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dog is coughing- vet says heart problem?????
I took my dog to the vet last week. He had a skin tag and a cough. The Vet put him on an antibiotic to see if we could clear it up. We are on day 9 of 10 with his meds and the cough seems worse. It is a heaving/hacking cough- kind of like he could vomit. It is not constanct. He is able to sleep, acting pretty normal and is eating fine. BUT the Vet said if it has not cleared up- he might have heart issues and will need an x-ray. In all of the research I have done, that is not mentioned. Paracites, infection, fungus all get mentioned- but I have not seen any other source mention heart issues. Anyone else been through this? Thanks!
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I am having the exact same problem with the coughing gaging and she panics. She has been to two different vets. Is on anti inflammatory and antibiotics and isnt getting better. She came from a rescue that got her from a rescue in Mexico. I only got her just over a month ago after her ear infection, having 7teeth pulled,boosters, dewormed just in case and full blood work, now this I don't know what to do! I have had two different sets of x-rays but no o e knows whats wrong
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She is a 4yr old terrier mix (maybe wire haired terrier mix with something) she had a heartworm test thhat also came back negitive. I need help please. They saw a normal sized heart and no fluid in her lungs
My little (7.5lb) rescue-Shitzu/Maltese is now 8, has heart murmur but no fluid and has been treated by vet consistently for past 2 years. Her cough and gagging sounds are so upsetting to watch. I was told that her enlarged heart is pressing on her trachea, was prescribed opioid and cough drops on two separate occasions. Neither helped but it seemed to get worse. She tries so hard not to vomit and swallows whatever comes up which looks like phlegm to me. I'm at a loss and have been beside her for the past 24 hours since she has been getting worse. Another opioid was suggested but I do not want to put her through that again. She does not react well to that type of medicine. I have enlarged heart and know all about Lasix, but she has no fluid build-up and drinks only small amounts. Besides prayers, I am at a total loss. Is there any other help out there?
Dogs will also cough if they have mitral valve prolapse (MVP)
it is caused by sloppy valves that do not shut soon enough,
valves can be replaced but I would think it would be expensive and call for a specialty vet.
People also have it, I have it, and since its a stage 2, they are not doing anything, just watching it. It does not cause me any discomfort, it just causes my heart to "skip a beat" now and then
it is caused by sloppy valves that do not shut soon enough,
valves can be replaced but I would think it would be expensive and call for a specialty vet.
People also have it, I have it, and since its a stage 2, they are not doing anything, just watching it. It does not cause me any discomfort, it just causes my heart to "skip a beat" now and then
I have a 16 year old picapoo and she has been coughing and sounds like she has a hairball but she cant get it up but she only does it during the morning and in the evening Can you give me some pointer to what it might be
I have an 8 year old German Sheppard X Gray Wolf mix Rescue dog who lives outside, She just started coughing/wheezing yesterday... I heard her do it two times yesterday and already a few times this morning. It has been quite rainy here and the last two nights we have had heavy coyote activity, so she has been running/chasing them most of the night. She had a HW test in july and is current on HW medication. She has not been boarded or around any dogs besides my other outdoor dog. Just wondering if there are any "at home" tests, or other symptoms of heart disease or heart failure that I may be able to look for? She has hip displaysia, arthritis, incontinence, and a brain tumor, along with extreme small animal aggression and food aggression.. What I'm saying here is I do not want to spend 250 $ on ex-rays and an ekg to find out she has a heart condition, because with that on top of her other issues, our humane choice will be to have her put down. (I do get regular vet care and emergency care for my pets, but she has so many issues, on top of posing a SERIOUS danger to my other pets/farm animals that it may just be her time?) Advise?
Karen, If you suspect HW Disease (Or anything else) then you need to see your Vet.....HW disease CAN be treated, but the longer you wait, the harder it is to treat.....The HW test is a simple bloodtest done at your Vet's office.....
If you get a negative result, you need to talk to them about a HW preventative....It's a monthly pill to give orally.....It will prevent HW to begin with...
You must have the test first before any Vet will prescribe the tablets.....Good luck and get your guy seen ASAP......Let us know what you find out.....Karla
If you get a negative result, you need to talk to them about a HW preventative....It's a monthly pill to give orally.....It will prevent HW to begin with...
You must have the test first before any Vet will prescribe the tablets.....Good luck and get your guy seen ASAP......Let us know what you find out.....Karla
I am concerned that my Corgi/mix might have had heartworms for awhile now because this dry cough that he gets every now and then and I mean sometimes he don't get it for months but I just thought it was like excitement or like when you walk them and their collar chokes them, he gets these what I call fits and it sounds like a cough but yet like he's trying to spit something up cuz his heads hanging down while he's doing it and it seems like when I pat his sides and talk to him to soothe him it stops but now my sister in law heard it and said it could be heart worms and now I'm scared for him cuz like i said its been years he's had this, like 7 and its only every now and then so my concern is if heart worm is he going to be able to get rid of them?
My Danny an 8 yr terrier just went 2 wks ago to the vet for a normal check up and yearly shots. He was very healthy. Woke up Thursday morning coughed like a dry cough and wet on the floor. He never did this. I took him out and he walked ok. That night he layed down and wet and did not want to go out. He loves walking normally. Friday morning I took him out but not long and that night he did not want to go out at all and laid down and wet. He had also threw up. I was taking him to the vet the next day but he died that night. I am so confused he was so healthy and loved taking his walks. I just don't understand? Was he poisoned? He was always trying to sniff and eat anything in the grass as we walked. My heart is broken he was my little buddy...don't wait to take your dog to the vet take them when anything changes.
My dog, a Maltese (5yo), has been dry hacking, which sounds exactly like kennel cough, for over a month. Especially when she's excited. I've already brought her to the vet twice, finished her course of medication for phlegm and cough. And finished the antibiotics but she's still coughing. The vet initially guessed that it could be that she has distemper but after so long, the only symptoms that showed was her flat paw pad which my vet said that it's hard pad. Should I suggest for my vet to do an X-ray or blood test? I also saw that feeding them near the fridge was a bad idea. I've always been feeding her beside the fridge. Maybe I should try changing her dining area. Thanks everyone for the tip!!
My 8 yr old lab has what they thought was kennel cough- now on our 3rd round of antibiotics and still coughing- 2 xrays show cloudy lungs- just not getting rid of it! Also had antitussive which he just finished, they had suggested the thought of lymphoma , i dont even want to think about it. Not sure what to do! Help!
My 8 yr old lab has what they thought was kennel cough- now on our 3rd round of antibiotics and still coughing- 2 xrays show cloudy lungs- just not getting rid of it! Also had antitussive which he just finished, they had suggested the thought of lymphoma , i dont even want to think about it. Not sure what to do! Help!
I have a dog that we found about a year ago. I have no idea what kind of dog she is but she's medium size and old. Usually every once in a while she will cough/hack and then dry heave but in the last day or so she has been doing it a lot more frequently. She eats normal, drinks normal, and uses the bathroom normal, but I'm just concerned because it sounds like its hurting her. Any idea of what it could be?
Hello ARY...Please let us know what you find out......My fingers are crossed for you, too! Karla
Hi, great info on the coughing situation. I just went through the same situation. I have a 10 1/2 yr old shitz tzu. He has had a cough for quite a long time. Mostly when I pick him up to go up the stairs, or when he rough houses. Long story short, I had him to emergency care at 3 a.m until 6 a.m. Xrays, were performed but no blood test. He said in the xrays his lungs were filled with fluid and there was water around a part of his heart. He suggested an echo with my reg vet. He also gave him an injection of antibiotic, lasix. Took him to my Vet the next morning and a blood test was performed...doctor said his blood was excellent. He saw a slight enlargement of the heart. Tomorrow he will performed an echo. Keeping fingers crossed. Oh, also, he was was throwing up mucous and blood which the emergency dr. attributed to his gagging.
Welcome..In a 15 yr. old, I would first suspect AND rule out Heart Disease.....Next, When was his last Heart Worm Test?
What has your Vet ruled out so far? The above would be the first 2 to check out......Then go from there.....Karla
What has your Vet ruled out so far? The above would be the first 2 to check out......Then go from there.....Karla
good morning I am having the same issue with my 15 yr old shitzu poodle, he has had a cough like symtoms dry cough as if he needs to bring some thing out... It's hard to watch your little puppy cough.. Any suggestions,
My 13 year old six and a half pound Affenpinscher has had some issues with coughing for a few months. We went to the vet last week and he put her on a round of antibiotics and antihistamines. We saw the Collapsing Trachea and a slightly enlarged heart on one side on the first x-ray. The vet was not worried about the heart.
Seven days later the Trachea was open, however, the heart was twice the size (both sides). The vet put her on heart medication and kept her on the antihistamine and says she has congestive heart failure :(
Could the doubled heart be from the stress of the Baytril antibiotic? They did have her straining to pee with a huge need for water? Today was the first day without the Baytril and she seems to be feeling much better... no straining to pee or the great need for water.
Please let me know of any wisdom you have!
Seven days later the Trachea was open, however, the heart was twice the size (both sides). The vet put her on heart medication and kept her on the antihistamine and says she has congestive heart failure :(
Could the doubled heart be from the stress of the Baytril antibiotic? They did have her straining to pee with a huge need for water? Today was the first day without the Baytril and she seems to be feeling much better... no straining to pee or the great need for water.
Please let me know of any wisdom you have!
If it is a reverse sneeze you can stop it by covering the nostrils for a couple of seconds.
Welcome....Some Vets prescribe Liquid Syrup, some will give a oral pill for cough....My Holistic Vet recommends Honey to use as cough syrup.....For a small dog, I give 1/2-1 tsp. 3 or 4 times a day...It works beautifully!!! Karla
what sort of cough med do they Rx for dogs? the internist only gave Comet some prednisone and clavamox for his cough.....no cough syrup.... i'd like to know if you know in order to ask the vet for it....seems to me that one needs to SUGGEST and TELL vets about the meds for them to Rx them :(
Also- my dad smokes in the house, but he has never seemed to mind it until the past year or so. He was put on antibiotics for a couple lf weeks, in which he did not improve. He has no allergies, either. We have tried cough syrup as well..he eats fine, drinks, lounges inside the house and outside on warm days. (If I think of more I will add..)
I have an 8 year old black Lab who hacks and coughs, as well as wheezes, as if he cannot get enough air..the coughing has been both dry and moist, and he has already been to the vet and was diagnosed with heartworms then treated and declared fine..he has been doing this for over a year now, only for it to become worse. His muscles tense and he will open his jaw wide (like he has a hairball or is about to throw up) but nothing hardly ever comes out, and what does is mainly spittle..I hear him every night and it breaks my heart...help??
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With Heart Disease, the weak heart cannot pump as well...Fluid builds into the lungs causing the cough..The cough is usually MOIST like they're choking on congestion...Actually, they are...The cough is worse in the mornings & during periods of running, playing & excitement....Fluid will show in an xray.....
Heart Disease is NOT a death sentence.....It's rather common in dogs! Dogs can live many ,many years on medications just like humans can.....Meds. to improve function of the heart & also lasix to clear fluid from the lungs......An EKG or ECG can detect what part of the heart is having a problem.....They usually run around $100.....Some Vets will suggest this test, some will not...THey will just go ahead and treat...
Next- Kennel Cough- This is a virus and antibiotics will do nothing.....Cough syrup is very necessary to help this run it's course.....Lasts a few weeks & the cough is excessive!!!!
Collapsing Trachea- Common in small breeds- This cough is more like choke-gasp, choke/gasp....It sounds like a goose honking....Meaning like when your sucking through a straw & it collapses. Like it kinda sticks then opens, etc. It is actually doing just that.....The trachea collapses then opens back up...This ailment is treated by weight control & Medications for lung disease....Cough meds, bronchial dilaters, Asthma meds., steroids when necessary, etc.
Respiratory Diseases cause coughing....Asthma & Bronchitis are treated with the same meds as Trachea Collapse. This is more of a dry cough with wheezing at times or both....With this, sometimes the Heart shows enlargement,but it is not a Heart Problem! It's from lack of oxygen through the respiratory system.....Steriods are useful as needed for allergy season that can be a trigger.....Dust mites in the house affect this alot (Especially in the winter when the heat is on and the house is closed up tight).......It seems they breath better outside.....Something else: Dust Mites in DRY dog food alone can trigger this.....This disease can be controled for years once you know what to do.....
There's a common cough called A "Reverse Sneeze"...You can google it to know what it sounds like.....I can't describe it....It kinda sounds like all the above, dammit!!! ;) Although it sounds awful, it's really harmless.....Lots of dogs do it their whole life...
Then of course, Heartworm Disease will cause a cough....ALso will show an enlarged heart....Will be seen on an xray....Can be ruled out with a blood test...
OK, good luck tomorrow...I hope you get it all figured out....Please come back and let us know what happens.....If I think of anything else, I'll let you know....Karla
P.S. I'm still surprised that your Vet did not prescribe Cough Syrup for a dog that was brought in for a cough!!!!!!
Oops.....I just thought of another one...Post Nasal Drip will cause a cough...As the fluid trickles down the back of the throat....It tickles....Thus the cough! The throat & tonsils will be red and irritated if this is what your dealing with....Can be worse during periods of excitement, also.....This is usually allergy related or can be linked to Stress...I know that sounds impossible, but it can happen......Take care............