My puppy is still coughing!

[Kendraleigh]

I got my puppy Sam when he was 10 wks old and he had a runny nose, but no coughing. It was during my graduation so I didn't have time to go to a vet. 2 days later when I was moving home he started coughing and wasn't eating or drinking so I immediately brought him to the emergency vet b/c it was a Sunday. They diagnosed him with kennel cough and possible pneumonia b/c his chest didn't sound too good. They kept him over night and then he was transferred to my vet and spent 2 more nights there on IV and antibiotics. He was showing improvement so they let me take him home, but 3 days later he got worse so I brought him to the breeder's vet all the way in Queens, NY (I live in South Jersey but it was free!) and they kept him for 4 days on IV and nebulizer treatment. They sent him home with cholorphenocal (not sure how to spell it) which my vet at home said isn't really used anymore and if it is they use it on kittens. By this point he wasn't as congested and his nose was cleared up. Anyway once he was finished that antibiotic he was still coughing so I took him back to my vet and she put him on Clavamox (amoxicillin) and Antirobe Aquadrops for 2 wks and he was still coughing after that. Finally she put him on the Cefa-drops w/ the Antirobe Aquadrops for another 2 wks plus Robitussin without the DM (she said to get the one that did not have 2 letters after like CF or DM, just Guafenisin in it b/c it's an expectorant). So after the Cefa-drops he's still coughing and I just brought him to the vet this past Thursday and she said that b/c he's been on so much medicine that we'll take him off for a while and see what happens, but to still keep him on the Robitussin. I've been giving him that at night and he gets up at 3:33 on the dot every night coughing. Sam coughs mostly at night and in the morning and then occasionally during the day. It is definitely not when he is active. It's like when he's playing he's preoccupied so he won't cough, but the minute he lays down it bothers him. My vet said that his last chest x-ray showed some fluid, but it could just be scarring. I don't think Sam has collapsed trachea b/c he doesn't cough when he's active and he was diagnosed with pneumonia. I was finally able to get him his 2nd round of shots at 4 months old b/c they couldn't do it when he was sick. I know exactly how you're feeling right now. I still don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is definitely a huge improvement from when I first got him. He is so playful and eats like a hog. You would never know he was sick. I'm supposed to go back to the vet in 3 wks for more shots and a check-up but once the medication is out of his system and if he starts coughing more I have to bring him back. I was actually nervous today b/c he was coughing more than usual and they say sometimes all the fluid isn't cleared with pneumonia and the infection can come back. I'm just trying to take it day by day and pray because he is my little baby. I was thinking of going to a different vet for a second opinion, but he has been to 3 already and they all said the same thing. Hopefully this will just take time for it to go away. They do say kennel cough is a virus and will go away on its' own. I just read the advertisement for "Kennel-Koff." Has anyone had any experience with this? It sounds like it might work?

[taje]

I haven't had any experience with the Kennel Koff medicine but Pita did have Kennel Cough when I got her and it stuck with her for at least 2 months, it did eventually go away. In the meantime she was on 2 rounds of antibiotics and robitussin, she would seem like she was getting better then she would sound worse. It sucked.

It did eventually go away for good and now she's great. I don't even know if any of the medicine helped. It just really has to run it's course.

Be patient, it will pass I know it's hard cuz they sound so sick although they don't act sick!

[Kendraleigh]

Thanks Taje. That made me breathe a big sigh of relief. He started coughing May 22nd w/ an upper respiratory infection which turned into pneumonia. It's now July 12th and he's still coughing so maybe b/c he had other factors with the kennel cough it will take longer. Hopefully once the 2 month mark comes he will be better. I'm glad your puppy's better too! Do you remember which robitussin you used?

[taje]

I think it was just childrens robitussin, I didn't give it to her alot cuz it really didn't make much difference.

I used to hate that cough!!! It sounds like they are gagging and you keep waiting for something to come up but with Pita nothing ever did!

I hope your baby feels better soon!

[Kendraleigh]

I know I can't stand hearing him do that. I feel so bad for him. He mainly does it at night around the same time 3-4am. It's kind of weird actually that he wakes up the same time to cough every night. I have him on robitussin that just has the guafenisin in it which helps w/ chest congestion since he had pneumonia. My vet said his lungs look better but there's either some fluid left over that she sees or it's scarring. She's not sure though. He's been off antibiotics right now since Friday and he's still pretty much the same. Last night he coughed more than usual which is why I called my vet today to let her know. I also have an appointment Saturday at another vet just to get some more opinions. So we'll see what happens. I just take it day by day. Thanks so much for your help. I don't know what I would do without this site!

[orinskye]

toby had kennel cough too.... i have heard of cases lasting up to 4 months before toby's lasted a couple months also.... i know it sounds horrible, but it is like any other virus, like when you get a cold, only this one is a little hard to shake.........

[Kendraleigh]

Yeah it seems like Sam's will last longer than 2 months also because there's only 1 week left until it's been 2 months and it doesn't seem like the cough is going anywhere. I'm just glad he is ok otherwise. He seems to be doing well today. Hasn't coughed more than once since I have been home from work. We'll see what happens tonite.

[orinskye]

when toby had his cough it went away really quickly....... it got less often, (but it was still bad........) and then one day my fiance and i were all like "hey, hes not coughing anymore"........ the cough itself lasts a long time, but i thought it was going to be getting less and less and less until he didnt do it at all anymore.... it wasnt like that at all, it was "a little bit less...... then....... where did the cough go? ".......lol.
good luck, i hope he feels better
How are youre nights by the way????? that was always teh worst because every time he woudl cough he would wake up my fiance and i......

[Kendraleigh]

I am definitely waiting for that day! My nights are good b/c my mom lets him sleep in her room since my room has too many drafts. She is a light sleeper so she hears him and it's always around 3-4am and then that's it. It's like before he goes to bed and then when he's trying to settle in. I only give him the Robitussin at night but I don't think it even works b/c it only helps w/ chest congestion. It doesn't control the cough. I'm going to ask my vet tomorrow if I can switch to the one for cough and chest congestion.

[orinskye]

i got the robitussin cough and cold childrens/baby medication....... why werent you told to get the cough one ?

[Kendraleigh]

I'm not sure. I think it's b/c she wants him to still cough since he had pneumonia and probably needs to make sure all the mucus comes out.

[orinskye]

Originally Posted by Kendraleigh

I'm not sure. I think it's b/c she wants him to still cough since he had pneumonia and probably needs to make sure all the mucus comes out.

ahhhhhhhhhh......... that would make sense

[Kendraleigh]

Well I think it's safe to say...something must have happened in the past 2 days b/c Sam has stopped the coughing. He has done it once in the last 48 hrs and we are so happy!! I can't believe how it just stopped out of no where. Especially since the night before it was terrible. I guess he had to get the last of it out and then POOF it was gone!!! Thanks for all your help. Now you will be seeing happier posts from me

[orinskye]

Originally Posted by Kendraleigh

Well I think it's safe to say...something must have happened in the past 2 days b/c Sam has stopped the coughing. He has done it once in the last 48 hrs and we are so happy!! I can't believe how it just stopped out of no where. Especially since the night before it was terrible. I guess he had to get the last of it out and then POOF it was gone!!! Thanks for all your help. Now you will be seeing happier posts from me

lol.............. told ya so *sing song voice*

[Kendraleigh]

I think I spoke too soon b/c after almost 3 days of no coughing Sam is at it again. I'm bringing him back to the vet today at 215 just to have his lungs and breathing checked out. If they sound ok then I don't want to put him on anymore medicine. It seems like the cough is suddenly more often than usual, especially yesterday. I'm going to ask her if I can give him a different Robitussin b/c the one I use doesn't control coughing. Maybe it's like you said orinskye, it doesn't sound like it gets better or worse it just keeps persisting and then 1 day it will be gone. I'm hoping that is the case b/c it's officially been 2 months and he's still the same. He's still eating and playing all day when I get home from work so it's not like he cares about the coughing. I just hate to hear it b/c I feel bad for him. Steve, I was wondering how Lola has been? Did you ever get that Kennel-Koff and did it work? Thanks for your help!