Sometimes my dog will get real excited and start choking. Most of the time it's just a hard cough, but occasionally he'll keep choking for a moment and seem to get anxious.
What are the things one should do when their dog exhibits choking?
Try to get the dog to relax. Coughing isn't too bad, in a way it means they're still breathing even though they're having some difficulty. Relaxation, massage, and cuddles are the best!
Most vets will tell you that if you're concerned, you should probably get your dog checked. Since your dog seemed to feel anxious, he's giving signs that he's worried about the choking.
I've got 2 Chihuahuas that have choking issues: one has a collapsed trachea, the other has an enlarged heart that presses on her esophagus. I have choking issues because I have a GI disorder. So the cause could be a wide range of things–or it could be nothing at all.
A visit to the vet will make you feel better and maybe give you ideas about how to alleviate the problem.
Has it been recent or has it always happened? Usually hacking/coughing can indicate an obstructed airways, such as from mucus, tissue growth such as a benign or malignant tumor. It would be best to take your dog in to a vet clinic and have them do an endoscopy to diagnose the problem