Poor Ruger! Did your husband or you catch a glimpse of the worm -- can you describe it? Our most common worms here are tent worms and one of the "wooly worms."
I'm looking for info on worms on google and see that a bunch of people reported the same problems with their dogs that you describe: vomiting, gagging, coughing. Sounds like the common worms are not toxic, but cause a throat irritation.
The first year is the hardest with these little guys wanting to eat everything they find! I still have to watch my guys though and I'm constantly harassing them, "Leave it!" or "that's yucky" or "you don't want that."
Max shares Ruger's love of leaves