Old dog coughing

[In_the_Air]

I have a wonderful old dog, not exactly sure how old because she really doesn’t have many teeth but she came that way. She was a gift from Lori at Sunkissed and we value every day we have her. You may remember her, she was sent to us to hospice as she had cancer but we operated instead, thought we bought her 6 months but here she is 3 years later…

Early this spring maybe even longer she started to have a cough. Sounded like typical kennel cough. Took her to the vets and they agreed and put her on antibiotics and cough meds. Did not really clear up. Did a few more rounds and upped the meds. Added pred to the mix seemed to help a bit more. Cough keeps coming back.

Worried, we did chest films and lots of blood work and everything is good. Surprising

Her cough is hasher now, but still not in her chest. I am calling the vets again on Monday as I cannot ignore this. They think it is an allergy but I know it is not. Any insight or advice. We love this dog.

[happymom]

CHF?

[LauraKY]

Have you done an x-ray? Could be a lot of things. My cocker had blastomycosis, which we originally thought was bronchitis. I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t insist on an x-ray immediately (I now have a new vet). We lost her a year ago.

[In_the_Air]

They did chest films as the first thing everyone assumed was that the cancer was back but they were clean. I may insist that do another set but the cuurent ones are only a month old.

[Pancakes]

Repeat the chest radiographs. Things can change very quickly in that region of the body, especially in an older dog.

[mustangtrailrider]

Can’t believe this old girl is still around! Hope this is something very minor! Fingers crossed. Keep us updated!

[Chester_s_Mom]

Will films show fluid in the lungs? My older guy (16 yo Cairn) was finally lost to congestive heart failure. His last few weeks had lots of coughing as fluid in his lungs kept him from breathing as we searched for even a temporary fix.

Best wishes to you, I hope it turns out to be minor!

[MeghanDACVA]

yes, chest films will show fluid in the lungs. If due to heart failure it may be treatable.

if the dog has been coughing this long, it is unlikely it is heart disease. Though an enlarged heart can push on the trachea and make the cough even though there is no congestion.

Repeat the chest films. Lung cancer can be small enough to not see on rads. Get all 3 views: left lateral, right lateral and VD. Preferably on inspiration (can be tricky sometimes). Have the machine set for abdomen, not chest, since you are looking at lung. Typical chest settings are designed to burn out the lungs more so as to accentuate the heart. So if on chest settings all looks fine, re-do them on abd setting. More money but perhaps more info. If your vet has digital, all the better. You wouldn’t believe what you can see on digital that you can’t even on really good hard films.

I am not sure what you mean by “it isn’t in her chest” though. If your vet thinks it is tracheal in origin then get neck films and consider having her scoped. Tumors do happen in the trachea. Or do a transtracheal wash to get cells from there. If the assumption it is tracheal. If the concern in pulmonary/bronchial then a broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) is indicated.

In short, she needs more work up as opposed to throwing drugs at her.

[In_the_Air]

update, Furgie’s chest films all looked fine, as did the films of her trachea. Her lungs sound great, heart normal… We are going to treat for allergies one more round, steriods, adding a bronchial dialator, others things…if nothing improves then onto the lavage.

Furgie loves going to the vets by the way. She wanders around and begs for food scraps the techs might be eating. Total ham. Everyone is always amazed when she comes in happy and friendly and still alive. Silly old dog.

[In_the_Air]

@mustangtrailrider;5750451

Can’t believe this old girl is still around! Hope this is something very minor! Fingers crossed. Keep us updated!

I remember the day we picked her up from you. :eek: Mangy, fear aggressive, covered in tumors. Now she is the bestest dog in the world. Loves everyone, raised two kittens like they were her own… goes to the barn with me every day.

[SquishTheBunny]

If her chest rads were clean (hopefully they did 3 views), what about a possible collapsing trachea? This is often misdiagnosed on rads as the trachea isnt always in a collapsed position, or the collapsed area can be covered by the mediastinum/caudal cervical spine… Does she cough more when you put pressure on the underside of her neck? Heart Failure also…but as Meghan said probably unlikely if its been going on for a while. Laryngeal paralysis doesnt usually present as a cough, more dyspnea - but I have known a few to present with some coughing. Any chance of heartworm? Allergies? Has she been treated with prednisone at all? Generally allergy dogs show some improvement with it - but maybe shes already on it? Hmmm keep us posted! Hope she continues to do well otherwise!

[LauraKY]

SquishtheBunny, are you a vet?