She's been coughing for weeks, and it's not K.C.!

[kassa]

Sara, I really recommend you see another vet before the two week period is up. Things can get confusing at the vet and sometimes people misinterpret what a vet is saying, but if he honestly said a bordetella shot would boost her immune system, that's not somebody you want treating your healthy pets, let alone your sick ones. Could be, however, that you mixed that up with his recommending echinacea?

At any rate, as expensive as vet visits and x-rays are, I fear you could be racing towards a midnight visit to an emergency clinic and paying twice the price for the same thing. Your dog sounds sick, and your vet uninvolved.

One thing that might help is videotaping the coughing -- it can be hard to describe, and dogs are infamous for NOT doing what's driving you crazy once you get them into the vet's office. But if you bring a video of what she's doing at 3 am, that may help in the diagnosis.

Best case scenario is you spend the money and the new vet says her lungs seem fine or improving and tells you to stay on whatever you're already giving her, and you're out the cost of the visit. Worst case -- there's more going on and it costs you more money -- but it's money you'd end up spending anyway (and probably more of it) if this develops into a full blown crisis.

Again, we can only go on what you've written, but I get the feeling you're really worried and sometimes extra vet bills are better than regrets.

 

[SaraMM]

Sara, I really recommend you see another vet before the two week period is up. Things can get confusing at the vet and sometimes people misinterpret what a vet is saying, but if he honestly said a bordetella shot would boost her immune system, that's not somebody you want treating your healthy pets, let alone your sick ones. Could be, however, that you mixed that up with his recommending echinacea?

Yes, I think you are right. She should at least have some x-rays done. I am pretty worried about her, though I am trying to relax about it and have faith that the things I'm doing now will heal her in time. I know I didn't mix up what the vet said about the bordatella vaccine with the echinacea because he said both things on separate occasions, one in his office and one over the phone a week later.

I like our vet and I have never had cause to question his abilities or involvement before. Then again, Mona has never been sick before, so this is a whole new ballgame for us. He came highly recommended and he is a small town vet, so his prices are unbeatable. I'd really hate to have to switch, but I won't sacrifice my dog's health to save a few bucks.

To be frank, I am tired of sleepless nights, worrying about if she is getting the proper care. I need to act!! And that's just what I am going to do. I'll keep you posted! Thank you!

 

[iloveboxerz]

Sara,

I don't mean to alarm you, but that is how my Mookie's problems started. He started this awful hacking cough, like there was something stuck in his throat. He was treated for kennel cough and allergies and then sent to a specialist. He went from the cough, to not being able to walk without leaning against something, to not being able to use his tongue and not swallowing well. I spent over $3000.00 and I never really got a confirmed diagnosis. I had to have him put to sleep in August. The suspected cause was a brain tumor. See thread "Can't seem to get a diagnosis, very worried. Long sorry". Also the video is an excellent suggestion that is what I did and it did help for them to be able to see and hear what was happening. I do hope that it is nothing that serious and that Mona is fully recooperated very soon. Sending lots of hugs and healing vibes your way.

 

[SaraMM]

Update!

She is still coughing, but I think it is getting better! She doesn't seem to be coughing with as much frequency and force as she was before. She has a few days worth of antibiotics left, so hopefully she'll be on the mend definately when she finishes them off. If not, it is off to the vet to get an x-ray done of those lungs, etc. Thanks for all your help everyone!

Also, she discovered that I've been putting her pill into a piece of hot dog so she just eats around it now, and leaves it after consuming the hot dog. Any recommendations on another way to hide her pill in a tasty treat?

 

[a1r1ka]

i put a pill in a teaspoon of plain yogurt. . .run the spoonful along the inside top of the open mouth and see if that works.
Papi is quite savvy to all pill-popping methods, but this one doesn't seem to bother him at all, plus the yogurt helps his stomach deal with the antibiotics.

 

[SaraMM]

Spoon full of yogurt, huh?

And your pup doesn't mind having the spoon in his mouth? I will surely give it a try. Thank you!

 

[sgbtab]

I use peanut butter. yummy nice and sticky. samson gets meds twice a day and never minds it. he looks forward to medicine time.

 

[a1r1ka]

no probs - i have done the same with pumpkin and peanut butter, too.
i use a plastic spoon and make it fun, like it's a treat - i give him a little bit and let him taste it, then open his mouth and push it in the top of his mouth.
i keep a little left on the spoon so that when he's thinking, "do i like what she just did to me?" i can temp him with more.
give praises the whole time!

 

[iloveboxerz]

I hide them in a piece of cheese my dogs would just swallow the cheese and never knew there was anything in it. Good luck, hope Mona is doing better.