Small introduction and question. (Sorry this is long)

[KarenN]

Hi, I am the mother of a wonderful boy by the name of Gus. He is a yellow lab/red healer mixed. He will be 16 years old in August. He started coughing about 5 days ago and it sounded like he had something caught in his throat. He eats good, he is alert and does not have feaver but his eyes are gunky. Now when he coughs, it sounds deep and he coughs up a slimy foam. At first this foam was white but last night after I gave him the antibiotic that I insisted the vet give me, it turned a cream colored. I am not impressed with the vet I took him to as she was wanting to give him his vacs and shots while he was sick. His BP was taken and it was high 141/114. She did not address this with us nor mention anything about how his heart and lungs sounded after she listened to them. All she talked about was running several tests. When told that we could not afford said test ( been there before with her, long story) she then condemned him to die. We were told she could give us antibiotic to give him in case it was an infection of some kind but she suggested us just giving him hospice care. I had to insist on the antibiotic when we were fixing to leave. I know he is old, I know the day will come when we will have to say goodbye but I am wondering if maybe he might have kennel cough? Our new neighbor that moved in next door has several dogs and she informed me last night that after she moved in, she lost one of her dogs and another showed the same symptoms as Gus. He coughed and threw up thick foam. He is alive still. Since we do not have a privicy fence now, they have been sniffing each other. Could he have caught something from her dogs? Kennel Cough maybe?
I am desperate and grabbing at straws, I welcome your expert opinions please.
Thank you

[Maggiesmom]

I would get a second opinion from another vet ASAP. Good luck, I hope you find out what is wrong.

[Traci]

See a new vet immediately, TODAY!

There are various conditions that can cause coughing, kennel cough is just one of them, other rule-outs would be asthma, embedded foreign body (i.e., bone fragment), infection, lung infection, heart disease, heartworm, etc. Your vet was actually being prudent to suggest testing on a 16-year-old dog, as testing is the only way to rule out vital organ disfunction (a full profile should be done on any senior dog on a yearly or twice-yearly basis anyway, to detect health problems early on and afford the best treatment approach). The coughing up foam could also be mistaken for bile from the stomach or GI tract....point is, there are various conditions that need to be ruled out by getting a blood profile done, other diagnostics such as x-rays, etc if necessary.

If your neighbor's dogs and your dog congregate on a frequent basis, it would be prudent to ensure all the dogs are up-to-date on bordetella vaccines, but the individual health status of each dog must be evaluated. In your case, vaccines shouldn't be given if your dog is suffering some other health condition. See a new vet TODAY, and ask about payment arrangements if possible. It really is in your dog's best interests to get bloodwork done ASAP.

[Mou Chat]

Hi Traci,
This is Donna. I sent this gal to you. I know she needs all the things you
suggest, but hasn't the resources to do all that. Do you think just a
blood panel or maybe just treatment for Kennel Cough? The dog was
tested for heart worms and is negative, so that is 1 good thing.

Thanks Traci, Donna

[Traci]

The problem is not knowing if the coughing and eye discharge are mimicing something more serious. Prescribing antibiotics only may not be a bad approach, but if there is an underlying health condition going on, the antibiotics are only going to be palliative while the health condition itself is going undiagnosed and treated, or worse, progressing.

The eye discharge is not common with bordetella, but combined with coughing and bile or foam, I suggest the dog is evaluated for something lodged in the throat, and bloodwork. Bloodwork can reveal organ disfunction, and can also rule in secondary bacterial infections, that may be the result of a primary condition.

The vet can break down the bloodwork to help reduce costs, but a senior (geriatric) profile is truly what I would recommend, particularly if it hasn't been done on this dog for a year or longer. Maybe sell something of value, ask a friend or family member for help until she can pay them back, etc.

My concern is that the condition may be progressing and may be going undetected/untreated, especially in a senior dog. A new vet can give a second opinion and discuss whether testing is truly necessary or not.

[KarenN]

Thank all of you for your replies and thank you Donna for injecting your message too. I will be trying to find a new vet on Monday to see what is going on with my Sweet Boy. I am calling around and talking to people. He is looking somewhat better today than he did yesterday, his nose is moist again and not pale looking, his eyes have cleard some and he is not coughing as much either. He seems to really be coughing a lot when he comes in the house. I steamed cleaned our carpet last week in the bedroom where his bed. I am washing all the linens and airing out his bed and pillows now. I am going to put his bed on the back porch because he does not cough that bad out there. I am wondering if maybe he is alergic to the cleaner? If not, I bet it does not help his breathing. We will see. I am open to blood work but you just have to know this vet to really know what I am talking about. She is so history. I will let you know what the new vet says when I find one and take him to them. Thank you again, Donna, Traci and Maggiesmom.

[KarenN]

He had his health check up less than a year ago, that is why I could not figure out why she wanted to do his shots again so soon.
I do not have any faith in this vet anymore and I intend to move on to another. I think I have found one that will work with me on the money near here and I am going to make an appointment with them.

As far as selling something of value, I have nothing of value that would bring in the kind of money this vet wants. As I said before, I am going to try to get him in to another vet. I will ask for the senior panel for him and a cbc.

Thank you again for your help.

[Traci]

Karen, did you in fact do the steam cleaning before Gus started coughing? Did he start coughing immediately afterward? If so, then this could be partly to blame, since steam-cleaning can throw about particles in the air, as well as strong irritants from the cleaning solution used.

However, you said he had been "pale"...mucous membranes should always be a healthy pink, never pale. Check his gums, if they are pale, you truly need to have him seen promptly, and ask the vet to pay particular attention to heart and lungs.

Don't use heavy cleaners in your home during this period, use mild detergents only, and don't use aerosols if possible, these can all be irritating in a coughing dog.

The antibiotics probably won't hurt, and you can give them for the full course your vet prescribed, but do find a new vet immediately, and opt for at least a new cursory exam, that includes a good oral health check, and attention to heart and lung sounds. Bloodwork is always recommended in senior pets presenting with any sudden symptom, ask the vet about breaking it down, etc.

[KarenN]

Traci, he coughed every now and then but did not start throwing up until after I cleaned my carpet. I have a Bissel Steam cleaner and used the Bissel fiber cleansing formular.
His gums and tongue were ok, which surprised me since he had tapeworm - his nose just look kind of dry and pale and his,excuse me, anus was kind of poochey and looked enlarged. Now take into consideration that he had tapes and the vet gave him5 tabs of droncit 34 mg to take care of the worms. He is taking SMZ-TMP 480 mg x2 daily. Today, his nose looks moist and darker and his anus looks tighter and not poochey and enlarged. He is coughing some but not throwing up and he really coughs bad when he comes in to drink water. I am moving everything, water. food dish, bed, and toys to the back porch, we have a screened in porch and he loves it out there. We sit out there a lot in the evenings so he will not be setting there alone all the time at night.
I will take your advice when I see the new vet next week and ask them to do the senior panel. This vet office has the reputation of helping people when they can't pay their bill. I can pay it, it is just that I don't have the full amount all at once.

[Traci]

I'm surprised the vet prescribed this antibiotic without having bloodwork done first, or a more thorough exam. If you could humor me, how much does your dog weigh? If under 65 pounds, the dose seems a bit high, please check the Rx label and note if it indeed says to give twice a day (that's high for this type of antibiotic), and you have to be cautioned about side effects: vomiting, diarrhea, dry eye syndrome with discharge, decreased appetite and increased thirst and drinking -- you MUST ensure your dog is drinking plenty of water while on this med. Bloodwork should be done if this antibiotic is to be given for an extended amount of time.

Don't wait any longer....if you can get an appointment with a new vet TOMORROW, that would be ideal, but if you absolutely cannot, make one Monday and not a day later. The coughing is really concerning, it could be nearly anything, but you need to find out.