Sounds quite a bit like kennel cough to me... Nikko does this, and at first we freaked out thinking he was gagging too. Turns out, it's just a cough, and as we've had him longer, it's sounding more and more like a cough, but still followed by a sort of gagging noise that we figure is probably in actuality a throat clearing. But it sure was scary at first. Kennel cough can last a short time, or MONTHS, depending... it's basically just like a cold. Antibiotics and close contact with your vet are good, because like a human cold, kennel cough can turn into pneumonia. But other than that, you just have to wait it out, assuming that's what it is. Nikko started out with a few sneezes right when we got him, progressed to "coughing" at least once every half hour even through the night after a week or so, and now is back down to just a few cough sessions throughout the day. Seems it's worst in the evenings, mornings, or when he tries to do really hard exercise.
One thing that really helps is buying a warm/hot steam vaporizor and adding vicks to it. Make a little "cave" with blankets or towels over the vaporizor and your pup's crate, so he basically has a happy little steamroom sauna whenever he naps or sleeps at night. If you can't do this, take him in the bathroom with you when you shower, and let the bathroom get really steamy and warm. It really helps them breather easier, and heal.
Lauren & Nikko |