Oh no! It’s very possible the poor guy has a tummy ache. Maybe his prepared kibble is giving him some acid reflux? But, it could also be a hiatal hernia, which is a weakness of the diaphragm that allows a bubble of stomach to come up into the chest cavity.
Humans with this have GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease — and are often given antacids, which have been linked to osteoporosis and malnutrition. Instead, I recommend a chiropractic adjustment. If you’re a patient of mine, we’d start by fixing the food and my recommendation is to get off of prepared store-bought kibble right away. (Find some GREAT recipes that help you save money on your veterinarian bills as well as your grocery bill at www.dinnerPAWsible.com.) This will make the stomach nice and acid like its supposed to be — as long as there’s no ulcer — to properly digest food and then, I adjust these patients.
Regardless of your current veterinarian, however, be sure to mention your dog’s behavior at your next visit!