Dog coughing and bringing up fur.....

[MrsVictorUbogu]

He is a JRT, rough coated, 8 months old, rescue dog. We have had him since last sunday, and he has settled in brilliantly. But, for the last few days he has been coughing, and this morning he has has been sick twice, just a little bit, but it has been full of his fur.

He does seem to be grooming himself quite a bit, but not all the time, mostly after a walk. I'm going to buy him a brush today, to give him a hand! He doesn't have fleas, he isn't bored, he is moulting a bit, but not excessively.

Is there anything I can do to help him?? When he coughs it sounds as though he is trying to clear his throat, and quite often makes a retching sound without actually being sick. He won't have a drink when he is coughing. Actually, he doesn't seem to drink much at all, mostly just once a day (unless he is drinking overnight so I don't see) but he pees plenty!

Has anyone got any ideas????
TIA

[Vallhala]

I'm NOT a vet but to me it sounds like a simple case of hairballs. A vet will advise on the best remedy if it doesn't right itself today. Many people used to rely on a small dose of castor oil but this has since been dismissed as not particularly good for dogs. For something like this perhaps it might be helpful to call the vet adviceline provided by your insurer if they offer this service, and speak to one of their vets/vet nurses today and then consult your own vet if it continues into tomorrow or escalates.

For your part, firstly, check his skin? Any dry/flaky areas or signs of infection, redness etc? If so this will be increasing moulting and itching and he'll need the vet for something to clear that up. If not and he's simply moulting I can't recommend more highly a "Furminator" comb, which gets a lot of the loose undercoat out. (Essential on my 3 big dogs, especially my longhaired GSD).

[MrsVictorUbogu]

Thanks, Vallhala, for the great advice. He typically seems much better now I have posted (just like the kids do after walking through the doors of A&E!!!). Only a few coughs this morning after he was sick...and a good bark at a much bigger dog seems to have cleared his throat.

I checked his skin, and it is nice and clean, no flakes or anything, and nothing seems to be bothering him...he is fine and not at all 'off colour'. I bought him a brush today (before I read your post) which is a Palm Pad, for wiry/coarse coats, which he seems to love, but will try a Furminator if this doesn't work......I don't like to brush him too firmly though, as he is so thin :( poor boy.

Thanks for the advice re. vets/advice line....I wasn't sure if I was being a bit PFB, since this is my first dog of my own!

[coccyx]

kennel cough??
I had a rescue that did that and on phone vet asked if he sounded like he had something stuck in his throat?

[MrsVictorUbogu]

Kennel Cough was my first thought, but he was vaccinated for that before we picked him up........

[coccyx]

how is he doing

[MrsVictorUbogu]

Thanks for asking.....he is absoloutely fine now! Shattered after his walk earlier and sound asleep on his blanket! It must have been the fur he brought up this morning that was causing the cough.

I have sat and brushed him for ages, he loved it, not much fur has come out, but he looks a lot tidier now, lol!