Pug

[Randaloni]

My pug Max has a cough.  Took him to vet yesterday and she gave him a flocillin shot, fluid therapy and clavamox medicine.  His cough is a dry goose honk cough and then he gags after the cough.  Having a chest x-ray done tonight.  Do you have and idea what this can be?  They ruled out kenell cough.

[JenP333]

I also have pugs and I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but mine have what I guess are called "reverse sneezes" it looks like their coughing and gagging, and it sounds kind of like a seal or a goose.  I have taken them so many times to the vet so they can witness it, and of course, they wouldn't.  But finally we were in for something else, and one of them did it, he said that pugs especially get these when they get excited, and that they aren't really dangerous, just to calm them down and keep an eye on them.  I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but I do know how frustrating it is!

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

It still sounds like kennel cough, which is tracheobronchitis, or collapsing trachea.  Having a chest X-Ray is a great idea though, and will rule out heart and lung disease, such as bronchitis, asthma, COPD, and pneumonia.

[Randaloni]

Hello.

I love pugs!!  They are the best dogs.

My pug Max sniffles really hard.  It happens when he is just laying down and out of the blue.  He goes on for a minute or two and then it disappears.  He sounds like he has a bad cold.  Of course, he never does it at the vet's office.  I am bringing him back to the vet for a re-check for his cough and will mention it to them again.

[Randaloni]

Thank you very much for responding to my question.  I took Max for the chest x-ray and everything came back fine.  Of course he did not cough the entire time we were at the emergency vet office.  I am just waiting for the radiology report to come in.  I had to put my other pug (Nicky) to sleep almost two weeks ago and they think the cough can be a stress cough.  He is taking Clavamox and the cough seems to be getting better.  He really is not eating as much as he used to and doesn't play at all really.  He just sits by my side.  He spent 8 years of his life (every since he was a puppy) with my dog we just had to put to sleep.  It was heartbreaking.  Nicky spent 15 wonderful years with me.

I was thinking of adopting another dog but I am not sure if it is too soon.  What do you think?

Thank you,

Randi