Dog sounds like it has a hairball

[turtle]

We just got a 10 month old Border Collie X Black Lab from the SPCA last week. For the last several nights, she has woken up several times during the night sounding like she has a hairball. There's coughing, wheezing and it sounds like she is going to throw up, but doesn't. She doesn't do it during the day. Any thoughts?

[rainbow]

It sounds like it could be kennel cough. Here's some information and there is a video on the website that you can listen to....

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/kennelcough.html

[Melanie1010]

Sounds like Rainbow said... Kennel Cough (seeing as she is a rescue (YAY! Thank you for rescuing her). You should take her in to the vet, and contact the SPCA and see if they have KC going around right now. She will need a prescription to help clear it up. Its important to treat it as a friend of mine thought his dog had a cough, turned out it was Kennel Cough that turned into an ammonia... Good luck!! Hope she is feeling better soon!

[Purpledomino]

It could also possibly be something called "reverse sneezing", which is usually harmless and passes. My dogs do this sometimes, and it does sound like they are trying to cough up a hairball, or vomit...but of course they don't.

I wouldn't rule out the kennel cough theory though, especially if your dog was in a shelter. Definately a vet visit should be in order to rule that out. Good luck with your new addition, we'd love to see pictures!

[rainbow]

From what I've heard with reverse sneezing they also sound like they are sucking in air with the cough and kennel cough has a "honking" sound.