Help! Why Is My Dog Dry Heaving and Foaming at Mouth?

Alright folks, let me tell you about my Sunday. Started out pretty normal, you know, coffee, catching up on the news, then I hear this weird retching sound coming from the living room.

So, I rush in there, and there's Buddy, my golden retriever, just dry heaving. Nothing's coming up, just this awful hacking sound. My heart just dropped.

First thing I did was try to stay calm. Buddy's usually a pretty chill dog, but he was clearly distressed. I checked around for anything he might have gotten into – you know, socks, toys, bits of trash – but the coast was clear.

Next, I thought about what he'd eaten. We'd gone for a walk earlier, and he'd been sniffing around the park. Maybe he'd snagged something he shouldn't have? I couldn't be sure.

I remembered reading something about dry heaving in dogs could be a sign of bloat, especially in larger breeds. Bloat is serious business, can be life-threatening. I started to panic a little.

I decided to call my vet. They're usually pretty good about giving advice over the phone. I explained the situation, the dry heaving, no vomiting, and they asked a bunch of questions: how often, how long, was his stomach distended, was he acting lethargic?

They suggested I keep a close eye on him. If the dry heaving continued, or if he started showing other symptoms like a swollen belly or difficulty breathing, I should bring him in immediately.

So, I spent the next few hours just watching Buddy like a hawk. I made sure he had fresh water, but I didn't give him any food. I figured it was best to let his stomach settle.

He seemed a little better after a while. The dry heaving became less frequent, and he started to perk up a bit. He even wagged his tail when I offered him a scratch behind the ears.

But I wasn't taking any chances. I decided to do some more research online. I googled "why is my dog dry heaving" and found a bunch of articles and forum posts. Some mentioned bloat, others talked about kennel cough, or even just a simple upset stomach.

It seemed like there were a lot of potential causes, and without a vet exam, it was hard to know for sure. I also saw that sometimes it could just be that something was stuck.

Finally, after a few hours, the dry heaving stopped completely. Buddy seemed back to his old self, playing with his toys and begging for treats. But I waited until the next morning before I gave him any food, and even then, it was just a small portion of his regular kibble.

Thankfully, he was fine. No more dry heaving, no other symptoms. I think it was probably just a minor upset stomach, maybe something he'd scavenged on our walk. Still, it scared me half to death!

• Observe: Watch for other symptoms.
• Hydrate: Make sure your dog has fresh water.
• Rest: Avoid feeding until the dry heaving stops.
• Call: When in doubt, call your vet!

Anyway, that's my story. Moral of the story: dogs are weird, and sometimes they do weird things that scare the crap out of us. Always be prepared, and trust your gut. If you're worried, call the vet. Better safe than sorry, right?