[Cole B]

So I totally take back what I just said about Gunner’s episode going away. I knew that would be too good to be true and way too easy. He did get better, immediately after removing his collar, feeding him on a raised platform, and cuddling to calm him. He was good for almost an hour, sleeping and acting like it never happened. Then it just started up again. Weird though, it still sounds like he’s swallowing liquid that’s coming up but he hasn’t thrown up the kibble I just fed him. He’s also getting gas from all the air he’s swallowing. Nothing on the internet sounds like these symptoms/attacks except for what people are posting on this forum. How is it that something as common as this is sounding is so far seemingly undiagnosable? This is so frustrating.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Cole B.

[Cole B]

So glad to hear other people have heard of this! I have a two year old lab/border collie cross named Gunner. His first gulping and licking attack happened a month ago. The vet blamed kennel cough and put him on Robitussin for a week. His first attack started right before bed one night and then happened on and off all night. Unlike a lot of other dogs in this post the first time it continued into the day time for half the day. I got a video of it but my vet wouldn’t even let me bring him in case it was kennel cough. His attack finally stopped and hasn’t happened again til tonight. I know it wasn’t kennel cough, I’ve worked in dog kennels for my entire adult life and I know kennel cough as well as my own name. Since the first attack stopped and went away for the last month I tried not to worry about it.
But now tonight he’s been gulping, swallowing, licking, occasionally coughing. He also seems to be throwing up liquid into his mouth and then swallowing it again. After reading through this post I tried a combo of taking off his collar, feeding him 1/2 a cup of kibble, and cuddling/petting to calm him down. His attack stopped almost immediately after I did those three things. Now he’s sleeping peacefully. I also fed him on a box so it was raised since I know acid reflux in people can be worse if they don’t sit up to eat. I’m relieved that it stopped! Its so hard watching them go through that. He was so upset.

Other background for Gunner:
He eats 1 3/4 cups Diamond brand lamb and rice twice a day
He is allergic to grass, which is a nightmare in itself! Certain times a year he has no fur on his legs from allergies.
He occassionally gets bacterial infections on his skin which my vet says is caused by a lowered immune system from his body’s constant fight against allergies.

He hadn’t had anything to eat other than kibble before this attack. He had been fed at 7:00pm and woke me up at 4:00am with the gulping. Not sure how long he had been doing it, I’m a deep sleeper. He’s always done really well on his lamb and rice diet.

I’m just so glad for this post since he instantly got better after trying a few suggestions from this posting. Thanks everyone for your advice!

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Cole B.

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