My chi's (four of them) do that all the time. But if you feel like something is wrong then that is what I would tell them - that he is not acting normal. They're the experts. They should be able to check him out to see if everything is ok. I would call just to make yourself feel better even if there isn't anything wrong. You know your pet better than anyone else.

Aww poor little fellow! I hope it is nothing serious. First thought, hope not, congestive heart problems. I hope he can be fixed up soon. Let us know how things turn out at the vets.

Sue

Sorry to hear about your dog. I hope it is nothing and she feels better soon. My Dachshund use to make that kind of hacking/choking sound. I even made a recording of it to take to the vet. They did all kinds of tests including a biopsy of growths on her throat. It wasn't cancer but it never went away either. She also has a clef palette which makes her snore and wheeze. When we got rid of the carpet and put in hard wood floors, she stopped making that hacking/choking sound. The vet said she could have been allergic to the carpet or dust mites or stuff trapped in the carpet.
Clare

My dog developed a wheeze. Vet first diagnosed it as asthma, it got worse and we found out it was lung cancer. Even with treatment, she was gone within 3 months.

I called the vets office. Receptionist advised me to save the office visit charge. She said if all I knew was what I told her, the vet would say kennel Mac and keep him quiet. She thinks it will be ok to bring him in on Monday for a teeth cleaning.
I haven't made the dental appointment yet, I will call Friday if he doesn't have anymore problems.
Oh and the hacking/choking sound she said is normal, they call it an inverted hiccup? LOL I said a whattt? He never used to do this that I can remember, but she said its ok. He only does it when he is excited. No other time.
Good gosh I told my DD's raising kids is easier than dogs! lol

Connie, follow your gut. If it is telling you that something is not right then have him checked. And tell the vet EXACTLY what you are feeling and seeing. If something is off you are the expert, you are the one that knows your baby best.

Luther, who's not a chihuahua, but a German Shephard/Lab mix does this choking cough that sounds horrible. Last year when we were at the vets I asked him about it and he said it's just something dogs do.

Glad you found outQ Hugs o you all....Stacy

We have a Chi that will soon be 13.She does it and has since she was a young dog.Mostly when she is excited or wants attention.She does it now every time we sit down to eat,but it's because she wants someone to feed her people food.I never feed her from the table,or feed her anything but her food,but grand kids mom did while we were gone so she thinks she can have it now. I just tell her to "stop that" and she goes to her bed and stops hacking.LOL I have had Chis for years and all of them have done this.My vet says it is normal but can also be caused from other medical problems so it would be good to have him checked out.Chis seem to be susceptible to congestive heart failure and that could be a cause.I'd have him checked out just to be safe.
Before DH and I married he found a little Chi in the middle of the street.He picked him up and brought him to me.He was probably 5 or 6 years old at the time.He did the coughing hacking thing too.My mother would give him Terpin hydrate cough syrup.Don't know if anyone knows what that is but it was an OTC cough medicine that had codeine in it.Tasted horrible but made the dog's cough go away.Probably because the codeine put him to sleep!LOL He lived About 15 years after I got him so I guess the cough wasn't life threatening.

Both of my chi's do it all the time. One of them does it more often at meal time. Sometimes if it doesn't stop right away, I massage their throat and it goes away. It seems to relax them.

Could he have swallowed something? Maybe it's not enough to stop his breathing but cause the problem you speak of? If he hasn't done it before, and now is doing it, I would get him into see somebody because it's not normal for him.

Nobody knows your pup like you do.

Our chihuahua has done this nearly every day of her life (she's almost 9 now). DD's pomeranian did, too. DD worked for a vet for awhile, and he explained that it was collapsing trachea.

Here is a link that might be useful: collapsing trachea in dogs

Mine does the same thing. When I first got her, she started doing it so I spent the money and took her to the Vet, only to find out that it was the reverse hiccup. She is doing it pretty badly now, but it has gotten better over the last 2 days. Now it's mostly sneezing - she has some horrible allergies! I will say that each time she had the problem, I've had her collar on. I normally use the harness because of this choking thing. But she hates that thing. As soon as I put the collar on, she starts the hacking. Needless to say, I won't be using the collar anymore.

Best wishess for your little one!

Oh our DD has a doxie that does that. The vet told her to gently hold her nostrils shut for a couple of seconds or so and it will stop.

Sue

Bud did that too,but only when excited...rub the dogs throat area Connie when its excited..it'll stop the hacking

My Miss Emmie does the reverse sneeze/hiccup thing.But she's always done it .I do like Rhinda and rub her throat area to stop it.I'd still have the vet check him out when you go for teeth cleaning though.It really can scare you sometimes,you think they aren't going to catch their breath.

We have a mixed breed - 40 pound dog. Our vet wanted him trained on a choker chain. I had neck problems and when I gave the quick litle jerk on the chain, I couldn't do it without hurting my neck. I feel this is what started the choking with our dog. It is almost a panic attack type of thing. When it happens, I kneel dowm, stroke him under the chin and keep telling him, he is all right. It soon quits. It is scary though and it makes me feel so badly that I think I originally caused it in the first place. We always use a halti on him now, so that nothing pulls directly on his neck.He did it one day at the vets but they could find no other reason.

Hope he soon feels better. If they could only talk!!!

Hope he's better!

He does seem somewhat better this morning. His little eyes are brighter and seems more lively.
From what everyone says (and thanks for the link BTW)I won't worry about the inverted hiccup thing. Mac adores DS (who he really belongs to) and when his favorite person comes he is over the moon.
I think he hurt his leg, and we have felt everyone more than once, he doesn't yelp with pain and is walking fine....he is like a spring at times. I mean a real Mexican jumping bean! LOL He jumps for joy, he jumps when he's begging he just jumps cause he can! I've never seen a dog that jumps like Mac, that might be a Chi thing too. The receptionist asked me yesterday if he is a jumper I told her that is his middle name! I will keep him quiet and see how he does. I am going to mention everything to the vet when he goes to get his teeth done.

Hey there Chibby!!! lol

nodakgal...what a worry! been there before and it ended up 'no problem', good thoughts and hoping the same for your little one!

nola anne

We have two cats that make a choking sound like this. I described it to the vet as sounding like they are trying to hack up a hairball. The vet listened to their lungs and said yep, it's asthma!

In each case a shot of steroids calmned down the inflammation and it has rarely occurred since. Kenya has had a bout twice, Duffy only once.

It might not be the same for dogs, but it sure sounds like what Kenya and Duffy go through when they have an attack.

Sending good thoughts for Mac. Even though he seems better I would still have it checked out by the vet. If it is asthma it may still need a little help to get rid of the inflammation.

Glad to hear the good news. Speaking of jumping - I never knew they could jump like that either. Mine little chihauhau can jump up on the kitchen counter in one swoop. I thought I'd seen it all when I first caught her. She just does it - not to get into anything. I thought only cats did that.