Heaving like he's going to be sick, but isn't?Advice please

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catherine22

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My 4 year old weimeraner has started heaving like he's going to be sick (is it dry heaving?), sometimes it lasts a few seconds, sometimes upto a minute. Once he's finished (he's never actually sick) he runs off exactly as he was before. There doesnt seem to be any specific thing that sets it off, its happened before his dinner, after his dinner, before a walk, during a walk and when he gets back from a walk (not all on the same day!) and when he's just been asleep in the evening, both if he's in his bed or in the lounge. Sometimes it happens once a week, then it wont happen for weeks, then this week he's done it 3 times already.
I was going to take him to the vets but as he probably won't do it when he's there, is there anything they'll be able to do? As outwardly he looks perfectly healthy, he's fully upto date with all his vacs including kennel cough. I will phone the vets today for advice anyway, but just wanted to ask on here first. We have tried to get it on video but he always does it when our phones are out of reach, then has stopped by the time we get them!
 
I'd keep an eye for any lumps etc - how long has he been doing it for?

If it's only now and again I wouldn't worry (dogs are strange things) but my boy was doing it a lot after he swallowed a stick - a lovely big lump came up in a few weeks so off to the vets we went.

I'd personally just monitor is at the moment.
 
H4C - thats what we thought but he always does it at inapropriate times/ places, will keep trying though.
V - I havent noticed any lumps on him and he's brushed once a week and cuddled a lot, so I'm pretty sure there isn't any, but will give him a thorough check later. He's been doing it on and off for about 6 months so I'd have thought if there was anything stuck we'd have found it by now?
G - will speak to the vets, as if it is something like that I'd rather check with them first, so he doesnt pass it on to anything else in the waiting room. Can he still get kennel cough if he's been vaccinated?
 
Probably worth giving the vets a call but most vets won't want to diagnose on the phone unless it's a pre existing condition.

End of the day if it's worrying you take him to the vets, I'd just wait and monitor personally especially as he's not doing it that often. My spaniel makes some of the worst old man noises sometimes - I often think he should be shipped down the nearest dockyard.
 
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