Chronic Coughing/gagging

If the dog has had this since he was a pup and is now 7 years old I think we can rule out congestive heart failure. Megaesophagus (which someone mentioned - a weak esophagus) usually presents as regurgitation of food more than coughing. It does sound to me like a low level chronic bronchial/tracheal irritation. Something like a tracheal wash may be of value- you might ask your veterinarian about that.
 
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Another thing to consider is acid reflux as it also causes the symptoms you describe and can cause a problem with drinking water. I have found a tablespoon of milk works as a home remedy (my mom was a pediatric nurse and suggested it as they used to use milk for young children with reflux at the hospital she worked in). If it's frequent then perhaps speak to your vet about a trial of an antacid to prevent rather than treat reflux.
 
Gavin has done this for years (at least 5 that I remember maybe more.) and he is now 13. Laying down,getting up from certain orientations seems to do it (have never figured out which orientation...). He definitely does it after being held in my arms or any length of time. With all his other health concerns, this has never been looked at. Considering the vet has had him for considerable amounts of time for hours in a row and days in a row, I guess I figured they would have said something if his cough was worrisome. I would say he coughs 2-3 times during the day, maybe a bit more at night. I have noticed the water thing, as well. Exercise doesn't incite coughing, never has.
 
Casey has been doing the cough,gag thing for over a year. It has been worse (maybe in the spring?) but it has gotten better until about a week ago. He has had recent x-rays of his heart and his esophagus and both came back inconclusive. If anything, the specialist who read the x-rays said he thought his heart looked a tad small. He is on a cough medication that has helped a bit but it still is there. He doesn't cough that much, just some in the morning and then at night before bed. He's 12 and I guess all I can do at this point is to keep up the meds and watch.
 
So yesterday, after I posted to this thread, Gavin did not Gag or cough once. All day I was home. So I guess sporadic is the best way to describe it. Since h has always done it, my guess is its a partially collapsed trachea or something similar.
 
Piper had a cough on and off for a couple of weeks (hasn't coughed now for at least 2 weeks) and I think what it was is he'd irritated his trachea. When he jumps at something (like when I'm in the tub and he try's to attack the water) he hits with his chest, not his paws. I've stopped allowing this behaviour and it's certainly seemed to help.
 
So Gavin coughed a lot last night (I was awake at 3AM) ....as soon as I turned on the bedroom fan (it was warmish), he stopped and didn't do it all the rest of the night. Go figure...
 
Like you posted earlier, it's probably a weak trachea. Ever since I stopped Piper from running at things chest first (he's smaller and rather than jumping he hits his chest / neck area) he stopped coughing.
Been months now...knock on wood lol.
 
I think so, too. Weird thing is it never happens during exercise... I'd video it but it almost never happens enough for me to predict or wait for (unlike last night at 3AM)
 
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