When veterinarians see a dog dry heaving, their internal emergency bells go off. Dry heaving is a sign of one of most dreaded conditions in veterinary medicine known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). Also known as “bloat,” GDV is a rare conditions that requires immediate surgery.  

How do you know if your dog’s behavior is a sign of this serious, life-threatening condition? Let’s take a closer look so you know how and when to act. 

What is Dry Heaving in Dogs?

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Dry heaving itself is not dangerous to your dog. This behavior happens when an animal tries to vomit (heave) but nothing is produced. It may sound like a loud retch, a burp, or as if the animal can’t catch his breath. 

Dry heaving looks like a dog is vomiting with abdominal effort. You can see a wave of muscle contraction that begins in the deep abdomen and progresses toward the stomach and diaphragm. 

It’s more common in large, deep chested dogs like Great Danes, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds. Sometimes, dogs may spit out white, foamy saliva when they dry heave. But it’s important to distinguish between expelling saliva and true vomit. It may occur as an episode, with multiple dry heaves that come on suddenly.

Dogs who dry heave frequently over time are more likely having a different kind of episode that is not true dry heaving. This concerning behavior can be easily confused with vomiting, gagging, coughing, reverse sneezing, or other kinds of strange noises. 

Dog Dry Heaving Vs. Vomiting 

Vomiting and dry heaving look the same, except that dry heaving produces nothing out of the mouth. Even a small amount of stomach fluid is enough to consider it vomiting. Stomach fluid may be clear to bright yellow and be foamy or not.

Dry Heaving Vs. Gagging

When gagging, dogs show effort in the chest, not the abdomen. Gagging may produce a small amount of foamy saliva in addition to the material stuck in your dog’s throat. It might sound like your dog has a hairball.

Dry Heaving Vs. Coughing in Dogs

Coughing is also usually produced from a dog’s chest. However, abdominal effort may begin if the cough becomes severe. Dogs usually keep their head down when coughing. When dogs have coughing spells, they may hack or have a dry retch. It’s important to pay attention to the whole episode to distinguish it from dry heaving.

Dog Dry Heaving Vs. Reverse Sneezing

Reverse sneezing is more common in small dogs. It sounds like the dog is struggling to catch his breath and there may be snorts or wheezes mixed in. It gets its name because reverse sneezing sounds like a dog is trying to inhale a sneeze. Some people confuse it with gagging. Reverse sneezing is usually associated with inhaled allergens or irritants such as pollen.

Fortunately true dry heaving in dog is rare because it is a sign of a potentially very serious condition. 

Causes of Dry Heaving in Dogs

Dry heaving occurs when a dog attempts to vomit but is unable to produce any material. Any illness that can cause vomiting in dogs can theoretically also cause this behavior. 

This includes:

• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Obstructions (for example tumors or ingested foreign material)
• Toxin ingestion
• Being over excited or over exercised
• Eating too fast

However, the most serious cause of this behavior in dogs is gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). This is when the stomach fills with air and then flips over on itself. It is commonly called “bloat” because the stomach is bloated with air. (Note: Bloat and GDV are not actually the same thing. Bloat can lead to GDV.) This bloating causes unproductive retching because the dog is trying to expel air from their stomach but is unable to.

The outflows from the stomach to both the esophagus and the intestines are cut off so the gas is trapped. The trapped air can eventually put enough pressure on large blood vessels to prevent adequate circulation and on the diaphragm to prevent normal breathing. 

GDV is a very painful and dangerous condition. The torsion of the stomach cuts off blood supply to some areas of the stomach as well as the spleen.

If this condition is not treated immediately, it is very likely to be fatal. Delaying treatment for even several hours can lead to irreparable damage to your dog’s stomach and spleen. Without treatment, it is always fatal.

Diagnosing Causes of Dry Heaving in Dogs 

If you suspect your dog is dry heaving you should call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away.  This will allow them to talk to you about what you are seeing and determine whether your dog needs to be evaluated as an emergency. It will also allow them to prepare for your arrival so that your dog can be stabilized immediately at the clinic. 

Dogs with reported unproductive retching will be taken for X-rays to determine whether they have GDV. There are very characteristic changes to the shape and size of the stomach that your veterinarian will look for on those X-rays. Bloodwork will then be performed to assess the damage to metabolic function and internal organs. 

Dog Dry Heaving Treatment

If GDV is confirmed your dog will receive intravenous fluids (IV fluids) and will have their stomach decompressed using a small catheter placed directly into the stomach. Decompression is not resolution, it is just one important step to stabilizing the dog so that he has the best chance of survival. He may be given anti-nausea medication and pain control while your veterinarian discusses treatment with you. 

If GDV is confirmed, your veterinarian will discuss emergency surgery with you. The cost of this surgery is in the $2,500-$4,500 range depending on where you live and other factors relating to your dog. If blood supply to the spleen has been significantly compromised, the spleen will also need to be removed (splenectomy).

If the dog was found not to have GDV, then he will likely be initially treated with anti-nausea medication and fluid supplementation. Additional treatment will depend on the specific cause of your dog’s dry heaving and how ill the dog is overall. Determining the specific cause may require diagnostic testing including bloodwork, urinalysis, x-rays, and abdominal ultrasound. 

Whether your dog is diagnosed with GDV or requires additional treatment for something else, you may feel emotionally and financially overwhelmed. Having a pet health insurance policy can safeguard you in these situations. Your dog can get the necessary tests, treatment, and surgery if needed with a customized policy from Spot Pet Insurance. 

If the cause of your dog’s retching is an obstruction, then the treatment may be surgical. Removal of foreign material can be done on an emergency basis. However, addressing an obstruction caused by a tumor requires additional diagnostic testing and treatment planning. 

For other causes of dry heaving, medical therapy may be sufficient. Hospitalization may be recommended depending on the dog’s other symptoms and the severity of his illness.

How to Prevent Dry Heaving in Dogs

Not all causes of dry heaving are preventable just as not all causes of vomiting are preventable. However, there are important steps you can take to reduce the risk of your dog developing GDV. Taking these steps does not fully eliminate the risk of GDV, but can greatly reduce the risk.

Slow your dog’s eating. A cause of dry retching that can be prevented is eating too quickly. Slowing your dog down can be accomplished in many ways. An easy way is to feed in a slow feeder or puzzle bowl. These come in a variety of styles and levels of difficulty and are available at most pet stores both in-person and online. You can also split your dog’s food into multiple meals instead of one feeding. 

Keep your dog calm after eating. Do not allow your dog to vigorously exercise for at least 60 minutes (1 hour) after eating. 

Consider preventative surgery. A prophylactic surgical procedure called a gastropexy may be appropriate for your dog if they are at high risk for GDV due to their breed, body shape, or lifestyle. In this procedure, a veterinarian will suture the lower part of the stomach in place so that it is not mobile enough to flip on itself. While this may not prevent all cases of GDV, studies do indicate that it greatly reduces occurrence in high-risk dogs. Primary veterinarians are often comfortable performing this surgery and may recommend doing this at the time of spay or neuter.

Dry heaving in dogs is a sign of a life threatening condition in dogs and therefore should always be taken seriously. Consult medical advice immediately if you notice your dog showing this behavior.