Q. 14 yr rat Terrier/heart murmur/coughs/med furosemide/enalpril/better/took off meds/put back on?

ANSWER : A. Coughing in dogs can be caused by a number of things including allergies, asthma, illness such as Bordetella (kennel cough) or even lung and heart problems.

Allergies and asthma can cause a dog to have a raspy cough, and they may wheeze, sneeze or have running noses or trouble breathing when active or in an area where the allergen is present. Your vet can determine if an allergy or asthma is present and provide medication as needed to help with symptoms.

Bordetella can also cause a deep hacking cough, and is common in dogs that frequent doggy day cares, kennels or dog parks. The causes can be bacterial or viral, and treatment depends on if any secondary symptoms such as fever or dehydration is present. Treatment involves cough suppressants from your vet, or even antibiotics and fluids to treat secondary illnesses. Other illnesses such as heartworm may cause a chronic cough and exercise intolerance and should be looked for if your dog is not already on a heartworm preventive.

Small dogs are also prone to a condition called collapsing tracheas, and Cavaliers are very prone as a breed to heart and lung issues. Collapsing tracheae often cause a gasping or hacking cough when excited or active, and may require treatment if they become problematic. Heart and lung problems such as heart failure or genetic abnormalities can also cause coughing as a sign of the illness. Your vet can perform a complete exam to check the health of the lungs and heart.

ANSWER : A. Hacking and coughing can be caused by a number of things ranging from foreign bodies such as twigs stuck in the mouth or throat, to infections or illnesses such as Bordetella or Kennel cough, common in dogs that frequent kennels, dog daycare or dog parks. In older dogs, heart and lung issues can also be indicated by a cough that does not go away.

If you think there may be a foreign object stuck in your dog’s throat, you can sweep a finger gently through the back of the mouth or throat if your dog will let you. If something feels stuck and is not easily moved by the finger, it is best to contact your vet to have the object safely removed. This usually requires sedation so that your dog does not become panicked or move, causing the object to become further stuck or cut the throat.

If your dog is showing other symptoms of illness in addition to the cough such as runny nose or eyes, fever, lethargy or changes in appetite, it may indicate a viral or bacterial illness such as kennel cough. These are usually treated with a cough medication in severe cases, plus rest and treatment of any additional symptoms until the condition improves. In bacterial causes, antibiotics may also be given to help your dog feel better.

If your dog has a constant cough that does not go away, or has had changes in ability to exercise, breathing, or appears to have swelling around the chest or abdomen, in may indicate a lung or heart issue. Your vet can thoroughly examine your dog for any signs of heart or lung problems and can then offer care as needed depending on the cause.

ANSWER : A. Kennel Cough is similar to the human cold, and it can be caused by three categories of microorganisms.

1. Bordetella Bronchiseptica: A small bacteria which can result in bronchitis and severe cough in dogs.
2. Canine Adenovirus: A serious and contagious virus.
3. Canine Influenza Virus: An extremely contagious virus causing mild to severe respiratory symptoms in dogs.
Kennel Cough has its own course of 1 to 3 weeks and can be managed medically.

Close environments with several dogs can increase the chance of dogs catching the cough. Kennel Cough vaccination is aimed mostly at preventing the Bordetella infection through an inhalant or injection vaccination. Although not 100% effective, it should be recommended in all dogs that spend time around other dogs, even the park is considered one of these social occasions.

Kennels have their own policy with regards to Kennel Cough vaccinations and should always be contacted well ahead to understand and comply with their requirements before the stay of your dog.
If you suspect that your dog has caught Kennel Cough, you should see your veterinarian. Your dog might benefit from certain medications to speed up his recovery. These might include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and cough suppressants at your vet’s discretion.

ANSWER : A. Not really, he/she needs antibiotics. You can try to nebulize her at home or even run the shower on hot with the door closed to create a steam room, then turn off the water and leave him/her in there for 15 minutes to help clear the mucous out and help him/her breath better. Sometimes it will help but many times it does not clear the problem. You really need antibiotics if it is indeed kennel cough. Are you sure it is not a heart issue causing the cough? Especially being he/she is a little older I would suspect a heart issue causing the cough and not kennel cough. You should really seek vet care somehow.

ANSWER : A. I would not recommend use of any cough suppressant until you have an accurate diagnosis as to why your dog is coughing as it could make the condition worse. Coughing is a natural protection to keep the airways clear and healthy. A common reason for persistent coughing are heart disease and this should be investigated as a priority. Honey can be used as a natural antiseptic and soothing barrier for the back of the throat but after more than one month your dog really does need a full health check

ANSWER : A. True epileptic seizures are not connected with heart disease. However, dogs with heart murmur and heart arrhythmia can faint and this sometimes this can be confused with epileptic seizure. Ideally, you should record one of the seizures on your camera and show it to your vet.

ANSWER : A. I’m pretty concerning about your cat. While coughing can be the sign of mild respiratory infection, the fact that his chest is heaving between coughing episodes suggests more serious disease. Coughing is from the respiratory tract and bringing up a hairball is a GI thing (vomiting). Sorry not trying to state the obvious but lots of people think their cat is vomiting when it’s actually trying to cough.

It sounds like from your description that your cat is in respiratory distress. This could be due to a number of problems that can be quite serious – asthma or heart disease, as a couple of examples. I think it’s important that you get him assessed by a vet ASAP in order to determine what’s going on.

ANSWER : A. It depends if the dog is in heart failure or not. There is no clear benefit of treating dog with heart murmur which is not in heart failure yet. Pimobendan is one of the medications which may be helpful. If the dog is already in heart failure which means he has fluid build up in his lungs then there is a list of medications that should be used e.g. furusemide, ACE inhibitor, Pimobendan, Spironolactone