UPDATE Final result : Hoarse

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Anyone's dog ever have a hoarse voice?

If I did  not know it was my dog, I would not recognize Spud's bark today.  It is completely different

He is playing and acting normal but that voice is crazy weird 

UPDATE:

It appears to be an upper respiratory infection of some kind and yes, maybe kennel cough or dog flu.

He is happy today, but gets completely out of breath with any activity and starts breathing and rattling hard.  He is not coughing.  Sounds more like the nose and throat area. 

If things do not improve, he will be sedated to get a further view of the respiratory tract. 

Get Well Soon, Spud 

Thank you for  your thoughts

UPDATE 2

We saw Spud's regular vet this afternoon. 

His chest is clear. It is not kennel cough. He is not coughing. The focus is  now on the  heart and/or the swollen airway. Those where the vet's chief concerns but the reasons are unknown. By the time we got there he was quiet and calm but I did show the vet the videos of these episodes we are experiencing and he clearly agreed, " that isnt right" he said. 

No more activity. Just keep him really quiet ( ya, right)   

We will continue the antibiotic and he was given prednisone to get the swelling out of his airway.  If it continues, he will get some xrays. I wish, I would have insisted the xrays would have been done today.   It's his airway! 

 I didnt notice, but he has lost some weight since August on his weight today.  

He is happy, eating, and wants to play. He just cant play without loosing his breath 

Thanks for your thoughts!   

Update 3

WOOF!  WOOF! woof woof woof woof woof and a few great growls too!   

Someone knocked on the front door.   It took me a while to shut him down again.   LOL  

He has turned the corner and it's deep.  Normal. A little husky. Like Sexy -husky   

 

Final Update-with 5 days to go on steroids I think we have crossed over to normal.  We played today 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We might, might, see some improvement. Still sounds like a Steam Train. He is sooo loud and  easily out of breath.   But still happy. Eating well.   I'll update when these meds are done and we will go from there. 

Thanks for your thoughts. So many wonderful and supportive thoughts.  Thank you, thank you.

 I'm upset, but have faith it is a simple, not complicated, issue. He just has to get better!  

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Just know that Spud is special to us and we send wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yes, Right there waiting with you hoping it's simple and Spud will be recovering more and more each day. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Joanne, I'm sending big Doodle hugs & kisses for you and Spud. Praying he will continue to get better and better!

[Stella]

Thanks for keeping us updated. Hugs to you guys. Hope he is doing better real soon.

[M Kol]

Ugh.  Hope Spud gets better soon. On the positive side, he seems happy.  Sending healing thoughts.

[Charlotte and Bo]

I hope Spud is feeling better soon and that the problem has an easy solution.  Sending good thoughts your way.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hoping Spud is feeling better today. :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

 He remains quiet today- voice and activity. It seems to be voluntarily.  The things he would normally bark at like a squirrel in his yard, he says nothing. Just stares.   

I would certainly like to see more improvement but that is me.  Microwave this away Right NOW. What's taking so long?   He barked once yesterday and even though it was a wimpy bark, it had some deepness to the tone.  

I finally felt a big old ball at the Adam's Apple area.  Do male dogs actually have an Adam's Apple?  Dunno?

Maybe the swelling is down and I can actually feel what is normally there too.   

Anyway, a vet is certainly in his future again but I will wait patiently until all the Prednisone is completed which is another entire week unless we have another episode of little air exchange like last week.  

Quiet is the key.

We have a lot of excitement coming into the house tomorrow.  His human brother is coming home. That will be our true test of health and endurance.  I'll know more then for sure! 

Thank you so much for asking and sending love and concerns.   Love you all too  :) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you for keeping us updated, Joanne. I think we'd all like to zap this away right now. 

Hope tomorrow goes well. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I know you want to keep him quiet, but maybe having his human brother home will actually be the best medicine of all.  Hoping for better days real soon for you and Spud.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Here he is... Ha. I dont have many pics of my dog quietly on the couch. Note the sock to the right. Always a good sign.  Must have something to retrieve in the retriever world so his mind is still on his job. The orange to the right is a box with his cat, Laz, that is by his side.