My dog is coughing/hacking like something is stuck in his throat... :(?

Question

He is a pure bred Chihuahua. 5 yrs old. Noticed it this morning when he barked at my mom when she got me up for school. Thought it was just something in his throat so put cold water in his kennel before leaving for school. Came home from school and he was still doing it. He was playing with his toy and coughed up yellowish looking saliva. He is breathing, eating, and drinking fine. Gave him a water and mustard mixture which is supposed to make him throw up, but he didn't. I have no idea what this could be. My room is clean and doesn't have anything on the floor and I doubt it is kennel cough, etc. because he hasn't been in contact with any other dogs for about 2 weeks and it first started in the middle of the night or morning. Yesterday I did see him licking a shrub from the fence of the yard next door. I just think something is in his throat. So what should I do!?!?! Thanks for all the help!!!!

Additional Details

Maybe it is a hairball? He licks himself a lot.
and Yesterday there was a wild fire about 30 miles west of me and it was very smoky outside which ashes flying around. Soo maybe it is one of those reasons

He also shows no signs of pain or discomfort. He is being his ordinary self. The only time he seems to be uncomfortable is when he is doing the hacking/coughing thing.

Sorry for the additional details but I want to list all the possibilities of maybe why he is doing this. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DETAIL which makes me think there is something in his throat. When I pat the front of his neck he does the cough soo it has to be something there!!!!

He HATES to spit out the mucus or w.e it is. All he does is shallow it back down so I cant even see what it is he has stuck in there,

Jean - I know what your talking about. My dog does that. A lot of Chihuahuas do, however I'm talking about something different. Like something is in his throat.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

my chihuahua does that when he has a cold..................make sure when he goes out he has a coat and doesnt stay too long if there is a chill................at night make sure his bed has a nice warm blanket...I would place a heating pad on the couch and have him lay on it with a blanket for an hour or so each day.....
I was a chihuahua breeder, when they have a cold....or chilled...they will caugh and caugh and caugh...they stand in the middel of the floor and just weeze and weeze..if you will pick him up when this happens.....but let his rib cage be free...meaing dont squeeze him at all...allow him to caugh freely...hold his head upward for some fresh air....as he is getting little from all that caughing
pet him softly........and talk to him....say...ok...your ok.....
and stroke him gently...when they calm down ,...the caughing will stop...
the caughing seems to excite them to fear...so if you pick him up and pet him gently this will calm him and the caughing will stop each time...
keep your chihuahua out of drafts...warm bed up off the floor......of in a box with warm blankets....
they get a cold easy.......
if he needs to sleep i would get him a bottle of childrens alergy liq..its about 2$....
I give my chihuahua about 1/4th dropper.....about 4 drops......and he then sleeps for a while..keep him warm.....I put a heating pad on my couch and encourage him to sleep on it for an hour
the next day the caugh begins to leave him

from now on kep him warm when he goes out.......

jean

Answer 2

It could be a insect attached inside. Take a look down his throat and see a vet as needed.

Answer 3

take to vet?

Answer 4

all you can do is monitor what he is eating..I mean i know you know what kind of dog food he eats, but watch to see how much he eats everyday.. whatever virus he may or may not have will only pass with time.. no need for expensive medicine.. if he has been weezing, it would be a different story.. cause thats a sign of a heart murmur. (i know cause the vet said)
One more thing!,...make sure he/she has fresh water every other day..because dog hair in the water bowl will make them cough and hack (i know because my dog does it).. Now go give that dog some love! and dont forget to vote me the best answer!
thanks! joe