Puppy with sever cough

[charlene wilson]

I have a 5 month old golden doodle with a severe cough. It is not Bordatella, it has been going on for 9 weeks. THe last 7 weeks have been the worse. It was not improved with any of 4 antibiotics. It did not improve with Benedryl or Robitussin. She coughs so much that I am afraid she will aspirate. Just recently i took her to a 4th vet who said she has seen dogs cough with allergies (all the others said no) and gave me a prescription for antihistamines. We just had our first 3 nights of sleep in 7 weeks. She still coughs, but not much. The cough is in her throat. It is a gargle-y loose cough. Not thick sounding, more like nasal discharge down the back of her throat. I have put $1300 into her in 3 months. She had cochsidia ( I can't remember the spelling) when I got her (I didn't know) and she had a very hard time getting over that. She ate only boiled rice and turkey for a month before we could finally ease her onto puppy food. I am lost, and broke, and worried and exhausted trying to make my baby well. I went to a 3rd vet, hoping to get someone who would concur with one or the other vets I had already had her to. He treated and inner ear infection for the cough. That has also been chronic. Now her ears sparkle, but she still coughs. I was to return in 10 days for an ear check. I saw a 4th vet at the clinic at Petsmart who prescribed the antihistamines which have given us a fair amount of relief. I don't know what to do next!
Can anybody help me? Or better yet, help Fergie?

[shelly]

Hi Charlene I feel so bad for you! Have you tried to contact Karen (& Jack). You can find her under members, or even in the Food Group. She also has posted on the latest forums over the past few days. She is really knowledgeable on dogs' health issues and allergies. What she doesn't know, she can point you in the right direction. Good luck! Hopefully all will work out for you and poor Fergie!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Charlene, have you spoken with Fergie's breeder? Not to complain but if she/he is experienced they might have some insight into their dogs. Do any of their dogs have a chronic cough or ear infections or some health issues or ...? Perhaps you are inadvertently doing something you don't realize that keeps re-infecting Fergie or she is not quite getting completely well. For example dogs with floppy ears are more prone to ear infections - are you bathing her and getting water in her ears or getting the medicine really down far enough into the ear canal (I have had problems with this)? I don't know about a chronic cough, but maybe others have some suggestions for you. I am so sorry that Fergie is having such problems. As to Pet Store vets - I am sure they are probably fine but I always feel that if you work in a pet store, perhaps you aren't as skilled as vets who have their own practice.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Charlene, I hate to disagree with a veterinarian, but I have an awful lot of experience with canine allergies. Most general practice vets are not well-versed in immune system issues and allergies, just as your primary care physician is not an expert in allergies or other specialties. That's why they refer you to specialists.
As I said in the other discussion, I am absolutely sure that Fergie doesn't have allergies. My dog has severe allergies and is under the care of a veterinary immunology specialist. I have researched these issues as much as it is possible for a lay person to do, and what you are describing is unknown in any kind of allergy.
I know in your other discussion, you mentioned a lot of medical problems since you've had the puppy. I would make sure that the vets are aware of everything, because sometimes there is a picture formed when all the seemingly separate issues are put together, that a vet wouldn't see if he was just looking at one symptom. There may be an underlying disease or defect that is causing all these problems. And I would try to get a referral from a long-time pet owner for an experienced vet in your area who is in private practice, not at Banfield's. This is not allergies, and the antihistamines are treating symptoms, but are not getting at the underlying cause of the illness. Nobody in a forum is going to be able to diagnose your pup without examining her and doing tests, but the help that I can give you is to tell you that it is not related to allergies.
I know you said your breeder's husband is out of work, but she really ought to be held responsible for some of these costs you've had to bear. A five month old puppy should not have had so many illnesses and health problems. It does not sound like she sold you a healthy puppy. A good breeder gives a health warranty that refunds money up to the purchase price of your puppy and does not require you to return your pup for a replacement. Of course you would never do that!
I am so sorry that you and Fergie have to go through this. I hope you can find an answer soon.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Just curious in knowing if Fergie has had a chest x-ray? My daughter brought her Rhoidesian Ridgeback puppy down from San Jose to visit the day after she had her final puppy shots and her Bordetella shot. She was totally fine prior to the shot and when she got here after an 8 hour drive she was coughing. Over the next few days it got worse and she started sounding like a seal barking and then was trying to produce something but couldn't. We took her to our vet and he put her on an antibiotic thinking maybe she had a slight reaction to the Bordetella shot. Two days later she was worse and he then took a chest x-ray and she had full blow phneumonia in one lung. The visit prior the puppy's chest was totally clear to the sound. At the same time my neighbor who is elderly was in a tizzy because she had heard that the H1N1 flu also comes in a Canine form called the H3N8 flu. My little grand puppy had all the symptoms so we that by the vet and they treated her with two types of antibiotics and she had to be hydrated under the skin twice before the long drive home. I know this is grasping at straws but that is what we do when it comes to our precious Doodles. Here is the link to the description...it's worth a shot to ask the vet to test for it. I agree too...you need to go to a private practice vet and not one of the chains. Good luck and keep us all posted on Fergie's outcome.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/