Advice on possible COPD or chronic bronchitis
 

Hi all, my Chibi is now 14.5! He usually very energetic and loves long walks. Just this Sunday he couldn't walk his usual long walk. In the last 2 weeks I had noticed that he was coughing more often and this past weekend noticed that his breathing has been more rapid than usual so we took him to the vet on Monday. He had an exam, CBC and an X-ray. They prescribed Doxycycline (antibiotic) and Hydrocodone/Homatropine.

Well, the CBC was normal and the X-ray after examined by a specialist (radiologist?) revealed a bit more damage than is normal for older dogs. They think that he may have chronic bronchitis or COPD. While his heart looked normal they though just maybe at one angle it could be enlarged but the vet basically thought it was probably OK. Anyway, we were referred make an appointment at another larger hospital to have a fluoroscopy/endoscopy, and an airway wash and my vet would send over his records as well.

It seems that we can't get an appointment for a month. Our vet told us to get an appointment within about a week and if not to go through emergency. The hospital told us that we could go through emergency but they can't guarantee that he would be admitted. I'm worried about waiting a long time. I wonder how quickly these conditions can get worse. We could go to other places but the hospital that we would like to bring him to is excellent and the other places I don't trust as much.

Has anyone has experienced COPD or chronic bronchitis with their baby? Any advice?

Thank You! :hearts-xx

Background:
I think this unfortunately has been going on for some time. He has had a cough which sounds like a cat coughing up a furball for about a year but I think that the vets thought that it was his trachea cough. So I thought that too. This summer he seemed to cough more often again I told the vet. They didn't want to prescribe anything for it. I wish I had asked for an x-ray a long time ago!

There is no way to know if it will stay the same or get worse. Have you spoken with your vet about waiting the four weeks?

Plan on talking to the vet today
 

Thanks for the advice. We definitely don't want to wait. I will talk to my vet today. She mentioned other options for the referral.

Oh good! Keep us posted please.

Will be able to get earlier care
 

My vet is going to call the hospital to see if she can get us an appointment sooner and get back to us. If no she said to go through emergency and they would do at least an initial consult and could schedule the diagnostics after and would likely to be sooner than 3 weeks.

My friend who works at the hospital said that they would start his treatment right away even if he would have to wait for a later appointment. And she told us to schedule an appointment and be on the cancellation list to get on the books.

I'll let everyone know how it turns out (diagnosis ect.) because the information will likely be useful to others.

Thank you:love:

I am so happy to hear things are moving along.

Yes, always good to have these stories on YT for people looking for information. Thank you!

Keeping you and your Chibi in my thoughts.

Update
 

Thank you LadyJane.:) Today we brought Chibi to the emergency vet. The poor thing only had 92% oxygenation. (They tested him with a pulse oximeter.) They said that they like to see 98-100%. Good thing we didn't wait!

They will give him supplemental oxygen and a bronchodilator and keep him overnight. They will be doing more diagnostics. Probably will take another X-ray and schedule a fluoroscopy.

Poor baby......I am sure he is feeling better with the oxygen. I hope they can get a diagnosis and some meds that hopefully will help him.

Good luck

Thank you
 

We are still awaiting the diagonosis. The doctor has to do more tests. Please keep us in your prayers.:love:

Still waiting & getting scared
 

They haven't been able to find a reason yet or a treatment that works. It seems that they just keep taking tests before they will start a new treatment. His lung x-ray looks worse after this weekend although his oxygen levels have remained stable in the oxygen cage. We are getting scared that soon it will be too late.

Any advice? Has anyone gone through this? Please him in your prayers.:love:

Is he at a general vet or a specialist?

Vet
 

The vet is probably a general vet but is working with cardiologist and other specialists at a university animal hospital. They have access to probably all equipment and can do tests and can interpret the results on the premises. :love:

What tests have they done? Did they do a flouroscopy? When they say lungs are worse, what are they seeing? Pneumonia? Something else?