great youtube links.
Your Cairn Terrier has a reverse sneeze...which is exactly what it sounds like...something irritating his nose and making him sneeze...but backwards (weird I know but nothing to worry about).
There isnt much that can be done to stimulate the immune system to help fight a virus...nothing that really works.
I know I am not being a lot of help, there are a lot of possibilities. Perhaps the cat is reacting to the heartworm medication?
Any way you can video them would be great.
Actually, this is exactly what my Cairn terrier sounds like when he coughs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrnDsFedaJ0&feature=related
Actually, my Cairn terrier has the more honking noised cough, but he is mostly better. He occassionally has coughing spells.
This is more what my Cairn terrier sounds like when he coughs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUpV1-iBCU&feature=related
This obviously isn't my dog, but I thought I'd let you know what it sounds like.
And my puppy, it isn't as loud. I should video tape it. She also occassionally sneezes.
My cat, now as the exact same cough my puppy does. She was healthy before. We updated my cats dystemper vaccine, and gave her heartworm medicine for the first time three days ago. I don't know if the cat being sick is related to my dogs being sick or not, or it is a side effect of the vaccine ... or who knows.
I'm starting to wonder if I have a mutant virus in my house. What can I do to help them fight off a virus faster, since anti-biotics won't do anything to curb a virus.
Normally kennel cough resolves within 2 weeks, I am concerned that it is something else. If it has been more then 2-3 weeks I wouldn't wait any longer. Remember, there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion also.
Does the coughing involve a honking noise at all? Like a goose? Tracheal collapse then also gets added to the list of possibilities.
Thank you for your response.
How long should I wait before doing that? I am reluctant to have surgery done on such a small and young dog. She only weighs 6.8 lbs and is eight weeks old today. Can it eventually go away on it's own?
Other than the cough, she seems normal.
Kennel cough is a very common condition and causes a dry hacking cough as it causes inflammation and even ulcers in the upper airway. I normally responds well to antibiotics and you've tried two. Hydrocodone also helps but not in this case. I would recommend a scope (tracheoscopy) and perhaps a tracheal lavage.