How can I help him breath better?

[chuey]

Hello everybody! First of all, let me thank anybody who offers any assistance thanks in advance. I am really worried about my baby Chuey!
He is sick and I am desperate to find him another vet. He got the bordatella vacc. about 10 days ago and started with a runny nose, now really runny and congested, about 5 days after. Discharge is clear, when he can get it out. Eating and drinking normal. He's going on 7 days like this and I don't know what to do. The benadryl they told me to give him is not doing anything for him. Vet says may just be how he breaths. I just got him two weeks ago. He was 12 wks old then and weighed 14 oz! He is 16 wks today and weighs 1lb 3 ozs!! I think the Bordatella was too much for him. Going to a vet a friend recommended tomorrow.

PLEASE HELP!!

Hoping to find relief soon in CA..... if anybody can offer any help I would really appreciate it!

[marcerella02]

Merry Christmas! i know NOTHING about this but if i was in your position.. i would try things similar to what i would do for a baby?? does he seem congested?? can you buy one of those things they use for babies when they are congested that... well.. more or less sucks the snot out?? i know it really helps.. they are usually blue... you know what i'm talking about?? can you also run the hot shower for him and let him breath in the air.. might help loosen things up.. i know he dons't have a "cold" persay.. but that is what i would be trying until i could get to a vet.. he is so tiny i woudlnt' try giving him anything.. and don't just let the vet tell you "That is the way he breathes" as his mom you know something is wrong... stick to your guns... keep us posted!!

[chuey]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. I will get one of those blue aspirators today! I will try the shower thing too and see if that works also. I'm just afraid that from getting the bordatella vacc., he got bordatella! We'll see what the other vet says tomorrow. You are right, we have the mama instincts when it comes to our precious babies, and we know when somethings wrong! Thanks again and Merry Christmas! Chuey and I appreciate it!

[marcerella02]

aspirator!! that's the word... i think you might want to consider getting a vet that has experience with small breeds... you little guy is VERY tiny... layla is 5 lbs and has horrible reactions to vaccines... so i can imagine what your little boy goes through... he doesn' actually need the Kennel Cough unless you are going to board him.. i was actually advised against the shot... and when he gets his other needles... ask if you can space them out over a few days instead of getting a huge dose all at once... this really helps reduce the bad reactions

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by chuey

Hello everybody! First of all, let me thank anybody who offers any assistance thanks in advance. I am really worried about my baby Chuey!
He is sick and I am desperate to find him another vet. He got the bordatella vacc. about 10 days ago and started with a runny nose, now really runny and congested, about 5 days after. Discharge is clear, when he can get it out. Eating and drinking normal. He's going on 7 days like this and I don't know what to do. The benadryl they told me to give him is not doing anything for him. Vet says may just be how he breaths. I just got him two weeks ago. He was 12 wks old then and weighed 14 oz! He is 16 wks today and weighs 1lb 3 ozs!! I think the Bordatella was too much for him. Going to a vet a friend recommended tomorrow.

PLEASE HELP!!

Hoping to find relief soon in CA..... if anybody can offer any help I would really appreciate it!

That is way to young for Bordetella and it is not recommended for Yorkies anyway as about 95% of the time, they come down sick. Too late now but what may help is a Vicks Vaporub steam.
Years ago I had a dog that got kennel cough, he was coughing and quite congested and that is mostly what cleared it up. YOu have to be careful of it developing into a secondary infection such as a bacterial infection or worse, pneumonia.
For a Vaporub steam, you can get either the liquid made for it or a jar of the stuff. Boil water with some salt. Put the VapoRub(1 tsp for about a quart boiled steaming water) in to the water put a huge towel over your head with the pup under the towel with you and you will both be breathing in the vapours which there should still be steam coming up from it. It will help clear him a lot. I recommend you stay under with him to monitor him and also know if it is getting too hot under there. Stay under about 10 minutes. Careful he doesn't reach out his front legs hit the rim of the pot or bowl you have the stuff in and flip it on both of you and be careful you don't knock it over on yourself either.
Do this 3 or 4 times a day.
Email me privately if you wish at loriben@shaw.ca if you need anything further.

[feminvstr]

Bordatella vaccinations can also cause the virus...and or the side effects. IMHO your vet should have never given such a young pup this shot, I dont recommend them before the age of 6 months.

unfortunatley it can take 2 weeks to months to clear up and is contagious to other dogs in the home, its like whooping cough in humans.

I dont know of anything that will help his breathing besides cough suppressants or by keeping the humidity high in your home. Try a humidifier or let your pet in the bathroom when you take a shower or a bath. The warm steam will soothe the pups breathing passages.

short outdoor walks may help clear the airways and help him breathe better, but only use a halter or body harness never a collar.

Be sure to monitor your baby, a severe case of kennel cough can result in pneumonia.

hope this helps
happy holidays

[Patti]

Cali has kennel cough when I got her and gave it to my older pom. They both were on 3 rounds of antibiotics and it took 3 months to clear up. I took them in to the vet regularly to check their lungs to make sure pneumonia didn't develop. I hope the new vet works out.

[lovmyyorkie]

I just PM you with good vet info. and ER Pet Clinic in case you need to take your baby to one or call them.

I hope this are not too far from you.

Best Wishes to you and Chuey!

[LuvMySissy]

Sissy also contracted Bordatella from her intranasal Bordatella innoculation. She wasn't as small as your pup - right at 2 lbs at 14 weeks old.

Your pupr needs to be on antibiotics for this - not just Benedryl. See another vet as soon as possible. It took a full month of meds for Sissy to get over this. She will not be getting a Bordatella vaccine again.

Please also be very careful with his other puppy vaccines. They should be given only one at a time, using a cat needle (because of his small size), spaced at least two weeks apart, and watched carefully afterward. Unless you are in an area where Lepto is prevelant, ask your vet NOT to give that as many pups have severe reactions.

Good luck to you and your little guy. Please keep us posted on how he is doing.

[chuey]

Hello All!

Merry Christmas!

Thank you so much for your reply about Chuey! I did take him to the er and the Vet recommended he stay there due to having pnuemonia! I could not believe my ears! I was horrified, devistated, and then relieved. Thank God it was not something worse, thank God I had and answer, and thank God we were gonna get help! He was doing better, (saw him when I left), from being in the oxygen chamber. The weighed only 1.02 lbs! He weighs less than I thought. They also took xrays. I was so ignorant about giving Chuey his vacc. I did not know that he did NOT need the bord. vacc at his age. The orig. Vet, which we will never go to again @ Banfield-Petsmart, acted like the bordatella in the 1 lb. guy who at the time was 12 wks, was no big deal. My fault. This Vet is much better. He is going to stay @ that animal hospital for 2 days and will need some antibiotics for at least 10 days the dr. said. He also said the pnuemonia was not very severe, its just starting and he should be just fine. I am really hoping that this is going to pass and that he does not have any left over symptoms from this. I can't believe he was this sick! He is so strong and has been such a trooper! I am truly amazed and inspired by him. I am in pieces over this, so I really appreciate your support.

It is going to cost a very pretty penny, however, he is worth it. I will sell my motorcycle for him if I have to! Please keep us in your prayers and thanks again for all your kind words!!

Raquel and Baby Chuey!

[Patti]

I am so glad you got him in to the vet in time. He should respond quickly with the right care now and be home with you soon. I know CAli was so sick her first 6 months and mostly stays at the er vet, but at least I knew she was getting the right care. Please keep us posted.

[LuvMySissy]

Raquel - I am so glad you took little Cheuy in and he is getting the care he needs. It is always such a helpless feeling when our babies are sick!!

Little Cheuy should make a full recovery and he'll be home before you know it. If you have any questions at all regarding vaccines or anything else - this is a great place to start. Feel free to PM me at any time. I'm not an expert, but I've been through a few things with Sissy and I'll give you all the help I can.

Big hugs to you and Sissy sends you kisses till Cheuy is back home-
Jodie & Sissy

[lovmyyorkie]

Hi Raquel,

I was just wondering how Chuey was today?

I hope all is well, please come back and give us an update.

Oh, one thing the vets didn't tell me is that when they have been in the oxygen cage, they come out a little dizzy and feet unstable.... so don't be scare and do not leave him on the couch or bed not for a second. If he jumps off he will brake a bone, it takes a few hours to wear off.

Hope all is well!!!



Baby Chuey

[chuey]

Hello Everybody!

How are you? Hope everybody is doing ok and recovering from all that Christmas food! You all know what Christmas was like for me, so hope you had fun for me! I called the Vet today and was unable to go and see Chuey because they were too busy, and then I had to go to work in the evening. I did get to speak with the Dr. twice though. He said that Chuey was about the same, resting a lot and eating well! Two very good signs right? He also said Chuey could come home tomorrow. It's a blessing that I am going to be off from my full-time till Jan 8 to be home to care for him.

The medications he is on and is going to need to continue for a total of ten days are Amikacin (oral) and Ampicillin (injectable). The Dr. has asked me quite a few times already if I'm going to be ok with giving Chuey his shot twice a day. I told him I would be ok with that. He needs to take them twice daily because he too small for large doses of any meds. However, Dr. said the Ampicillin has a side affect of affecting the liver. Chuey's live count of some kind, can't remember the name is low right now. Dr said it could be the meds, or a early sign of something wrong with his liver, but more than likely the meds. He said he would stop them immediately if Chuey's liver count was going too low. I felt better about that, but still really nervous. I wish there was so much more I could do for him.

I am really nervous and praying that Chuey is going to be ok. I am focused on getting everything ready for his return. My husband initiated a major clean-up in the house today in prep. for Chuey's return: clorox whip everything, mop, wash all blankets, (even ours that he crawls on!), vaccum, the whole nine! It was the sweetest thing ever! I was really touched about his concern that Chuey not come in contact with any leftover germs that might be hanging around.

Well, I know I've made you read a lot and I really appreciate you taking the time to give me advice and help me out. You have all been such a wonderful support system, don't know what I would've done without you! I will post more tomorrow, hopefully with Chuey back in my arms!! Thank you!

By the way, I added pics to my profile since the day I signed up and I am not able to see them. Can you guys see Chuey's pic? Weird....

[lovmyyorkie]

Hi Raquel,

Thank you for the update on Chuey.

Your hubby sounds like he has a soft spot for doggies this is great!


I don't see his picture, keep trying