Lethargic dog,normal appetite,bad cough,runny nose....Any ideas?

caitmb

Hi all,looking for needle in haystack.... 3 yr old Bijon frise started with very bad cough 3 wks ago. Visited vet,got anti biotics and told to observe. Numerous visits One xray and blood test later....cough remains,dog very lethargic.Nose running with both white and green mucus on and off. Cough would lead you to think he will bring up a lung but nothing stirring! Vet asked us to observe AGAIN over wk end and bring him in tues for full day so they can see cough etc.He is on 3 rd anti biotic. Taken off steroid after wk one in case its masking problem.

Apologies for long windedness! Very concerned and looking for any ideas as vet thinks its a mystery....

tk123

I be thinking of a second opinion tbh?

caitmb

Got one of them and still no further on! Think referral to specialist is next on the cards,was just hoping someone might have had similar to put my mind at ease.
Thanks

muddypaws

Obviously the vet ruled out kennel cough???? Try putting some manuka honey in the water to at least help ease the coughing.

aonb

poor dog. poor you. listening to them cough is horrible. We had kennel cough some years ago (despite being vaccinated :mad: - there are diff strains it seems, the vacc wont cover all) and it was horrible to listen to. Manuka honey is a good idea - even give it straight off the spoon if the dog will take it - mine did. I believe but you would need to check with your vet, that I gave my dog some human cough syrup to help relieve his cough.
Hope the specialist will find the reason soon. At least if the dog is eating normally, thats some consolation. Good luck!

Mo60

caitmb wrote: »

Hi all,looking for needle in haystack.... 3 yr old Bijon frise started with very bad cough 3 wks ago. Visited vet,got anti biotics and told to observe. Numerous visits One xray and blood test later....cough remains,dog very lethargic.Nose running with both white and green mucus on and off. Cough would lead you to think he will bring up a lung but nothing stirring! Vet asked us to observe AGAIN over wk end and bring him in tues for full day so they can see cough etc.He is on 3 rd anti biotic. Taken off steroid after wk one in case its masking problem.

Apologies for long windedness! Very concerned and looking for any ideas as vet thinks its a mystery....

One of my dogs, a cairn x, appears to be suffering the same problem. Like you I took her to the vet about 6 weeks ago with the same symptoms, and she had similar treatment. Never completely cleared up and now the bad cough has come back, sometimes coughing up white mucus.

All my other dogs are well and have none of the symptoms. A thought crossed my mind, as the cough sounds similar to the sound of my brother, who suffers from asthma, when he coughs. I live in the country and wondered whether it could be some sort of allergy. Do you live in the country or the town?

tk123

OOops I forgot to mention the manuka too - aldi do it cheap enough

caitmb

Thanks all! Kennel cough ruled out early on as none of other dogs have symptoms. Its actually my sisters dog but spends lots of time with me and mine. She spoke to another vet today who recomended cough bottle,said it shouldn't interfere with antibiotics and to continue observing! Feel very helpless watching poor thing cough. He wasnt impressed with the Benelin though....Def going to try the Manuka tomorrow,cant hurt.
Original vet had given him an inhaler but asked us to hold off giving it til all else ruled out. Hoping it will be something so simple! Thanks again

DBB

If the dog has to go back on steroids, then delivering them through the inhaler is FAR more effective than giving it orally. Delivering it in this way also doesn't have the same systemic side-effects as giving an oral dose, and so is a much safer way of delivering steroids to a dog with reduced lung function.
You have to deliver the steroid via a nebuliser, the ones for dogs are exceptionally expensive, but it's perfectly okay to use human paediatric ones, just make sure the face mask is small enough to ensure a snug fit over the dog's nose. Your friend should also spend a little time habituating her dog to the nebuliser so that he learns to tolerate, or even like it!
I've been around the block when it comes to canine lung problems, so I would highly recommend using the inhaler if there's no clear up. The vet might also want to be looking at chest X-rays and swab tests to rule out pulmonary fibrosis, a condition which affects a huge amount of older white dogs (Westies are prime candidates for the condition, almost all of them develop the condition by the time they die. But Bichons are also high on the list). However, I know quite a few Westies who developed the condition far earlier in life, so I see no reason why some Bichons wouldn't acquire it in early life either.

Edited to add: Sorry, I see X-rays were done. So, I take it they were clear? Did the 2nd opinion vet see them too?

caitmb

Yeah,2nd vet saw x rays. Dog going in tues for the day so they can observe coughing etc. They mentioned doing a bronchial lavage too so hopefully we will get closer to an answer... Its horrible seeing poor thing so down,even cats on the back wall cant get his attention! Fingers crossed anyway tues will see some decisive decisions re treatment.I know vet is frustrated too at this stage.

hedgehog2

I would nit be surprised uf uts kennel cough.
The symptoms yiu describe are the exact sane as our fella had.
Took 7-8 weeks to fully clear,antibiitics won't work.
Keep the house warm,short walks and change his bed linen.
It will pass in its own time.

caitmb

Thanks. Appetite gone today,no sign of bowel action yet and coughed up bit of blood just now... Not happy campers here at all! Why do these things happen on bank hol wk ends?? Keeping close eye on him,bit loath to ring vet cos he prob thinks I/We are hypochondriacs.....

muddypaws

Did the vet mention lungworm at all? It is on the increase in Ireland and can present very similar to kennel cough initially.

caitmb

Totally forgot,yeah he did and gave him something for it. Cant remember what though as on at least 4th or 5th drug! I have it in my head that he swallowed something that got stuck,but vet thinks its unlikely. Nasal discharge is only coming out one side.Hoping this coughing blood is a one off though. Cant cope with more symptoms and no answers!

aonb

caitmb wrote: »

Thanks. Appetite gone today,no sign of bowel action yet and coughed up bit of blood just now... Not happy campers here at all! Why do these things happen on bank hol wk ends?? Keeping close eye on him,bit loath to ring vet cos he prob thinks I/We are hypochondriacs.....

Caitmb, since he seems to be deteriorating, I would call the vet - hopefully he has a 24 hour/emergency service?? Tuesday is a long way off for a little dog

(We took one of ours to the smashing vet (who thank g** has a 24 hr service) on a bank holiday weekend - vet kept him in, on a drip, phoned us to come back on the bank hol monday early a.m, the dog seemed better, and would we take him for a little walk with a dish to get a urine sample to run tests on - we felt like total idiots walking around car tyres in the car park with a kidney dish in 1 hand & dog on leash in other :P - he recovered fully!)

DBB

aonb wrote: »

Caitmb, since he seems to be deteriorating, I would call the vet - hopefully he has a 24 hour/emergency service?? Tuesday is a long way off for a little dog

+1
I too would be getting really concerned if there's blood coming up now, and I'd be inclined to get him to the vet as soon as you can, don't wait til Tuesday. If his lungs are under pressure, so is his heart, and he could weaken very quickly on you
Rule of thumb for a dog with breathing difficulties: keep the dog comfortably warm, but the air as cool as you can. So, if you have a fan, use it, and keep a window near him open. If he himself feels chilly because of it, stick a little coat on him, though it's probably warm enough right now to not have to do the latter.
A couple of drops of Olbas oil or Vicks on a cloth near his bed may help.
I feel for you and your friend with this, I really do. It's horrible seeing them sick and not being able to do much to help

caitmb

Thanks for advice and concern. Only one episode with blood,appetite back to normal ish. Sister happy to wait til tues for vet,he was here for few hrs with me and doesnt seem any worse,breathing ok etc although still coughing,runny nose and very lethargic. The a la carte R/C in me will be praying tonight that procedure tomorrow will yield some results....

caitmb

Meant to let those interested know Ted the bijon is well on the road to recovery! Almost 100% himself since last wk,thank God. His vet knocked him out again and did nasal wash out type thing,felt he may have inhaled something causing the green discharge. Huge amount of gunk removed and recovery almost immediate. Went ahead with planned appt with specialist next day just in case it was a blip but nothing found.

Anyway here's hoping he continues doing the bijon blitz for a long time to come! Thanks again for the input.