serve easy-to-digest food, get plenty of sleep and ensure a stress-free environment.
If the symptoms persist for a long time, medication can be used to help. The only important thing is that these are medications from the vet that are specifically for dogs. [13]
Dogs with colds are more likely to have difficulty breathing. Such viral infections usually resolve on their own. However, affected dogs may cough more frequently, develop a fever and make noises as if they were choking.
#7 Blocked airways
In addition to swallowed foreign bodies, a number of other causes can lead to similar problems. Typical triggers for this are:
Dogs' hunting instincts often lead to them accidentally swallowing a bee. Stitches in the throat can cause swelling and shortness of breath.
Swelling is completely natural when it comes to bruises. For this reason, injuries to the neck can also result in serious breathing problems. [14]
A tumor on or in the airways can severely narrow them. Affected dogs often make noises similar to choking or even begin to wheeze.
Every gram of unnecessary body fat around the neck presses against the airways. Dogs who are severely overweight therefore often breathe very heavily and become exhausted quickly.
In some cases, the respiratory system does not fully develop at a young age. If you suspect this, you should have an ultrasound scan carried out. [15]
Insect bites and injuries can cause the dog's airway to become partially or completely blocked. Tumors, developmental disorders and obesity can also cause dogs to make choking-like noises.
#8 Allergic reaction
Ready for a shocking statistic? According to studies, one in five dogs suffers from allergies. [16] The most common triggers, known as “allergens,” include:
- Certain foods
- Dust, pollen and mold spores
- Animal dander and animal hair
- Perfumes and home fragrances
- Cigarette smoke
- Certain grasses [17]
In most cases, the timing of the symptoms can provide an indication of the possible cause. This is especially true in the case of allergic reactions to food.
In some cases, the symptoms only occur where the dog was in direct contact. Some dogs also make noises like choking. Other symptoms include:
- Sudden diarrhea
- Runny nose
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dog wheezes
- Isolated redness
- Heavy breathing
- Severe swelling [18]
An allergy test may be necessary for diagnosis. If you suspect food allergies, such a free food check can help. You can also get free food samples there.
In the event of an allergic reaction, the dog's airways can become swollen, among other things. Among other things, this can lead to shortness of breath, which causes the affected dog to make noises like choking. This especially applies to allergens in food.
#9 Brachycephalic syndrome
In the past, breeds were often bred to achieve certain visual characteristics. Unfortunately, these experiments have also led to a lot of “torture breeding”.
This refers to dog breeds that have chronic problems due to their breeding. The…