[Pedwardine]

Hi guys,
About a year ago all our dogs (we have five) were showing symptoms of what appeared to be kennel cough. It was a dry honking cough as, like a cat, they were trying to clear something from the throat. We treated them all against it, but Honey (vague age likely around 10 years-all rescue dogs) has persisted with a cough. The vet said it was likely scar tissue on the lungs causing it and didn't think we needed to do more at that time. The cough has increased to a debilitating level and it's very distressing for both her and us. I've listened to her chest and she sounds like an asthmatic! Breathing seems very shallow and laboured and gritty and then there's that bloody awful cough which goes on and on. Honey is a dreadful traveller and she will puke all the way to and from the vets. Only time she didn't do that was when we sped her there when she was dying having jumped and impaled herself on spiked railings! I've 'phoned the vets this morning therefore for advice, telling them I have injectable steroids and injectable antibiotics. I've even shoved some cough medicine down her I'm desperate to try ANYTHING. We tried some warm milk with honey in an attempt to soothe her throat. Didn't work but in hindsight that likely wasn't a wise move as mucus (which I can hear she has) and dairy products don't work well together. I confess our house isn't the cleanest and dust/fur may be aggravating the condition 
Any sage advice out there? 

[SallyintNorth]

So sorry to hear that Honey's so poorly. 

I can offer no suggestions except that she sounds bad enough to either get the vet to her or put up with the vomiting and take her in.  Sorry. 

Re: dust and hair in the house - in my experience, dogs sneeze with dust, and don't get furballs like cats, even dogs that clean themselves up like cats.  So I would doubt it's environmental - sorry again.

  for an improvement for poor Honey 

[jaykay]

Poor love  She does need to go to the vets, despite the vomiting and stressing  Hope it's something easily treatable.

[Mammyshaz]

I would urge a vet check for a dog of her age with a cough that is getting worse. Sometimes long term steroids is needed as well as an antibiotic course for ongoing lung conditions. ( large animals seem to get one injection of antibiotics or steroid but dogs, like people, tend to need a much longer course ). There may be some other underlying problem with an older dog which hadn't been evident at the initial kennel cough dianosis, or was masked by kennel cough symptoms.

Hope she is sorted soon, you seem to have had more than your fair share with dog worries this year 

[Pedwardine]

Thanks guys. I'm waiting on a call back but I think we'll get our chap out to her. My worry is the coughing and puking on top of may result rather disastrously. It's so upsetting. Poor little love. 

[Pedwardine]

Vet has come back to me saying I can inject the two 1ml of each every three days. Thanks guys.

[SallyintNorth]

 

[doganjo]

The kennel cough could have damaged her heart and that can cause prolonged and persistent coughing.  I'd get her seen by your vet as soon as you can, the steroids and ABs will stop and secondary bacterial infections but may not help any residual heart or lung damage.  Are your vets normally good and attentive?

[Pedwardine]

The vets are pretty marvellous. We'll see how the imjections help and I will talk again to the vet also.

[jaykay]

How's Honey doing?

[Pedwardine]

Bugger, I hadn't checked back to see if there'd been any more postings. Sorry Jaykay. Honey is SOOOO much better. No coughing at all and no wheezing. In fact I've just caught her with her head in the recycling bag (put a dog tin in there, obviously not rinsed out quite enough!) so she's feeling much better as she's being naughty  . She's had lots of pampering mainly by having the majority of the sofa in front of the woodburner and being fed digestives when she has her injections. I think we'll give her a couple more doses then see how she goes on    I'm just waiting for her muddy paws to dry off then she can upstairs and lay at the bottom of the bed. Not spoilt AT ALL that girl 

[Mammyshaz]

Great news    honey's not spoilt at all, she just knows her place in the household 

[Pedwardine]

She's definately top dog. She has the most beautiful, manipulative and guilt inducing eyes I've ever known a dog to own. She can make you do ANYTHING.

[jaykay]

  Always good when they're getting back to being naughty 

[doganjo]

Glad to eahr she's so much better