Sherman #369 He is gone.

Well, looks like we're going tro get to find a new vet immediately here in our new home. Sherman suddenly developed a cough about 2 days ago. It's very dry, nothing comes out, but he keeps hacking. His eyes have icky goobies, and I noticed some blood drops on the ground where he's been hacking. I looked up all the symptoms and it sounds like Kennel Cough. Odd, because I had him vaccinated against this for the first time with his shots last Dec. He's never had it before.

I read that I can use an over-the-counter human cough supressent to try to give him some relief till we get into a vet. Any suggestions on what works well? I don't have any in the house, so I'll be going out to get some.

What a bummer. :( He & Star were cooped up nose to nose in the car for a 16 hour drive, so I wouldn't be surprised if she gets it too. She had two days of digestive problems when we got here, and ate her first real meal last night. I have them seperated now, and am hoping we can get in somewhere first thing Monday morning.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

Sherman suddenly developed a cough about 2 days ago.

I read that I can use an over-the-counter human cough supressent
to try to give him some relief till we get into a vet.
Any suggestions on what works well?

---

Poor Sherman! :(

Here's some research:

From: http://www.workingdogs.com/deboerken_cough.htm
You'll have to *click* & *read* - has copy prevention on the article.

From: http://www.k911.biz/Petsafety/DogCough.htm

Persistent, hacking cough
Sounds as if he has a bone lodged in his throat
Retches after coughing, producing a white, foamy discharge
Gags when highly excited
If your dog displays any of the above symptoms, he may have what is known as "kennel cough". Kennel cough is a misnomer since the majority of dogs afflicted have not been in kennels at all but have been exposed to other dogs carrying the organisms which cause tracheobronchitis. The cough is brought on by an inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (the air passages to the lungs).

Some dogs also develop conjunctivitis ("pink eye"), rhinitis (inflamed nasal mucous membrane), and a nasal discharge. A rough estimation is that 80 to 90% of the cases of kennel cough are usually caused by the bacteria, Bordetella bronchiseptica. The other 10 to 20% of cases are caused by a variety of other infectious agents, most of them viral. Kennel cough has been associated with Para influenza virus, adenovirus and canine distemper virus as well as the Bordetella bacteria.

The virus is fairly contagious so if one dog has it, chances are all the others in the household will quickly become infected. In some dogs it can lead to pneumonia. The incubation period from the time a dog is exposed until clinical signs appear varies depending on which infectious agent is the cause. In general it appears to be about 3 to 5 days with Bordetella.

Most cases of kennel cough are not serious, and will run the course on their own within two weeks. Some vets feel that it is best not to use antibiotics since it is almost always self limiting and the organism is a normal inhabitant of the upper airways. Treating with antibiotics could lead to resistance problems and the most serious complication like pneumonia, would be difficult to treat if it occurred.

The uncomplicated form of the disease usually lasts for approximately ten days. Complicated kennel cough, usually a combination of virus and bacteria, should always be treated with antibiotics and may last 14-20 days. In mild cases, dogs will be alert and continue to eat normally. In more severe cases, a dog can become feverish, depressed, lethargic, expel a thick yellow or green nasal discharge, and possibly even develop pneumonia. Some very severe cases are fatal.

If your dog has the uncomplicated form of kennel cough, your main objective would be to make him as comfortable as possible so he can give his esophagus a rest. Too much coughing and gagging could result in him spitting up small amounts of blood as a result of the constant irritation. To avoid this, a cough suppressant can be used. A children's cough suppressant is best, along with a CHILD'S dosage. Do not administer an adult dosage for your dog nor use adult medication.

If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, keep all food, water bowls, and toys separate from your healthy dogs. Additionally, some pathogens that cause kennel cough can be transmitted from dog to dog via fomites (inanimate objects that carry disease-causing germs that spread infections. Fomites are one of the most common ways that kids get sick...dogs too!). After having contact with the infected dog, wash yourself and your clothes, and disinfect your shoes before coming into contact with your healthy dogs."
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From: http://www.2ndchance.info/cough.htm Ron Hines DVM PhD 4/24/06

Kennel Cough In Dogs:
Kennel cough of dogs, also called infectious tracheobronchitis, is cause by the bacteria, Bordatella bronchiseptica. The signs of parainfluenza virus and Canine Adeno-2 virus can be indistinguishable from kennel cough and often the two or three organisms work in tandem along with mycoplasma to cause the cough.
Soft dry coughs and sneezing are the two most common signs of this disease. They begin 3-7 days after the dog was exposed to another sick pet. Some dogs with this problem only cough when they are excited. Kennel cough is highly contagious and passes directly from dog to dog at kennels, grooming parlors, pet stores, doggy parks and humane societies. Dogs with this disease rarely feel ill although they may vomit food and foam due to enlarged tonsils and tracheal irritation. In healthy dogs, the cough lasts seven days to three weeks. But it can persist much longer in flat-faced breeds or dogs with narrow tracheas (windpipes).
I have never seen a case of kennel cough that endangered a pet’s life. It is not clear that antibiotics speed recovery from this disease. But I place many dogs on antibiotics for a week or two, chiefly because owners are so annoyed by the constant racket. If the cough is not too severe I dispense a guaifenesin-based cough syrup. If guaifenesin is not sufficient to control the cough I put them on the narcotic cough suppressant, Hycodan. Humidifiers help clear mucous from the throat allowing the dog to breath easier.
Dogs that are frequently exposed to other pets should receive a kennel cough vaccination every six to twelve months. The intranasal vaccine is more effective than injectable products. Vaccinating a dog the day it goes to the kennel is valueless – it takes a good week to ten days for the vaccine to protect.

------------------------------------------

FEEL BETTER SOON, Sherm!!

I know how psycially draining it is to travel so far for humans & pups
too. I think the hacking sound Sherman is making, hurts you more than it
does him. I hope you can contact a Vet soon.Get well soon Sherman.

Make sure it's strictly a cough suppressant and treats no other symptoms. I can't remember which one we used when kennel cough went through here. Ask the pharmacist, they should be able to find the right stuff.

Starr will likely get it. Raven got it first here and over the course of three weeks, every dog except two got it. Every dog for 100 miles around here had kennel cough that spring. It is an airborne virus so if your neighbors have dogs, they might get it too.

The vaccine is like the human flu shot, effective only for specific strains. If the dog is exposed to a different strain, they will still get kennel cough.

Hope Sherman is feeling better soon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

Well, looks like we're going tro get to find a new vet immediately here in our new home. Sherman suddenly developed a cough about 2 days ago. It's very dry, nothing comes out, but he keeps hacking. His eyes have icky goobies, and I noticed some blood drops on the ground where he's been hacking. I looked up all the symptoms and it sounds like Kennel Cough. Odd, because I had him vaccinated against this for the first time with his shots last Dec. He's never had it before.

I read that I can use an over-the-counter human cough supressent to try to give him some relief till we get into a vet. Any suggestions on what works well? I don't have any in the house, so I'll be going out to get some.

What a bummer. :( He & Star were cooped up nose to nose in the car for a 16 hour drive, so I wouldn't be surprised if she gets it too. She had two days of digestive problems when we got here, and ate her first real meal last night. I have them seperated now, and am hoping we can get in somewhere first thing Monday morning.

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Robutussin cough syrup- children's dosage can be used. Make absolutely sure it does not have Tylenol, or any other pain-fever reducers added in. Since there is alcohol in the syrup, the chances of you getting puppy to take it straight is very slim. Mix it in with a little milk to dilute the alcohol fumes up the nose, and add in a little honey.

If your dog received the kennel cough shot, then it's only good for 6 months. The nasal vaccine is suppose to be good for 1 yr, but that assumes it was administered correctly, and the dog didn't sneaze 99% of it back out on the floor.

If Sherman coughed any time during the car ride, or Star trotted over a coughed on surface, she has already been exposed. Then it comes down to whether her vaccination will protect her. If you mention to the Vet you suspect kennel cough, they will probably wisk you right into an exam room to keep their entry area clean. Faster service. ;)

Antibiotics make a dramatic difference in speeding recover. The Bordetella that quickly follow up the viral infection seem to be responsible for most of the symptoms. Usually 48 hrs after the start of antibiotics the dog is asymptomatic.

Thanks, all.
He had the Bordetella injectible vaccine in January.
I got him some Tussin and have given him a childrens dose twice now.
I disinfected the water & food bowls, the rug he lays on, and sprayed Lysol on the carpet where he's been lying in the house. Poor guy, I know he's confused. He's standing under my window crying to come in, and it's raining. :( Boy do I feel like a crummy dog-mom, I wish he understood it's not that I don't want to let him in, but I can't.

I hope we can find a vet who will see him early tomorrow. I was thinking that I would leave him in the car till they're ready to see him so he's not hacking all over the waiting room. Gosh, he sounds awful. :(
Please keep my sweet boy in your thoughts.

When my puppy had kennel cough, my vet strongly discouraged my from using any kind of cough medication. Sometimes, kennel cough can turn into pneumonia, and it can be a productive cough....you dont want to stop your dog from coughing nasty stuff out of its lungs.

Sometimes, it can lead to secondary issues like conjunctivitis, and like I mentioned, pneumonia, which is not pretty at all. If your dog is coughing up blood droplets, I hope you were able to make it a vet appointment ASAP, because I have never heard of that with kennel cough before, and probably means it's somewhat severe.

The problem with the bordatella vaccine is that there are SO many different bacteria that cause kennel cough, that it's impossible for the vaccine to protect against all of them. Antibiotics can help it go away faster, and prevent secondary infection, but every dog that I have known with kennel cough has taken weeks to clear up.

Good luck!!

Sherman is on the road to recovery. :)
It took a couple calls, but we found a vet's office that would take him at 10 am. They were very nice, and he's got anti-biotics and a cough supressant. He's been hacking his head off for 48 hours, but of course as soon as we walked into the vets, he didn't cough once. :rolleyes:
Found out that RI only honors a 3-yr. rabies shot for 2 years ( :confused: ), so he also got his rabies now instead of next winter, and a vaccination against lyme disease (they have lots of it here).
He coughed again as soon as we got home, but I'm hoping by this evening it will subside. He can stay inside, too. Star's been exposed so if she gets it, she gets it They said some dogs appear to be carriers but not suffer from it themselves, so maybe she'll continue to be fine.
Thanks for all your good thoughts.

My dearest Shermie.....
I'm so sorry you've been coughin' but I'm glad to hear you're on your way to getting better! Make sure to take all your medicine!!

Glad you all made it to your new home safely! What a crummie way to start out life in your new town huh?
Guess you should have just stayed here in Ohio! ;)

Hope you don't give this icky stuff to your sister!!

Smooches and tail wags...
Yours always... Sierra.

When Molly was sick with kennel cough as a pup, we gave her 1 1/2 tablespoons of plain yogurt everyday. It's a probiotic. I suggest giving it to Sherman to help his out his body.

Just seeing this now, sorry to hear about Sherman it must have made the trip even more nerve-wrecking than normal. As a true pet lover who is the first person you meet in your new town...the veterinarian, of course. :) I sure hope Mr. Sherman is feeling better soon, and that Star doesn't suffer any adverse reaction to being coughed on. ;)

Oh Sherman, you did NOT get that ickingness here in RI; you got it at the dog park visit before you moved. :D

Glad to hear that you are doing better!

Pat, yah, it is a nuisance with the rabies shots. Mass. honors the 3 year, RI only 2. So I go to a vet in Mass, get the 3 year shot, and a certificate which says it is only good for 2 years. Go figure! Sugar came from Ohio, her documents showed the 3 years shot, but she is set up to get it again after 2 years. :( It just depends on the local laws.

Now the cats, they were also getting the 3 year, valid for 2. But now my vet is giving Purevax, which is only tested and valid for ONE year. Oh joy. Next year, I get to have all NINE cats AND THE DOG in for rabies shots. (I had the cats staggered, half each year.) Now THAT should be an interesting vet visit! (Not to mention a bill!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freedom

Oh Sherman, you did NOT get that ickingness here in RI; you got it at the dog park visit before you moved. :D

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Well, he may have also gotten it waiting in the vets office to get those daggers of his clipped off before we left. :rolleyes: He's much much better today. Only heard one cough all night!

Oh great news that he is feeling better; and you are ALL getting some sleep!

my dog has the above symptoms for 2 years now

vet says it's trachea collapse but x-rays show that the tracheas are in shape

he doesn't cough blood but from time to time, especially when the weather changes, he will cough and retch badly and somtimes cough out white mucus.

He coughs when excited and even when he drinks...

I am thinking of getting a kids' cough syrup since the vet says let it be...

other than that, my dog's health is very good and he's active and eating well for a 10 year-old shih tzu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ipodee

my dog has the above symptoms for 2 years now

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Welcome to Pettalk, and I'm glad you posted. With the anit-biotics & cough meds, Sherman was good for almost a week, but yesterday he started coughing & gaging something terrible. He coughed numerous spatters of blood, and at one point some gobs of blood-laced muccus. He coughed so hard for so long that our new neighbor came out and asked if he was ok - said they could hear him and were afraid he was choking on something. Me thinks we'll be heading back to the vets on Monday.
In the meanwhile....I massaged his neck quite a bit, he finally stopped coughing. Got a pediatric grape-flaored cough syrup that he will take more willingly than the adult stuff. I also melted down some root-beer flavored cough drops & gave them to him last night. But he's obviously not feeling well - he's extremely lethargic. I slept downstairs next to him and he was quiet all night, but I hate seeing my sweet boy so out of it. :(
Please send some good thoughts his way.

I'm sorry to hear about Sherman still having the cough. :( Poor fella.
I sure hope the Vet can trace the cause of this. His throat sounds like
it would be so sore & irritated. :( Prayers that the Doc can find something
that helps him quick. Hang in there Sherman.

http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/eek.gif

Herrow, GOD!

OMG! Our Gud Buddie Sherman is havin a ree-lapse! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif

He's back to <koffin> an <hackin> again - feelz kinda louzie! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/frown.gif

Kan You <slip> him in to see his New White Coat furst thing on Monday?
We'd 'preciate dat ... so would his Mom!

Meantyme --- we'z gonna be Krossin Pawz & Klawz that the Home Remedy
Stuff
that Mom's been kookin up keeps werkin!
"Warm rooty-beer Koffin Dropz" sounds purdy **Yummie** to us!

FEEL BETTER SOON, Sherm!!

THANKS, God!

/s/ the Prayer Pups

Oh Pat, I feel so sorry for Sherman! I do hope you can find things to help him feel comfortable until the white coats and figure out a solution for all this coughing. Prayers for Sherman!!

poor guy. :( we had a dog at the shelter where I volunteer that was a huge black lab that we adopted out and he came down with kennel cough and I think the vet treated him with antibiodics. they may give him another vaccine to be on the safe side. please keep us posted and I hope you are able to find a new vet soon! how far away is the vet you used to use?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by luvofallhorses

how far away is the vet you used to use?

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750 miles! We just moved. The first Monday we were here, I found a new vet clinic just a couple miles away. They were able to get him in in a couple hours, I'll hope they can do it again this Monday, too. Thanks for your prayers, I'm really worried about him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

750 miles! We just moved. The first Monday we were here, I found a new vet clinic just a couple miles away. They were able to get him in in a couple hours, I'll hope they can do it again this Monday, too. Thanks for your prayers, I'm really worried about him.

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Pat, could you tell me if this Vet gave Sherman a shot of antibiotic meds
as well as the tablets to take daily? My vet usually does this for my guys
when they come down with something. It really seems to jump start the
healing process.

Oh Pat, I'm so sorry to hear Sherman is not well. I hope the vet can ease his coughing. *HUGS*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

Welcome to Pettalk, and I'm glad you posted. With the anit-biotics & cough meds, Sherman was good for almost a week, but yesterday he started coughing & gaging something terrible. He coughed numerous spatters of blood, and at one point some gobs of blood-laced muccus. He coughed so hard for so long that our new neighbor came out and asked if he was ok - said they could hear him and were afraid he was choking on something. Me thinks we'll be heading back to the vets on Monday.
In the meanwhile....I massaged his neck quite a bit, he finally stopped coughing. Got a pediatric grape-flaored cough syrup that he will take more willingly than the adult stuff. I also melted down some root-beer flavored cough drops & gave them to him last night. But he's obviously not feeling well - he's extremely lethargic. I slept downstairs next to him and he was quiet all night, but I hate seeing my sweet boy so out of it. :(
Please send some good thoughts his way.

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Lethargy means infection. Most likely puppy has a temperature. Probably the Vet needs to sedate puppy, and examine with an endoscope and take some Xrays. For example there could be a foreign object lodged in the esophagus. Unless there is evidence of pneumonia after a week kennel cough seems less likely. Although there is always a possibility that one is tangling with a bug that has antibiotic resistance to the antibiotic previously prescribed.

Did the vet give you a prescription for Hycodan? It's a synthetic codeine cough suppressant. Sometimes codeine is better at nailing a cough than the over the counter meds. If Sherman is achy from coughing the codeine might help with that too. (You all know what I mean - when you get a cold and you've been coughing like crazy, your muscles just hurt from so much coughing.) I'm sure it will make him more lethargic but if he needs to rest, that might not be a bad thing. Sherman, sweetheart, I'm so sorry to hear that you've been sick. I'm glad that your Mom was able to find a veterinarian who could see you quickly, and I hope that you will feel much, much better P.D.Q.!

Oh Shermie, I'm sorry that your feeling lousy again. I sure hope that you start feeling better asap.

(Hugs) to you boy.

Sherman, I hope you can get some help for your cough. I've had acute bronchitis, so I know how painful all that coughing can be. :(
You and your mommy will be in my thoughts.

I don't think Sherman got a shot of antibiotics. He took doxycycline and temaril-P. He also received vaccinations for Lyme & rabies.

He slept all day, and even walked away from his dinner - now that's a first. We just got back after a couple hours running errands, he was up and looking a little brighter. He came in & polished off what Star left behind of her dinner, so I guess his appetite is back. The vet mentioned the possibility of pnemonia and/or allergies if his cough didn't improve, so we'll see. He did not have a fever at the vets, and I don't think he has one now, I'm sure they'll retake it tomorrow if they want to see him.

Poor Sherman! I hope he's feeling better soon.

Oh Shermie!!
Pleeeease get better soon and be good for the white coats!!
{{hugs}} to you and your mom.
Yours always... Sierra.

poor baby!!......:(

sending husky healing vibes to our precious boy!!

wooo wooo roooo

I don't know if your vet has considered that he might have aspirated a foreign body? If so, he will cough and cough, might have ups and downs, and might cough up blood. He could also get a pneumonia behind what he aspirated, so he might have a fever and secretions. It wouldn't explain the eye goo you mentioned in your first post.

The way to make the diagnosis is to do a bronchoscopy--if you do this, it should be done by a specialty vet who has experience (and equipment) with the technique. Dogs have large trachea's compared with humans, so its not really very risky, but if he has something down there he won't get better until it gets out. Its also possible that he had aspirated something and he coughed it out, and now his trachea is scratched up (he may still cough with this)--steroids should help the swelling if this is the case.

Good luck.

Jakes mom

The vet put Sherman back on an antibiotic for one more round. This one is cephalexin. If he has more coughing episodes, the next step will be chest xrays. Here's hoping the pills do the trick.

Here's a get-well [[[[[HUG]]]]] for Sherman. Get well soon , sweety!!

Come on and beat this thing Sherman!

After you said he had a fever thoght I should post this.


ALERT
THE THREAT OF DOG FLU
June 15th, 2007. Susan Macfarland sent us this web site information from a veterinary clinic near Arlington, VA:

FIRST CASE OF CANINE INFLUENZA IN VIRGINIA
http://www.burkevet.com/

On Wednesday May 23, 2007 a dog presented to the Burke Veterinary Clinic in Burke, Virginia with symptoms of acute onset of fever, nasal discharge, cough, innapetance, and reluctance to move. These symptoms are consistent with several diseases, but the history suggested Canine Influenza. The dog lived in a restricted environment, but was at the Dog Park on Monday May 21. The illness developed that night and progressed to a dire medical event by Wednesday.

Nasal swabs were tested for influenza by the X-PECT FLU A+B test at a local human hospital. These tests were positive for influenza. Official confirmation will require a sample in 2 weeks to be sent to the testing lab at Cornell University.

The impact of this discovery is serious for the dog owning population because Canine Influenza has a 5% fatality rate, and at the present time there is no effective vaccine. This dog contracted the virus from one of a group of dogs that was playing outdoors at a dog park. The virus is spread by aerosol means. Your dog cannot pick it up from the environment. It is advisable that dogs be kept away from each other until an effective vaccine is available. This means NO DOG PARKS, NO INDOOR GROOMING, NO BOARDING KENNELS, NO GROUP DOG TRAINING CLASSES. The initial presentation mimics Kennel Cough. The distinction is that Influenza usually causes a high fever. Influenza also presents in a similar fashion as Canine Distemper Virus, but this virus has been all but eliminated by proper vaccinations
Further information is available at the Center for Disease Control’s website
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol11no12/05-0810.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/transcripts/t050926.htm
and at Remel (Xpect Flu A&B Test Kits).

Dr. Russell comments:

Dog Flu is a new disease (H3N8, 2004). It is a respiratory virus that was transferred from horses to racing Greyhounds and it has subsequently evolved to be a separate, canine adapted virus. This is how viruses evolve: it is termed an "emergent virus." In this case, the first widespread epidemic occurred in 2005.

New viruses can be dangerously virulent because the host species, in this case dogs, have not been associated with them previously and hence have not evolved any successful antivirus immune responses. Further, the virus, coming from another host, is "unsubtle" in its impact on a new host species. It has not evolved any mechanisms that allow it to quietly lurk and reproduce in its new host species.

Should you be concerned about Dog Flu?
While data are scanty, it appears that dog flu has an infection rate of 16% (16 of 100 dogs exposed to canine flu will develop the disease). Of those, 1-5% will die.

Thus far, the canine flu has proven easily transmitted, but with low mortality. Previous estimates of mortality range from 5-8% in Greyhounds to 1% in other dog breeds. To put this in perspective, West Nile Virus has a mortality of >35% in the American Crow and is currently responsible for enormous population declines in more than 13 species of North American birds. The 1918 Spanish flu [H1N1] pandemic had a mortality of less than 5% in humans. The current H5N1 Bird Flu is not epidemic yet in humans; it has a frightening human mortality rate of 50%.

Dog flu outbreaks have appeared this year in several states. In February and again in April, there were outbreaks in Pittsburgh animal shelters. In March, UC Davis (CA) confirmed three cases of dog flu, two in San Francisco and one in Colorado. This June, the dog flu has appeared in VA (see above) as well as south Florida. Since 2005, Cornell University has tested 5133 samples for dog flu; 857 from many states were positive (as of March; see: http://diaglab.vet.cornell.edu/issues/civ-stat.asp).

The dog flu is not transmissible (yet) to either cats or people. Note that of potentially great future concern, Russian authorities have reported that in Azerbaijan, a stray dog contracted bird flu in March of this year (http://www.regnum.ru/english/606869.html); it had likely eaten an infected bird.

BREAKING NEWS: Today, the 27 countries of the EU approved the first canine flu vaccine called Optiflu made by Norvatis. It has not yet been submitted in the US for FDA approval, so we're out of luck here.

If you dog develops a kennel cough-like cough, you should take him to the vet, especially if the dog has a fever. Please monitor the state of canine flu in your area. Avoid dog-dog contact in areas where outbreaks are known (currently, Virginia and Pennsylvania).
--------------------------------------------------
(c)2007 Dr. R. J. Russell & the CTCA

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

Welcome to Pettalk, and I'm glad you posted. With the anit-biotics & cough meds, Sherman was good for almost a week, but yesterday he started coughing & gaging something terrible. He coughed numerous spatters of blood, and at one point some gobs of blood-laced muccus. He coughed so hard for so long that our new neighbor came out and asked if he was ok - said they could hear him and were afraid he was choking on something. Me thinks we'll be heading back to the vets on Monday.
In the meanwhile....I massaged his neck quite a bit, he finally stopped coughing. Got a pediatric grape-flaored cough syrup that he will take more willingly than the adult stuff. I also melted down some root-beer flavored cough drops & gave them to him last night. But he's obviously not feeling well - he's extremely lethargic. I slept downstairs next to him and he was quiet all night, but I hate seeing my sweet boy so out of it. :(
Please send some good thoughts his way.

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i hope sherman feels better soon. i understand how you feel... must be hard on you.

thanks to the suggestion i read in one of the posts about getting a children's guaifasen-based cough syrup, my dog is feeling a bit better...

all the best to sherman...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

I don't think Sherman got a shot of antibiotics. He took doxycycline and temaril-P. He also received vaccinations for Lyme & rabies.

He slept all day, and even walked away from his dinner - now that's a first. We just got back after a couple hours running errands, he was up and looking a little brighter. He came in & polished off what Star left behind of her dinner, so I guess his appetite is back. The vet mentioned the possibility of pnemonia and/or allergies if his cough didn't improve, so we'll see. He did not have a fever at the vets, and I don't think he has one now, I'm sure they'll retake it tomorrow if they want to see him.

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They really shouldn't have given him vaccines while he's sick - his immune system is already fighting something, and vaccinating while the immune system is already suppressed a bit is always a bad idea.

This sounds similar to what my puppy Molly went through when I got her. The vets, and the specialists who we saw at the emergency animal hospital ALL told me not to g ive her cough syrup, especially if her cough was productive even a little bit - because the cough suppressant will mean that the gunk doesn't come out of his lungs, because he won't be coughing as much.

I hope he gets better soon. Doxycycline is what my puppy was on for a while, but she wound up needing to be on IV fluids because she got so lethargic and lost her appetite.

Sending prayers for Sherman! I hope it's not pneumonia :(

Interesting articles. And if the Sherman has a touch of it or some other virus such as para-influenza, then another round of a wide spectrum antibiotic such as Cephalexin to prevent secondary bacterial infections should speed recovery. Note: Sometimes Cephalexin can cause nausea. Consult with the Vet if it occurs.

Quote:

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This means NO DOG PARKS, NO INDOOR GROOMING, NO BOARDING KENNELS, NO GROUP DOG TRAINING CLASSES.

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What the article actually said was:

Quote:

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For the time being, you may now return to boarding kennels, grooming parlors, group dog classes, etc. I am not a fan of dog parks unless the owners use them as "PLAY DATES" with only dogs that are very familiar with each other. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG GET CLOSE TO DOGS YOU DON'T KNOW WELL

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Approximately 90% of owners dealing with dog health issues is common sense. If you have a sick dog in the neighborhood, you keep yours away from it. Otherwise there is no reason to confine your dog to the house.

Just seeing this now. I am so sorry to hear that handsome Shermie isn't feeling so good. I think he just wants to make sure you get to know the new vet real good. I hope the cephalexin helps. Feel better soon, Sherman.