Dog Symptoms Guide

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Sign Of ill health guide >>

Retching
Retching is often confused with vomiting or even coughing. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between these or one can lead to another.

Retching is often caused by an irritation in the throat. This can be caused by inflammations and infections, swelling due to tumours, swollen lymph glands or abscesses, foreign bodies, such as grass seeds, or vomiting in the absence of stomach contents.

Kennel cough often causes retching - see ‘kennel cough’. Irritation further down the respiratory system can also cause retching. For instance, irritation of the bronchi, the airways in the lungs, or pleura, the membrane lining the lungs, can cause retching or coughing. This can be caused by infections or by fluid, for instance as a consequence of heart disease. Any dog which repeatedly retches should be examined by a vet.