When a dog keeps hacking and throwing up, it’s alarming for any pet owner to witness. The noises can be harsh, and the sight of vomit is distressing.
While sometimes the cause is minor, repeated hacking and vomiting can signal a more serious health issue that needs attention.
We outline the common causes of dogs hacking and throwing up, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Keeps Hacking and Throwing Up — Why It Happens
Dogs may hack and vomit due to a wide range of issues, from mild throat irritation to more serious digestive or respiratory conditions. It can happen if something is stuck in the throat, if the dog has kennel cough, acid reflux, or stomach upset, or even because of heart disease or parasites.
The challenge is that hacking often sounds similar whether it’s coming from the throat, airway, or lungs, so the underlying cause isn’t always easy to pinpoint.
Common Causes of Dog Keeps Hacking and Throwing Up
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection that often causes dogs to produce a dry, honking hack.
When the throat is irritated from this infection, dogs may gag or vomit after a coughing fit. Owners often describe the sound as if the dog is trying to “clear something” stuck in the throat.
If your dog recently stayed at a kennel, daycare, or around other dogs, kennel cough is a likely culprit. Most cases are mild but should still be checked by a vet, especially if your dog is also lethargic, not eating, or coughing up mucus.
Read more: Dog Keeps Hacking Up Phlegm (What it means)
Throat Irritation or Foreign Object
Sometimes dogs hack and vomit because something small is stuck or irritating the back of their throat.
This could be grass, a piece of a toy, or even dust or allergens. The irritation makes the dog cough, and the repeated gagging can lead to throwing up bile or foamy liquid.
While minor throat irritation may pass quickly, a lodged object can be dangerous if it blocks the airway. If your dog is struggling to breathe or pawing at its mouth, it’s an emergency.
Acid Reflux or Gastric Upset
Digestive issues such as acid reflux, gastritis, or indigestion can cause dogs to hack as stomach contents irritate the esophagus.
This often happens when a dog vomits up yellow bile in the morning or after eating fatty meals. The acid can trigger a gagging reflex that looks and sounds like hacking.
Repeated episodes can damage the esophagus, so chronic reflux should not be ignored. Dogs may also drool excessively, smack their lips, or seem reluctant to eat if acid reflux is the cause.
Heart Disease
Some forms of heart disease, particularly in older dogs, can cause coughing that mimics hacking.
Fluid buildup around the lungs or pressure on the airway can make a dog cough until it gags or vomits. This is more common in breeds prone to heart issues like Cavaliers, Boxers, and small toy breeds.
If your dog hacks and vomits while also showing signs like heavy breathing, lethargy, or fainting, heart disease could be the underlying problem.
Intestinal Parasites
Worms such as roundworms and hookworms can cause dogs to hack and vomit, sometimes bringing up worms in the vomit itself.
Parasites irritate both the stomach and the throat, leading to a cycle of gagging, coughing, and sickness. Puppies are especially vulnerable since worms can quickly deplete their nutrients.
A stool test and deworming treatment from the vet usually resolve the issue, but untreated infestations can cause weight loss, anemia, and serious illness.
Allergies or Environmental Irritants
Allergies to pollen, dust, smoke, or household cleaners can irritate a dog’s airways.
When the throat becomes inflamed, dogs may hack repeatedly, and the irritation can sometimes trigger vomiting. Seasonal allergies are particularly common, and owners may also notice watery eyes, sneezing, or paw licking.
If allergies are the cause, symptoms tend to flare up at specific times of year or after exposure to irritants indoors.
What to Do If Your Dog Keeps Hacking and Throwing Up
If your dog is otherwise alert and the hacking is mild, you can start by monitoring at home. Offer fresh water and keep your dog in a calm, clean environment away from smoke, dust, or strong scents.
Feeding smaller, more frequent meals can sometimes help if acid reflux or digestive upset is suspected. Try to avoid giving fatty table scraps, and instead stick with a bland diet if vomiting occurs.
If kennel cough is possible, isolate your dog from others to prevent spreading the infection until you’ve spoken with your vet.
Some dogs may recover on their own, but medication often speeds up healing and reduces discomfort.
Regular parasite prevention is also important. If your dog hasn’t been dewormed recently and is showing hacking or vomiting, ask your vet about testing and treatment options.
Most importantly, pay attention to how often the hacking and vomiting occur. A single episode may not be alarming, but if it becomes frequent, more severe, or paired with other symptoms, veterinary care is necessary.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Call your vet right away if your dog is struggling to breathe, making choking sounds, or cannot stop gagging. This could indicate a lodged object or a severe airway problem.
Persistent vomiting combined with hacking should also be taken seriously, especially if your dog cannot keep food or water down. Dehydration can set in quickly.
Other warning signs include lethargy, weight loss, loss of appetite, coughing up blood or mucus, or signs of heart strain such as heavy breathing and collapse.
Even if your dog seems stable, ongoing hacking and vomiting are not normal. Your vet can perform an exam, chest X-rays, or blood tests to identify whether the cause is respiratory, digestive, or systemic.
Read more: Dog Constantly Hacking (Explained)
Key Takeaway
When a dog keeps hacking and throwing up, it can be unsettling — and sometimes dangerous. While minor irritation or stomach upset can resolve at home, persistent or severe symptoms often point to kennel cough, reflux, heart disease, parasites, or another medical issue.
As a dog owner, trust your instincts. If the hacking and vomiting don’t quickly improve, or if your dog shows signs of distress, it’s always safest to have them examined by your veterinarian. Prompt care can make all the difference in helping your dog recover and breathe comfortably again.