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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Ddog's terrible cough

7 replies

smokingcarriageonly · 13/12/2023 23:56

Ddog (12-15yo, rescue JRT cross) saw vet in August for a minor, intermittent cough which we noticed sometimes in the evening. Eventually treated with metacam to see if it would calm any irritation. Vet wondered if it was behavioural or maybe a hayfever-like allergy. Ddog took normal exercise, cheerful as usual, no apparent discomfort.
Carried on like this getting no better and no worse, vet trying a few things (not sure of details, I was away while my mum was in hospital and DH was on dog duty) until early December when she developed a fever and a really terrible hacking, wheezing cough.
X-ray showed some fluid at the back of her lungs, vet prescribed an antibiotic, bronchodilator and diuretic. Her heart looked fine apparently and vet said she didn't think it was heart failure.
Just over a week later the cough/wheeze is now terrifying, loud and wracking. Ddog is subdued, bit clingy, hackles often up, appetite not as vigorous as usual but she's still eating, weeing/pooing are fine.
On Monday vet prescribed two new antibiotics and a steroid, earlier meds discontinued and waiting a couple of days for metacam to clear before introducing the steroid.
Is there anything else we should be doing or asking for? I'm so worried about her.

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/12/2023 00:00

Could you possibly see a different Vet ?

smokingcarriageonly · 14/12/2023 00:14

Yes, thanks, maybe we need to see someone else.
She's seen two different vets in the same surgery, where she's been going for 10ish years. She has another appointment booked for Monday but they said if no improvement to bring her in before the weekend.
I think if we don't have a plan then I may take her elsewhere.
They don't see her at her worst, she sort of sits at attention when she's there and may not cough properly, but I have videos.

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OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/12/2023 00:26

I think a video will be very useful, and that is good that it's not always the same Vet. But you do need to see one again that has seen her before to see if the Vet notices a difference.

Her heart looked fine, I guess it was listened to and the heart beats were counted ?

ElliesMum16 · 14/12/2023 03:09

Any chance she has Westie in her? I have a 13-yr-old Westie with 'Westie Lung Disease' - Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis which is vastly over-represented in Westies. It was diagnosed by xray which was read by a specialist. I also showed them a video of her cough.

She has an asthma inhaler and spacer (so inhaled steroids) which she takes daily. It's progressive, but the inhaler definitely helps.

smokingcarriageonly · 14/12/2023 09:06

Thank you, I'm sorry to hear that, but it's good that it's being treated.

She doesn't resemble a Westie except for being mostly white. I'll bring it up with the vet though.

I'm taking her in again today and may ask for a referral.

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OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 14/12/2023 19:00

Can I ask how you got on today ?

smokingcarriageonly · 14/12/2023 23:13

Thanks for asking 🙂
Her temperature was normal and her lungs sounded 'less sticky' than last time so it seems like she's headed in the right direction.
Vet agreed the cough was awful and gave her a steroid injection, which she wasn't able to do on Monday due to metacam interaction.
She slept all afternoon and seems a little brighter tonight so 🤞🤞🤞 The cough is still there but I'm happy she's a little perkier. We'll see what happens this weekend.

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