"hacking" sound - YorkieTalk.com Forums

avidscrapbooker · 06-19-2006, 04:03 PM

Ever since we got Scrappy he has occasionally made a strange sound at various times. It sort of sounds like he is "hacking", but sort of a cough, sort of a wheeze sound. It only lasts for a minute, but it's really strange.
He is NOT eating or drinking when he's doing this. He is NOT running around either. My aunt said it could be from him chewing on rawhides? Anyone heard of this problem. Thanks.

luvdorkyyorkies · 06-19-2006, 04:51 PM

Hello,
How old is your yorkie?
Hacking could be a symptom of many things. If he is eating and drinking just fine with no signs of immediate illness, he may have allergies. Does his nose run clear alot?
If he is not eating or drinking well, and the cough is often and deep he may have kennel cough.
Do you walk him alot with a collar on and leash?
How long have you had him?

avidscrapbooker · 06-20-2006, 04:33 AM

Scrappy is 5yrs old. We got him at the end of May 2006. The cough sound is NOT often, MAYBE once per day, but mostly about every 2 days. His nose does not run alot. We dont walk him on a leash every day. When he goes outside most of the time to potty he is let to run in the front or back yard, both are fenced in. And when i'm running errands he and my daughters are in the car w/me. He doesn't use a leash on while in car back seat. He's eating and drinking well, no problems. Thanks for the help.

BLowry · 06-20-2006, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avidscrapbooker

Ever since we got Scrappy he has occasionally made a strange sound at various times. It sort of sounds like he is "hacking", but sort of a cough, sort of a wheeze sound. It only lasts for a minute, but it's really strange.
He is NOT eating or drinking when he's doing this. He is NOT running around either. My aunt said it could be from him chewing on rawhides? Anyone heard of this problem. Thanks.

Sadie used to do that and occasionally stilll does...I believe it's an inward sneeze...YTer's correct me if I am wrong....as for the rawhide....I wouldn't recommend them at all...my Mom and Dad had a dog that almost chocked to death on one...it got stuck in her throat and.....they really aren't that good for them...they aren't fully digestible and they have alot of fat in them...you might want to try something else to chew on.....just a suggestion

Bailey's Peeps · 06-20-2006, 04:43 AM

Bailey does the same thing. I've read hundreds of posts on the subject on YT and come to the conclusion that it's something that a lot of Yorkies (and other small dogs) do.

We'd had Bailey only about a week and a half when we decided to take her to the ER vet over it. When she does it, if you're holding her it feels like rumbling in her chest - like it's congested. I was afraid she had pneumonia. But she didn't act sick. Her eating and playing were absolutely normal. We wound up spending $150 on x-rays just to find out that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. It seems like it's happening less often (we've only had her 6 1/2 weeks), but we just don't worry about it anymore as long as everything else (eat, play, potty) seems normal.

avidscrapbooker · 06-20-2006, 04:53 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone. The sound wasn't really bothering me, but it was driving my husband CRAZY! When we got Scrappy his previous owner sent us home with a 5 gallon bag FULL of rawhide sticks, some pnut butter rawhide chewie things, lots of pressed rawhide chewies, etc. Not to mention the personalized bowls, TONS of toys, toy box, bedding, crate, hairbows, brushes, perfumes and shampoos, clothes, leashes and collars. The dog had more stuff than my daughters do!!!!! Anyways he LOVES the rawhides so any suggestions now? Please help. Thanks.

Bailey's Peeps · 06-20-2006, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avidscrapbooker

Anyways he LOVES the rawhides so any suggestions now? Please help. Thanks.

Again, you hear different opinions about the rawhide chews. I haven't found any authoritative articles indicating they're dangerous, but because we've heard so much, we keep a close watch on Bailey when she has anything rawhide.

I think it also depends on the dog. With Bailey, I don't really think it's much of a problem, because she's not very destructive with anything she chews on. I'm sure it will change when she gets older, but right now, you can hardly tell that she's chewed on her rawhide toys. She has one rawhide chew stick (the kind that's only about 1/4" in diameter and about 6" long) that she has had since the day we brought her home (May 4). She has spent a lot of time with that stick, and it barely looks used. Other pups, on the other hand, might destroy one in a day or two. If that's the case, I'd watch them VERY closely.

MyTrixie143 · 06-20-2006, 11:19 AM

I give my dogs rawhide chews and bones. They puppies do not get them until they are a year old and have all of their adult teeth in. If you give rawhide to a puppy it can break or damage their baby teeth which of course causes discomfort and pain. Also, you don't want to give them alot of rawhide on a daily basis, it will make their stomach really upset and it is just not good to give them rawhide all the time.

Repunzel · 06-20-2006, 09:40 PM

Found this maybe it could be of some use:

http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm#COUGH

mylittletigger · 06-20-2006, 09:57 PM

When I first got Tigger He also did this... didn't do it after running or eating or drinking. Just relaxing. I described this to my vet and took Tigger in even to see him. He said that it's common in many small breed dogs. It's because they tend to have a smaller soft pallette and when they are relaxed it sometimes is more loose then it would be with a larger breed.

He recommends holding their muzzle and gently blowing a breath of air directly into their nostrils. If this doesn't help, then do continuous small amounts of breath air gently into their nasal passages agian.

hope this helps

Laur · 06-21-2006, 12:48 PM

I was also concerned. I have had Diamond since March and she is just about six months old. I notice every now and then, she makes this hacking/coughing noise. It rarely happens when she eats, it is more or less when she is playing.

She has been a collar/leash since I got her simply because I had a hard time finding a harness that was small enough for her (she weighs just about 2 lbs.). I am currently transitioning between the collar and harness. I rarely take her on walks with the collar because I know it's not good for her. She mainly goes out to go the bathroom on the collar. She was also on the collar during puppy classes for an hour each time.

Should I be concerned? I just called my vet and she is going to call me back but I am assuming they will take xrays to check her trachea and airways?

mylittletigger · 06-21-2006, 01:26 PM

The vet shouldn't have to do all that. they should be experienced enough to just feel the throat and go from there if they have suspicions.

Laur · 06-21-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittletigger

The vet shouldn't have to do all that. they should be experienced enough to just feel the throat and go from there if they have suspicions.

I think I am going to schedule a check-up with my vet just to make sure she is okay and I am going to start using the harness ASAP!

06-19-2006, 04:03 PM	#1
avidscrapbooker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 96	"hacking" sound Ever since we got Scrappy he has occasionally made a strange sound at various times. It sort of sounds like he is "hacking", but sort of a cough, sort of a wheeze sound. It only lasts for a minute, but it's really strange. He is NOT eating or drinking when he's doing this. He is NOT running around either. My aunt said it could be from him chewing on rawhides? Anyone heard of this problem. Thanks. __________________ Lorin!

06-20-2006, 04:33 AM	#3
avidscrapbooker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 96	hacking sound Scrappy is 5yrs old. We got him at the end of May 2006. The cough sound is NOT often, MAYBE once per day, but mostly about every 2 days. His nose does not run alot. We dont walk him on a leash every day. When he goes outside most of the time to potty he is let to run in the front or back yard, both are fenced in. And when i'm running errands he and my daughters are in the car w/me. He doesn't use a leash on while in car back seat. He's eating and drinking well, no problems. Thanks for the help. __________________ Lorin!

06-20-2006, 04:53 AM	#6
avidscrapbooker Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 96	Hacking Sound Thanks for the advice everyone. The sound wasn't really bothering me, but it was driving my husband CRAZY! When we got Scrappy his previous owner sent us home with a 5 gallon bag FULL of rawhide sticks, some pnut butter rawhide chewie things, lots of pressed rawhide chewies, etc. Not to mention the personalized bowls, TONS of toys, toy box, bedding, crate, hairbows, brushes, perfumes and shampoos, clothes, leashes and collars. The dog had more stuff than my daughters do!!!!! Anyways he LOVES the rawhides so any suggestions now? Please help. Thanks. __________________ Lorin!

06-20-2006, 11:19 AM	#8
MyTrixie143 Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,409	I give my dogs rawhide chews and bones. They puppies do not get them until they are a year old and have all of their adult teeth in. If you give rawhide to a puppy it can break or damage their baby teeth which of course causes discomfort and pain. Also, you don't want to give them alot of rawhide on a daily basis, it will make their stomach really upset and it is just not good to give them rawhide all the time. __________________ A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi

06-20-2006, 09:40 PM	#9
Repunzel Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 72 Blog Entries: 1	hacking sound Found this maybe it could be of some use: http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm#COUGH

06-19-2006, 04:51 PM	#2
luvdorkyyorkies BANNED! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,681	Hello, How old is your yorkie? Hacking could be a symptom of many things. If he is eating and drinking just fine with no signs of immediate illness, he may have allergies. Does his nose run clear alot? If he is not eating or drinking well, and the cough is often and deep he may have kennel cough. Do you walk him alot with a collar on and leash? How long have you had him?

06-20-2006, 04:43 AM	#5
Bailey's Peeps Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 229	Bailey does the same thing. I've read hundreds of posts on the subject on YT and come to the conclusion that it's something that a lot of Yorkies (and other small dogs) do. We'd had Bailey only about a week and a half when we decided to take her to the ER vet over it. When she does it, if you're holding her it feels like rumbling in her chest - like it's congested. I was afraid she had pneumonia. But she didn't act sick. Her eating and playing were absolutely normal. We wound up spending $150 on x-rays just to find out that there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. It seems like it's happening less often (we've only had her 6 1/2 weeks), but we just don't worry about it anymore as long as everything else (eat, play, potty) seems normal.

06-20-2006, 09:57 PM	#10
mylittletigger YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,216	When I first got Tigger He also did this... didn't do it after running or eating or drinking. Just relaxing. I described this to my vet and took Tigger in even to see him. He said that it's common in many small breed dogs. It's because they tend to have a smaller soft pallette and when they are relaxed it sometimes is more loose then it would be with a larger breed. He recommends holding their muzzle and gently blowing a breath of air directly into their nostrils. If this doesn't help, then do continuous small amounts of breath air gently into their nasal passages agian. hope this helps __________________ Tigger's dogster http://www.dogster.com/?257308 Bear's dogster: www.dogster.com/?368626. Krystal, John, Tigger and Baby Bear.

06-21-2006, 12:48 PM	#11
Laur Love my Diamond girl Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 822	I was also concerned. I have had Diamond since March and she is just about six months old. I notice every now and then, she makes this hacking/coughing noise. It rarely happens when she eats, it is more or less when she is playing. She has been a collar/leash since I got her simply because I had a hard time finding a harness that was small enough for her (she weighs just about 2 lbs.). I am currently transitioning between the collar and harness. I rarely take her on walks with the collar because I know it's not good for her. She mainly goes out to go the bathroom on the collar. She was also on the collar during puppy classes for an hour each time. Should I be concerned? I just called my vet and she is going to call me back but I am assuming they will take xrays to check her trachea and airways? __________________ Proud mommy of Diamond

06-21-2006, 01:26 PM	#12
mylittletigger YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,216	The vet shouldn't have to do all that. they should be experienced enough to just feel the throat and go from there if they have suspicions. __________________ Tigger's dogster http://www.dogster.com/?257308 Bear's dogster: www.dogster.com/?368626. Krystal, John, Tigger and Baby Bear.