Don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion!! - Couging at Night - read this

[Bobble Head]

I am Winston's mommy, I have posted a few threads on here regarding his coughing problem at night time.

To sum it up - after we had him groomed the first time, that night he had a terrible cough and than he threw up a white foamy stuff. And than the next night the same thing.

The white foamy stuff quit after a while but his cough has lasted a month now. His cough sounds like "cough, cough, yak, gag" and he only does it when he starts to sette down to go to bed.

His over-all health is 100% normal (eats, drinks, poops/pees, and plays like normal).

We took him to the vet the second night he had this cough. The vet told us it was nothing and that everything looked fine and felt fine in his throat. We took him back to the same vet about a week later because his cough was still the same. All the vet could say is yorkies are small breeds and that he will JUST have a cough. I demanded an ex-ray that visit but the vet said it looked normal.

So we took Winston home and figured we would just have to live with this cough.

But after about 2 weeks, we just couldn't take it any longer. Our poor little boy was suffering and we didn't believe in our guts that it was 'just because he was a small breed'.

Yesterday we took him to a different vet for a second opinion. This vet right away told us 3 things that he thought it could be and than he narrowed it down from there. First thing he mentioned was collapsed trachea but Winston wasn't showing all the systems for it, second was allergies but also he wasn't showing all the systems. Thirdly he said it could be tonsillitis, he said that Winston showed ' all the clinical systems' for it.

Right away his new vet showed us books on where his tonsils are and put Winston on a treatment plan.

The reason I'm telling everyone this is... DON'T BE AFRAID TO SECOND OPINIONS! I can't believe his first vet wasn't even willing to explore what it could be. He was just going to let poor Winston suffer.

We are switching vets now. And I will always trust my gut for now on.

[bchgirl]

Good for trusting your gut. As he grows and gets older...perhaps you'll never need your gut reaction again, but you will know when something is just NOT right.

Winston wants you to know....you get ice cream if you have tonsillitis.

[yorkieusa]

Yes. I'm not surprised. Muffin had trouble with tonsillitis. If it was really bad she had to get antibiotics. But if she got cold while sleeping, she'd invariably wake up with a little cough and I was supposed to give her liquid benedryl and that took care of it.

[Jeri Cunningham]

It is a good thing you say a second vet I hope your fur baby gets better.

[Bobble Head]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Yes. I'm not surprised. Muffin had trouble with tonsillitis. If it was really bad she had to get antibiotics. But if she got cold while sleeping, she'd invariably wake up with a little cough and I was supposed to give her liquid benedryl and that took care of it.

Yeah Winston is on antibiotics and crotizone. And it is soo funny - the crotizone gives him a ton of energy. We had to go on a VERY long walk last night just he would settle down to go to bed.

[Bobble Head]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Good for trusting your gut. As he grows and gets older...perhaps you'll never need your gut reaction again, but you will know when something is just NOT right.

Winston wants you to know....you get ice cream if you have tonsillitis.

ha ha... I'm sure Winston whispered that to you ; )

[bchgirl]

Originally Posted by Bobble Head

ha ha... I'm sure Winston whispered that to you ; )

Vanilla..the real kind.

Occassionally for a treat...I buy the ice cream in cups.

[Mom to Hot Rod]

I just switched vets not too long ago either. The first vet was good, but I was just never totally comfortable. Fortunately I found my old vet from many years ago. She had been practicing closer than my first vet to where I live now! Glad that Winston is better now.

[Bobble Head]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

Vanilla..the real kind.

Occassionally for a treat...I buy the ice cream in cups.

well unfortunatly we are against feeding human food to dogs. We are fairly strict on it. But we will buy him a new toy and some yummy healthy treats!!

[Bobble Head]

Originally Posted by Mom to Hot Rod

I just switched vets not too long ago either. The first vet was good, but I was just never totally comfortable. Fortunately I found my old vet from many years ago. She had been practicing closer than my first vet to where I live now! Glad that Winston is better now.

Thank you! I hope his med's kick in soon so he can have better nights!

[KimberlySRN]

I'm so glad your little one is doing better, and you sought a second opinion.

[chattiesmom]

I am so glad that Winston is feeling better and is on an appropriate treatment plan. And I am glad to hear that you are changing vets.

Thank you for your post - it serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to be a voice for our Yorkies.

[bruizersmummy]

So glad that you trusted your gut and got a second opinion.

If I wouldnt have gotten a second opinion on my daughter she would not be here today. After her health issues I will ALWAYS go with my heart.

[yorkieusa]

Keep up those long walks. They are good for both of you. Mine wears me completely out going for walks. That's just about all she ever wants to do! She's quite the socialite, too. Every neighbor who happens to be out in their yard gets a visit from Kacee.

[Bobble Head]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to give you an update on Winston's cough. He has been on his medicine for about a week and his coughing has almost completely disappeared

He is doing wonderful and has soo much energy now!

Thank you everyone for your posts