My dog is coughing like something is stuck in his throat

So it's easy for dirt, grass, or unwanted materials to enter your dog's nose or throat that cause irritation — and then coughing. However, if your dog has a cough they cannot shake, there may be something more going on. Your pup could have a virus, bacterial infection, or another underlying health condition.

If you've had a dog with kennel cough, you've heard the sound: a dry hack often followed by retching or gagging. Some people describe it as sounding like a cat hacking up a hairball. Kennel cough is usually mild and self-limiting, but sometimes it causes more severe illness.

Two very common things that can cause gagging in dogs are infectious problems and laryngeal paralysis. Kennel cough, which is a type of respiratory infection, is a common cause of dog gagging, which results in a harsh, goose-like cough, sometimes followed by a gag.