Dog gulping/swallowing

Hi this is my 1 year old shih tzu, for a few months now he has episodes where he is really gulping and swallowing. He does it after he’s drunk but also does it randomly when he’s not had anything to eat or drink. I have took him to the vets she said it could be acid reflux but I’m not convinced and just wanted to see other vets opinions?

Hello!   I'd really like to see one of these episodes and it might make it easier for your vet if she could see one, so never underestimate the value of carrying a phone around in your pocket, if you have one available, and videoing if you get chance. You don't tell me much about the episodes - as a one off, I'd wonder if there was some food stuck or a fly in the wrong place, or something.  However, if it was happening very regularly, I'd wonder whether it could be something else.  Certainly acid reflex might cause swallowing and discomfort.  Swallowing can also be a sign of nausea (just feeling a bit icky, e.g. in pancreatitis).  There are a number of physical throat problems that are unusual but do happen, such as large lymph nodes or dysphagia, or even ear problems (as swallowing can equalise the pressure in the canals between the ears and the throat).  Sometimes there are acute-onset throat problems, like getting a seed stuck in the tissue at the back of the throat.  I wonder if your vet has a plan in place for if it doesn't settle down?  They may have ideas for imaging (x-ray / endoscopy etc).   Sometimes, it can take a few goes +/- trial treatments to work out exactly what is causing a sign.  Please do keep us posted on this one - it sounds like an interesting case!  

Ah yes- I should have mentioned.  It can also be a sign of regurgitating food and swallowing it.  This can happen in e.g. megaosophagus.