Aa
MedHelp.org will cease operations on May 31, 2024. It has been our pleasure to join you on your health journey for the past 30 years. For more info, click here.
Aa
A
A
A
Close
419792 tn?1208270826

Swallowing Hard

Last night before bed my dog (shes 1 year old) randomly started swallowing really hard like something was stuck in her jaw/throat. We checked and there was nothing that we could see, but she was constantly licking her lips/paws/floor, swallowing hard (u could feel it in her stomach) and her throat seems to almost have a swollen lump in it....it probably lasted 10 minutes, after she had a drink of water everything was fine.
Then the same thing happened again today about 30 mins after she had eaten her food (same dog food shes always eaten) she didn't swallow anything, she was playing with one of her toys (i was watching her) she spit it out and started the same behaviour. I thought she was choking on something from the toy so I immediately checked her air way, her jaw was hard to open but i got it open pulled her tongue (it was jammed against the back so u had to pull it down to see) so we could check her airway and it was clear. I checked her toy and there was no parts off of it. So it seems like it just randomly started this time it lasted about an hour. Obviously I called the vet in this time, he advised me that "she probably has a bad taste in her mouth just to let her drink water, maybe give her a fave treat and make sure to check the house for objects on the floor she might be eating."
I was kinda annoyed with this answer but she had stopped so I got her to drink some more water and gave her a treat like he said. About 20 mins later, it starts again, she was sitting on my lap when it started, I know she didn't eat anything.  This time her breathing seemed harder. It seems to have stopped now, but obviously I'm pretty worried.
So any suggestions? Am I over-worrying?
37 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
462827 tn?1333168952
Hello Mary & welcome.......If you can give more details about your girl, we may can help you farther......My first reaction to your post is what is called a "Reverse Sneeze".......But, with no description, it could be a number of things......Let us know & your welcome for the article.......Karla
Helpful - 0
2102522 tn?1333602951
THANK YOU FOR THE ARTICLE.  FINALLY A REAL ANSWER.  I do not use drugs on my dog unless critical, and no invasive activities either.   For me, This may  very well be the case for my Peekapoo, who because of the small nose may have this issue.  It has happened before but not as bad as tonight.  It freaked me out and she got even more nervous.  So she had some grass from the garden and without throwing up is now relaxed.  
As for the allergies, she sneezes and wheezes and can cough out stuff when i tap her on the back or side of her lungs.    I think it is time to get the air cleaners out , in Minnesota an early spring (by 2 months) is probably not helping her.  I will probably wash all her bedding and toys too and make sure the house is really clean just to be safe for her and us too.    
Helpful - 0
1630651 tn?1299734243
Re POST NASAL DRIP In DOGS,,,I live in Canada.My beagle has suffered with this for 2 yrs.  1 trip to vet & my questions were answered,,an allergy to ??,,,Anyways prednisone was given,,just a small dose which decreases the inflammation,,however when done prednisone about 4 months later we are back at square 1...Benadryl allergy works (child dose) & cool rooms..treat your dog as you would yourself,,try things that will help,,when they get this they get anxious because they don't understand what is wrong,,so have patience.They seem to try to eat anything that isn't tied down & i think this is because they think there is something stuck in their throat,,but there isn't its the drip down the throat that is irritating to them,,good luck all & if i discover any good remedy i will post,,,
Helpful - 0
462827 tn?1333168952
Hello & welcome......I found this article for you...Hope it helps give you some ideas....

Canine Post-Nasal Drip: A Miserable Situation for Any Species
Filed under Dogs

Canine post nasal drip is a condition in which your dog's sinuses produce a vast excess of mucus, which then drains down the back of his or her throat instead of being passed into the nasal cavity where it can later be expelled. It's a frustrating condition that causes an almost constant sense of irritation in the back of the throat and in addition to increasing the likelihood of infections and sore throats, it can add a lot of stress to your dog's life that could cause him or her to act out in unusual and unwanted ways.

The number of potential causes of canine post nasal drip is vast. It can be instigated by basic respiratory diseases such as rhinitis and sinusitis, or it could develop as the result of trauma to the throat and sinuses such as acid reflux disease or a particularly bad instance of airway blockage. It's even possible for allergic reactions to food, medication, or something in the environment to cause canine post nasal drip to occur.

No matter the cause, the disease is rather easy to diagnose. There are certain clinical signs which you should be on the lookout for in your dog. These include constant swallowing in an attempt to get rid of the tickling sensation in the throat, congested airways that might lead to wheezing or a reduced tolerance to exercise. He or she might not eat with the same zest that he or she typically does because of a chronic sore throat that is often accompanied by uncontrollable fits of coughing. Lastly, persistent bad breath is a very good indicator that your dog is suffering from canine post nasal drip.

Treatment depends largely on the underlying cause of the condition. During the early stages of diagnosis, it's important to give plenty of fluids to your dog to help relieve congestion and dehydration. During this time, a large number of cultures and swabs will probably be taken from your dog's throat and nose in an attempt to more accurately understand what's causing his or her suffering.

If the cause is found to be a persistent infection of the sinus, then antibiotics are the usual course of action and are often very effective. Occasionally, a physical defect will result in the persistence of a post nasal drip and in these instances, regular nasal irrigation must be employed. Certain minor surgeries to re-route the flow of the excessive mucus might also be useful to your dog. If the cause is found to be allergic in nature, then the above steps might still be taken to relieve your dog's suffering while the allergy part of the disorder is treated independently with medications such as antihistamines and strong decongestants. Steroids have been used effectively in the past, but they are not recommended for anything more than short term usage.

While there is no real cure for canine post nasal drip, the disease can be very effectively managed by paying attention to your dog's environment and helping to isolate the central cause of the disorder. It may be that a simple lifestyle or diet change is all that's necessary to relieve his or her suffering.

See if any of this info. rings a bell.....Let us know...Karla
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dog is doing the same thing.  I took her to the vet before and they claimed it was an infection and i got antibiotics.  well that worked for a while but shes had this problem 3 or 4 more times since then so i feel like my 200 dollars was wasted.  Vets are like highway robbery over 100 dollars just to get them seen.  Its freaking ridiculous.   I search google to see if i can find whats wrong with my dog so i dont have to spend an enormous amount of money.... and what do you all say?  Take them to the vet.  DUH!!  i didnt need to search anything to find that answer.  Im looking for a different answer besides that because the vet doesnt work.  Why cant we get someone who really knows whats going on to answer this question.  From searching different sites it seems like a common problem yet the best answer i can get is to go to the vet. Come on people ANSWER the damn question i sure someone knows!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My dog, who is 10 months, just started having very similar symptoms yesterday.  He is swallowing hard, licking the ground a lot, it seems almost like he is dry heaving.  It starts up every few hours and last 10 - 30 mins.  I'm wondering if you ever found out what was happening with your dog?  I took our dog to the vet today and got xRay's done, but we need to go back tomorrow to do more testing.

Any feedback would be helpful.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Dogs Community

Top Dogs Answerers
675347 tn?1365460645
United Kingdom
974371 tn?1424653129
Central Valley, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
Ooh and aah your way through these too-cute photos of MedHelp members' best friends
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.