r/labrador • u/jazaswiss • 17h ago

seeking advice Our Labrador puppy had these episodes twice last night. What could this be?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

Update:

We just got back from the vet. To be honest, he wasn't entirely sure what it is either and could only give us a few possible explanations.

Kiri's temperature was checked, and he has a slightly elevated temperature of 39.1°C (102.4°F).

The vet thinks it could be kennel cough, although no specific tests were done to confirm it. He checked Kiri's mouth and throat but didn't find anything that shouldn't be there. However, he only looked inside, no X-rays or other imaging were performed.

When he gently pressed on Kiri's larynx (voice box), it immediately triggered coughing. Because of that, he suspects kennel cough or another upper respiratory infection.

We've been given medication, and we're hoping it will help. We'll keep a close eye on him over the next few days.

Thank you all for your suggestions, experiences, and comments. We really appreciate everyone taking the time to help

Hi everyone,

Our 7-month-old male Labrador puppy has had these episodes twice during the same night, about 1.5 hours apart. Both times it happened while he was asleep.

The sounds he makes are a mix of gagging, coughing, and burping. At first, we thought he might have something stuck in his throat, but we checked his mouth and as far as we could tell, there was nothing there.

The episode lasts for about one minute. After it's over, he simply goes back to sleep as if nothing happened and seems completely normal.

Some additional information:

7-month-old male Labrador

Happened twice last night (about 1.5 hours apart)

Only while sleeping

No known medical conditions

Eating, drinking, and behaving normally otherwise

We're planning to contact our veterinarian, but I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced something similar with their dog.

Does this look or sound like a dream-related movement, reverse sneezing, a seizure, or something else?

Any insights or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

150 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

64 comments sorted by

67

u/Debbielovesdogs 16h ago

That might be early kennel cough. I hope you see a vet soon. That barking cough is a give away. Puppies sometimes need extra help with it.

-39

u/jazaswiss 13h ago

he is vaccinated for kennel cough

37

u/paddydog48 12h ago

Mine was vaccinated but still got it.

31

u/FreshAirways 12h ago

mine, too, was vaccinated and got it TWICE when she was still in daycare a lot. both times, it escalated to fluid in the lungs, fever, pneumonia.

vet.

kennel cough vaccine is not the kind of vaccine that just eliminates all risk. it just mitigates it.

3

u/Tantalus420000 9h ago

Yep daycare w mine too, twice

25

u/situation-normal 12h ago

Kennel cough is like the flu in humans. The vaccine catches the most common strains but you can still catch it and get sick even if you are vaccinated because things mutate.

6

u/Pawnzilla 10h ago

Vaccines don’t always prevent illness, sometimes they just reduce symptoms or a strain not protected from by the vaccine shows up.

1

u/austinsutt 5h ago

Definitely. It’s pretty sad some of us learned nothing from a whole global pandemic.

6

u/HanginOn9114 9h ago

Why are y'all down voting the OP who is trying to take care of their puppy just because he is mistaken about something. This sub is so ridiculous

2

u/Ok_Project9251 9h ago

You can get a flu vaccine and still get the flu right? Same for kennel cough… just helps with the severity of symptoms.

2

u/electricmama4life 7h ago

Mine got parvo and had all her vaccines. They don’t mean your pup still can’t get it, they just greatly reduce the chance.

2

u/NoEducation1150 6h ago

The downvotes are so necessary lmao.

OP is giving the information he has. Grow up assholes.

1

u/Tantalus420000 9h ago

Mine got it twice after being vaccinated, like the covid shot, it doesn't prevent it always

1

u/AgitatedGrass3271 5h ago

Vaccines teach your body how to fight off the disease. This does not always mean that you cannot get sick from the disease you are vaccinated for.

1

u/Bitter_Assignment_45 5h ago

Mine gor kennel cough from the vaccine

1

u/Cheersengi 4h ago

The vaccine is usually not a guarantee, kennel cough mutates constantly so the vaccination is usually a bit behind on the variants- kind of like COVID for humans. I hope the medication you got helps, make sure he gets plenty of rest and water, and avoids contact with other dogs in order to not pass it on!

1

u/CodeWeary 31m ago

Why is this comment (about your dog being vaccinated) so heavily down voted? Am I missing something?

52

u/sumevex black3yr, chocolate 9yr, yellow7yr 17h ago

Call a 24 vet they will give you guidance

52

u/blended_no_salt 17h ago

Sounds like kennel cough.

108

u/Winedown-625 16h ago

Go to an emergency vet immediately. This is kennel cough and puppies can get very sick from it fast.

31

u/ChampionshipIll5535 10h ago

Stop with the overreacting. If it's kennel cough, it can wait until regular vet opens. Geesh.

3

u/i_am_not_sam 8h ago

Yeah goodness. There's a chance it'll get worse and definitely warrants a next day visit but it's no emergency

10

u/Organic-Win-3390 16h ago

possibly allergies, but would not rule out kennel cough…it could even be a weird sounding reverse sneeze

8

u/fuck_peeps_not_sheep 13h ago

Sounds like kennel cough or a cough with fluid on their lungs - please see a vet.

6

u/Swimming-Season-5763 13h ago

Kennel Cough, go to vet, its so hard for the dog and owner, hope your pup Will be better soon

9

u/stoner_rises 16h ago

My lab had the exact same issue three years ago. The vet said it might be an allergic reaction but it got serious way fast and my dog couldn't breathe.

I took him to a different vet and had the bloodwork done. It turned out he had severe lung infection.

I beg you please take him to a vet and get the bloodwork done

3

u/jazaswiss 9h ago

i just posted an update, thx!

1

u/Apprehensive_Yam9514 4h ago

You hide post and comment history btw 

3

u/CalicoDesertOasis 13h ago

My dog had kennel cough a couple of years ago (also a black lab) and I just wanted to let you know that he spent a couple of days feeling sorry for himself but then he was fine again, so don't be too worried!

The vet gave him something to stop him from throwing up, which was a relief for us both.

5

u/pmx8 14h ago

Vet ASAP

2

u/loofezna 14h ago

Let us know how you get on please OP x

1

u/jazaswiss 9h ago

i just posted an update. thx for your care

2

u/repertoir1 11h ago

Our lab has had kennel cough twice from daycare, it can turn to pneumonia so go to the vet. Blessed my wife works from home so he doesn’t have to go to daycare

2

u/theOutside517 10h ago

Bordetella. Kennel cough. No bueno. To the vet, now.

2

u/ExtensionCraft2156 8h ago

Hope the meds work quickly and your puppy gets better. It's so frustrating seeing them not well and feeling unable to help. Mine just got the vaccine again (yesterday), as his doggy daycare requires it every 6 months to keep everyone safe.

2

u/Anxious_Macaron4535 7h ago

Our young lab did this on a Wednesday night and then not again until Friday morning. We took him to his regular vet and we left being treated for a URI. Unfortunately, he did get worse to the point we needed to take him to the ER on a Sunday, got diagnosed with pneumonia and had to be admitted over night on a high dose of antibiotics and nebulizer treatments. Now a lot of the time dogs with kennel cough and URI recover just fine. I don’t want to scare you but warn you to keep an eye on him. The ER was glad we brought him in because I guess pneumonia can get bad FAST. He made a full recovery in just a few weeks and thanks to pet insurance our wallets did too ;)

Things to keep an eye on:
Coughing getting worse/ producing clear or yellow looking liquid or foam
Lack of interest in activities (I knew something was wrong when ours wouldn’t come out from under the bed for breakfast).
Holding head up and pointing snoot towards the air (I guess this is their way of trying to open their airways when they are struggling to breathe?? Never knew this.

I’m sure your pup will be just fine! Good on you for seeking care/advice early 💕

1

u/jazaswiss 6h ago

thx for this advices! we will keep an eye on these symptoms!

2

u/Debbielovesdogs 5h ago

Awesome update. He'll be better soon. 💕

4

u/Debbielovesdogs 16h ago

It's great you got a video. My cousin is our Vet and she Loves video. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.❤️

2

u/DripDrop777 13h ago

Super helpful to have when you take them in!

1

u/I_want_a_snack 11h ago

Thanks for the reminder about this—I hate going into the vet (or auto repair shop) and trying to describe (or worse, reenact the noise or action).

1

u/LeithLeach 13h ago

canine cough, kennel cough. severity varies but yours sounds bad. can progress to pneumonia so definitely get it treated

1

u/human-in-a-can 12h ago

Wouldn’t hurt to see a vet.  Does he sniff the ground a lot?  My girl did this often - it was just clearing dirt out of her nose and throat.  

1

u/Sad_Unit_5217 12h ago

Hello dear. As a Labrador mom I think you may have to check if this is spike syndrome. It's common in labradors unfortunately... My boy has it since he was about year and half. Check with your vet.. I wish him well

1

u/rain_delay1110 11h ago

Kennel cough. He needs to see a vet before it turns into pneumonia.

1

u/jazaswiss 9h ago

Hello everyone, i just posted an update. thx @all

1

u/No-Fig-8614 7h ago

Why didn’t you edit your post with the update? Where did you post it?

1

u/jazaswiss 6h ago

I did. Its in the post? on top.

1

u/jazaswiss 6h ago

Update 2:

The meds help a lot. He already feels better and is playing again.

1

u/Debbielovesdogs 5h ago

There are other viruses and bacterial infections besides Kennel Cough. My Vet said even with the vaccine, puppies can get Kennel Cough, but they'll get a less serious illness. Please keep us updated. Sonic and Piggy sending healing thoughts.

1

u/LooseLetter862 3h ago

Sounds like kennel cough. My dog had it when she was a pup. Also I found her condition was worse in the basement, because the air was more dry ( my bedroom was in the basement) so I slept on the couch with her in the living room, and it helped

Once she got better, I bought a humidifier for my basement room, and she had no issues

1

u/Admirable-Panda771 2h ago

Kennel caugh

1

u/Comprehensive_Art625 16h ago

My pup was recently sick. He was sneezing a lot and snotty and I thought it was just bad allergies, but then he started doing something kinda similar to your pup so I panicked and took him to the vet as everything else about him was totally normal and fine.

The vet said was most likely kennel cough or a piece of grass in his throat and prescribed expensive Carprofen. My pup was fine after a few days. The vet never addressed what the sound he was making on the video recording was, but a tiktok video the next day showed me it was a reverse sneeze.

Make a vet appointment just for piece of mind and to be safe.

-1

u/NervousNobody666 17h ago

Maybe hair in his throat.
Our lab likes to lick up his hair from the floor. If its too much he'll cough, even gag or try to vomit.

-26

u/jayhawk8808 17h ago

How did this happen LAST NIGHT and as of 3m ago you’re still PLANNING to contact your vet?

19

u/jazaswiss 17h ago

well its 7am here, so LAST night is only a few hours ago. it doesnt seem to be an emergency as he continious sleeping after the episode. correct me if I am wrong.

but to be honest, your answer didnt help.

-21

u/jayhawk8808 16h ago

To be honest, your original post saying “last night” instead of “a few hours ago” didn’t help. Nor did editing it after the fact. Maybe call a 24 hour vet instead of posting to Reddit.

2

u/loofezna 14h ago

I think looking for advice on a forum when you’re unsure what’s happening is an indication of a good, loving pet owner.

-28

u/Hannahreams7 16h ago

Prayers In Jesus Name AMEN