How to deal with dry heaving and why your dog is retching

Retching, also known as Dry heaving or Dry peristaltic movement, is a reverse-peristaltic movement of your stomach and oesophagus without vomiting. Retching is a form of vomiting but not a sign that your dog is vomiting. Retching can sometimes precede vomiting. It may cause only a small amount of mucus and bile to be spewed in other cases.

You don’t have to be concerned if your dog vomits occasionally and doesn’t show any other symptoms. Retching in dogs could indicate an underlying condition. A variety of medical conditions can cause dry heaving. Some conditions can even cause death.

Retching in your dog’s ear is an emergency. It would be best if you immediately took them to the vet. We will discuss the causes of your dog’s retching and what you can do to fix it.

Retching in your dog?

There are two types of twitching: medical and non-medical.

Gastric Dilatation & Volvulus

Gastric dilatation & volvulus (GDV) is a medical condition where the stomach is hyperextended due to high gas content. Dogs are most affected by this condition. GDV is also known as gastric torsion. Simply put, GDV is when the dog’s stomach becomes stretched out and twisted.

This condition is sometimes called “bloating”. However, bloating does not involve stomach distention. There’s no twisting. Bloating happens after eating. GDV can be fatal and requires medical intervention.

Blocked Throat

A blockage or object in the dog’s oesophagus could also be a reason for retching. Dogs can accidentally swallow toys, stones, tissues, or other foreign objects. Dogs can become irritable, upset, or even vomit if this happens.

If you suspect your dog has a blocked throat, there are other things you should watch out for: pacing, mauling at your face, loud breathing sounds and salivation. Dry-heaving coughs are signs that a dog is trying to clear their blocked airway. Your dog may vomit the foreign object eventually.

Respiratory Disease

Dogs can get violent coughing from various respiratory conditions, leading to severe retching. Kennel Cough is one of these conditions. Kennel Cough causes dogs to cough vigorously and dry their heave. This is also called canine infectious tracheobronchitis.

Kennel cough is caused by viruses and bacteria, particularly Bordetella bacteria. Any dog infected by this disease can cough into the air and spread it to others.

Obstructing the airways by tumours

A tumour in the oesophagus, or airways, can also cause retching. A tumour that grows in your dog’s airways can cause it to obstruct. It not only compresses the airways but also compresses the oesophagus.

The abnormal growth can lead to breathing difficulties. Your dog may experience irritation, such as a cough or dry cough.

Surgical removal is the only way to remove these tumours from your dog’s throat.

Gobbling

Dogs can eat their food fast without chewing properly or waiting for the next bolus. Sometimes, food can get ingested quickly and in the wrong channel. This can cause dogs to have difficulty breathing and dry-heave.

Dogs that eat fast are more susceptible to Volvulus and Gastric Dilatation. If your dog seems to be dry-heaving when eating, this likely is what is happening. This situation can be solved by purchasing a slow feeder that rations your dog’s food.

Nausea

Your dog may feel nauseated by different things. Your dog may vomit if he swallows something that upsets his stomach. Other daily activities, such as eating too much food or gobbling up food, can also cause nausea in your dog.

Side effects of certain drugs may cause nausea. In addition to nausea, other side effects can include diarrhoea, drooling, and other health problems in dogs who have consumed unpleasant substances.

Bilious Vomit

Bile is a yellowish-green fluid that the liver produces. Bile is necessary for complete digestion. The stomach becomes empty after a long fasting period. This means that there is nothing to neutralize the gastric acid and bile. This can cause nausea and retching.

Excessive stomach bile production can cause bilious vomit. The stomach walls are irritated by this. The dog may produce fizzy yellow vomit if he doesn’t eat. You may also notice pale gums, dehydration and drooling as signs of bilious vomiting.

Loss of elasticity in the Trachea

The Trachea, a flexible respiratory tube that carries air to the lungs, is flexible. It is also known as the windpipe. It is composed of cartilaginous rings, which make it elastic.

Some dog breeds, such as Poodles, have cartilaginous rings in their Trachea that weaken the Trachea and decrease its diameter. This is a hereditary condition. It can cause severe coughing and retching.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis refers to a medical condition where the tonsils become inflamed. Tonsillitis is a medical condition in which the tonsils become enlarged due to inflammation. This lymphatic organ can swell, which can cause the dog to gag and dry his heave.