My puppy is gagging, snorting, and breathing fast. What should I do?

It sounds like she may have reverse sneezing which is nothing to worry about. I suggest you watch some YouTube videos to see if that is what you think she is doing. This is very common in small breed dogs. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3L4v0W2_Sw ) ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/reverse-sneeze-in-dogs )

This sounds like reverse sneezing which is fairly normal in small breed dogs. Here is a information sheet on this problem. It is nothing to worry about but if you are worried, I suggest you videotape an episode and take it to your vet’s office so they can advise you. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952493 )

I am concerned that she is having such trouble breathing. This could be another pneumonia, an upper respiratory infection, a fungal infection, a congenital heart problem and much more. If your vet has already done X-rays and they were normal, you may want to talk to them about having an ultrasound of the heart done. Also, I would have her blood work checked to see how her liver and kidney values are and see what her white blood count looks like. Finally, I would talk to your vet about whether see needs some antibiotics and medicine to help her breathing. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better soon.

From your description, my main suspicion is that Brownie is experiencing a reverse sneeze. This occurs when irritation occurs in the back of the nasal passages, causing her to dramatically inhale air. (Regular sneezes occur as a result of irritation at the front of the nasal passages, causing air to be pushed out.) During these episodes, you can try blowing directly into her nose (I realize that it sounds strange!), but this can help to change her air flow and stop the reverse sneezing. If these episodes worsen, she could also be experiencing the start of collapsing trachea (unusual in a larger dog), allergic airway conditions or kennel cough, which would require a visit to her vet. I hope that all goes well!

I would recommend bringing Pippa to a veterinarian especially if she is coughing and breathing hard. She may have an upper respiratory infection but could also be something more. Your veterinarian can listen to her to make sure her lungs are clear and if not can perform x-rays to make sure she doesn't have pneumonia or bronchitis. Since she is so young I recommend a veterinarian sooner than later. Puppies can get sick and decline quickly. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh my. The red blood is very concerning. There could be some type of trauma in her throat or she could have blood coming up from her airway. A bleeding disorder, tracheal injury, canine influenza, rat poison or even pneumonia are all possible causes for this. At any rate Penny needs to see a vet right away for a full examination, oral exam and listen to her lungs. I would take her in as soon as possible for an exam and treatment (likely antibiotics to start). Best of luck with your pet Penny and I hope she is able to make a full and speedy recovery. Take care.

Allergies, polyps, and sinusitis are all possible causes of Penelope's symptoms. She may also be dealing with a foreign body (such as plant matter) stuck in the nose, or a growth of some sort other than a polyp. Since it sounds like she is otherwise doing well, I would not be overly worried, but her symptoms warrant a trip to the vet to help figure out what is going on. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!