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Many dogs are often presented to the veterinarian for various respiratory symptoms ranging from the common kennel cough, signs of increased yellow or green eye or nasal discharge, as well as varying degrees or coughing or wheezing. The cough can vary from sounding like a goose honking, which is most typical of either kennel cough or an anatomic or inflammatory problem of the airways, such as the collapsing trachea syndrome seen in toy breeds like Pomeranians or Yorkshire Terriers. |
Or the cough can be from an allergic/inflammatory condition such as chronic allergic airway disease or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) to more moist/wet coughs seen in many cases of pneumonia or heart failure secondary to mitral valve disease or a heart disease called cardiomyopathy. If a pet is still active, eating, and has pink gums and tongue, than it is likely not an emergency. However, if a dog has difficulty breathing, is wheezing, or has an accelerated rate of breathing (during rest) and shows bluer gums/tongue, than immediate emergency veterinary evaluation and care is required so that a proper diagnosis and treatment plan is started.
Some of these more severely affected pets may need oxygen initially to stabilize them, before x-rays, blood work, and a more thorough complete respiratory or cardiac workup is undertaken. That is why it is great to have natural calming agents on hand to give before and on way to vet such as Be Serene by 1800PetMeds, Composure Liquid, or sometimes rescue remedy from health food store to help ease the anxiety and stress the pet is clearly under, until the pet can be evaluated by a veterinarian.
With common and seemingly uncomplicated kennel cough signs, without difficulty or heavy breathing, and as long as the pet is eating and otherwise happy, animal guardians can try immune boosting herbs like echinacea and goldenseal from the health food store, as well as the herb elderberry if an acute infection is suspected.
Extra vitamin C in the form of Ester-C, as well as Vetri-DMG from 1800PetMeds to boost the immune system can also be used right alongside these herbs in simple infectious coughs. If the cough worsens or pet goes off feed, however, a full vet exam is needed and likely antibiotic therapy required, especially with the recent recognition and potential severity of the new canine influenza virus, now being reported in various states across the nation.
If your pet is diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory respiratory ailment or collapsing trachea, sometimes prescriptions for drugs like Theophylline and Temaril-P are needed on a long term basis and can be purchased from 1800PetMeds with a written prescription from your veterinarian.
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