[Barney's mom]

Hello Everyone, I'm so glad I found this forum. My new little guy "Barney" has had health problems ever since we picked him up. He's had Kennel Cough since 8/04/05. The doctor put him on an antibiotic and a bronchiodilator since that time. He seemed to be getting better, but still has the cough. I took him to our regular vet which is 60 miles from our home, but I love her and I thought it was time that she saw him. She listened to his lungs and immediately said he had pneumonia. The vet that prescribed the meds said his lungs sounded better. She took an xray and her findings were: He has a 50% narrowing of his trachea and his heart is swung over to the left indicating a collapsed lung lobe. He has patchy pneumonia in other parts of his lung and probably a consolidating pneumonia L. middle lung love. She said he needed an immediate tracheal wash with cytology, culture and sensitivity and hospitalization, IV fluids and abs, bronchiodilators, nebulization, coupage. She recommended that we return him. He is eating and gaining weight and is active. I called the lady we got him from and she agreeded to take him back, but she doesn't seem to think that this is all that bad. She said that the cough will last about 5 weeks and we are going into our 4th week. She is paying the vet bill and seems very caring. She and her vet said that this is the normal process he needs to go through and will be better. She also said he doesn't need the tracheal wash at this time. I'm so confused I don't want to give him up, but the doctor said that he will require lifetime healthcare. Has anyone out there gone through this with their Yorkie. I trust the lady that we bought him from, but I'm scared. I have agreed to keep him for now. I am to call her on Friday and he will see their doctor again. In the meantime he will continue on his meds. Help!