About nicole damphouse Expertise I am not a veterinarian but I know a lot about dogs,hamsters,and a little bit about fishes.For dogs I know about feeding charts,sicknesses and illnesses,exercise,seizures and general dog care.For hamsters I know feeding charts,sicknesses and illnesses,exercise,when to clean the hutch,health care and different breeds.For fish I know from experience on feeding charts,and breeds.
Experience My experience is from my own pets and my parents who know alot about animals.
Question We adopted a 2 year old jack russell mix from save a life and he has kennell cough. He's been on kephlex and a cough tablet and they switched him to baytril because the kephlex caused stomach upset. He's still coughing. He tested negative for heartworms. any suggestion?
Answer Hi Candi!
FOR DOGS ONLY
For a pet with irritated airways,clean air is important.This means protecting your oet fromm fireplace smoke or smoke from cigarettes,as well as from such things as household chemical fumes.
Keeping humidity high will help tame the cough by soothing your dog's throat and airways.Vets recommend running a humidifier or vaporizer during the course of the illness.For temporary relief,you can also take your dog in to the bathroom when you shower or bathe.
If your poor pooch is coughing more than once an hour,you may want to give her a cough suppressant.Vets recommend using a product formulated for humans that contains dextromethorphan,such as Vick 44D or Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough Suppressant.(Make sure the product does NOT contain acetaminophen,which can be dangerous to dogs.)Vets recommend giving 2 teaspoons to a dog 40 pounds and over,1 teaspoon to a 20-pound dog and 1/2 teaspoon or less to a smaller dog.Check with your vet to make sure these doses are right for your pet.
When your dog is coughing and congested,taking a slow,gentle walk can help her airways drain.But avoid letting her get tired or overheated,which can set off further bouts of coughing.It's also a good idea to avoid choke chains and tight collars,which can bring on a coughing spell.
Since kennel cough is contagious,you'll want to keep the "patient" away from other dogs until she has recovered.
To prevent your dog from getting kennel cough in the future,never board your dog at a kennel that doesn't require proof of immunization.And always make sure she's had her shots before checking in.
MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS
Like people,dogs may simply cough now and then-if for no other reason than because they have a tickle in the throat.Vets have a simple trick for distinguishing a harmless harumph from a possibly serious infecting like kennel cough.If you press gently on the front of the dogs throat,she will go into a coughing spasm if she has kennel cough.The virus particularly likes ti irritate the lining of the trachea.If your et does not have kennel cough,however,pressing gently on her throat probably won't make her cough.
WHEN TO SEE THE VET
While kennel cough often goes away on its own withing several to ten days,it can also get worse.In some cases it leads to pneumonia,which may be accompanied by spitting up white foam.Some pets will require a cough suppressant plus antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug.One way to tell if your dog needs a vet is to take his temperature.Coat a rectal thermometer with petroleum jelly,insert it gently into his rectum and hold it there for two to three minutes.A dog's normal temperature is 100.5' to 102.5'.Anything higher could mean the illenss is serious and requires veterinary care.In addition,if you pet's coughing is accompanied by a loss of appetite,you should probably cal your vet right away.
I hope this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck!Please keep me posted and give that Jack Russell doggie millions of kisses for me!Sending wagging tails your way!
Nicole
