|
CHF and Tracea Collapse Hi, Not sure if ive posted about this before, but I can't seem to find one. My yorkie is 13 years old, we rescued him 4 years ago, and has had the CT before we got him. He was diagnosed also with CHF last October. He weighs 8lb, is on Vetmadin 1 tablet twice daily, frusomide 1/4 tablet once a day,(5mg) and Cardalis 1/2 tablet once a day.(5mg) He is also on no salt diet and i cook his own food. He has been doing well uptill the last week, when the coughing has got worse. He coughs when he moves sometimes now, during the day, and has terrible coughing fits at night, to the point now, where i am getting up with him and sitting with him for an hour or so until he has calmed down. Apart from that, he is absolutely fine, no other problems at all. We are also trying Benadryl, the childrens version, he has just under 5 ml in the morning and then 2 ml at about 10pm. I don't think it is doing any good though. Is there anything else we could try, to make him more comfortable and break this awful cycle? |
Is a cough suppressant a possiblity? |
my vet has never mentioned a cough suppressant at all, all she said was there was nothing more they could do for him as far as meds go. They won't xray him, as he is too old and unstable! He still plays, he still eats, he still chases cats (which he shouldn't), so he is still active apart from night time is horrendous. We are trying to limit his excersise, and pick him up when he gets too excited by someone at the door. Maybe here in the uk, the vets don't do cough suppressants, but will ask next time and see a different vet at the practice x |
took my little old man to the vets today, asked them for some cough suppressant, and she wouldn't give me any! She said, "it can give a dog neurological problems and depression" along with something else,(can't remember). Instead she gave him antibiotics...sigh.... Very disappointed to say the least............. |
That's outrageous! My 15 yo is on cough suppressants for life. Your dog doesn't need to suffer and your vet needs to be fired... |
I know! I wasn't happy at all, and if i had the money, i would go and find a different vet for a 2nd opinion. Maybe things are different over in the states, but in the UK its very hard to get Robitisuns childrens dm over here, so I have been and bought Benylin Children's chesty cough medicine for him. Is this the right one? I do hope it works and gives him some relief. |
i also use a small humidifier with a couple of drops of organic eucalyptus oil in it and my Yorkie seems helped by it. I don't understand why your vet doesn't understand that your dog's cough is making him uncomfortable and prescribe some medication. My dog is on hycodan pills and temiril-p. You could ask about that. I have not seen any side effects in my dog with 3x day hycodan and 2x day temiril-p plus his vet also said bronchodilators and inhalers could be added. Call the vet back and make the case that she's not using her thinking cap... |
Without knowing if the cough is because of the collapsed trachea or CHF it is hard to treat. I don't know why a chest x-ray would be taxing for a dog. It would be helpful to see how enlarged the heart is and if there is fluid in the lungs. I see she is already on a diuretic furosemide which will help pull fluid from the lungs. Maybe an increase of that med would help. If cough is a result of compression of the airways by the enlarged heart, and not from pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) then prescriptions Hydrocodone or Butorphanol may be helpful. If the coughing is due to collapsed trachea then it would not be wise to give a cough suppressant because the coughing is what opens up the airway so they can breathe. Try to keep her weight down and not let her get hot. |
I just read several articles on collapsed trachea and many do support using cough suppressants. |
The Use of Dextromethorphan (Benylin, Robitussin) in Dogs and Cats Here's an article on using Benylin it says only use if cough is dry, not wet. Not sure how to determine this in a dog. I guess if it sounds like he is strangling trying to rid airway of mucus then that would be wet. It also says not to use with antihistamines (Benadryl) so let that clear his body first. |
Thanks for replies, having tried benadry, benylin and robitussin(dry cough one) nothing has helped a great deal at all. So, we are now taking him for a second opinion to an animal hospital, see what they say. If there is nothing they can do, then we have to make the heart wrenching decision of when to end his suffering. It really fustrates me, as like now, he is resting, he has been having a play, he is eating, drinking, and trotting around the garden! He is alert in himself and has no other signs of his conditions, apart from this dam coughing!! Sad times............... |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
just got back from vets and they said they can do a non invasive xray on him tomorrow, so will know more tomorrow night, she is confident that it is his trachea and not his heart that is causing the coughing, so depending on severity, they may be able to help with medication... Here's hoping!! |
Quote:
Hope you are able to find meds that will give your little buddy some relief! |
quick update, Gizmo has had 2 xrays done today without sedation. It does show that his heart is responding well to the medication he is on, and his lungs are fine. His heart is slightly enlarged, and the coughing is caused by trachea collapse, how severe it is, he couldnt tell. They have however, put him on Codeine phospate syrup for us to try for a week, then he goes back for a check up to see if there is any progress. They also said, that there are other avenues to explore if this doesn't work. They have a qualified herbalist, and also a cardiologist, so there is help there for him. I am SOOO pleased that we went for a second opinion, and needless to say, we have now left our other vets and stuck with this one.... Thank you everyone for your replies and suggestions, there much appreciated! xx |
I'm so glad that you got the second opinion. We use the hycodan pills and I was told that in some cases you have to use it 3-4 times a day. In our case it helped but we had to add Temiril-P. Of course there are other avenues. I'm glad you didn't put him to sleep over that last vet's advice!! Also, I have found that elevating Barney's food and water to about 4-5" off the floor has really cut down on coughing - he had been coughing when eating and that made him inflamed. |
Very happy to hear this! I have had a few yorkies over the years with collapsed tracheas of different degrees. I had never heard of not medicating them. Thanks for updating and please keep us posted on him! |
I know this is only his 2nd full day on this cough syrup, but at the moment, there is no change in him at all. He is on 1ml twice a day. Does it usually take a while for it to get into his system, or should we have been seeing some change by now? Im also having terrible trouble trying to get it down him lol, he puts up such a fight! Thinking maybe i will have to put it in some soup, as ive tried the favourite food, and he won't eat it grrr lol x |
If it is Hycodan, sometimes they need something else. I have used various meds for this condition. Torbutrol works, but tends to make them pretty sleepy. Sometimes a small dose of prednisone is needed. I also had one who needed a tranquilizer to relax. Also, I have used Lomotil ... it sometimes works. It is all trial and error. Try to make medicine time, treat time. Sometimes giving them a treat immediately after helps. |
I made the decision today to stop giving Gizmo his codeine phosphate cough syrup. It hasn't done anything for him, and tbh, i think its made him worse. I will be taking him back to vets when they re open after holidays on Tuesday, and if nothing can be done for him, then it will be time to let him go. Its not fair on him, he is coughing most of the time he moves, which he wasn't doing 4 days ago. The 'goose' honk, is awful, especially at night, he seems to get into a spasm and can't stop! It can last from 10 mins up to an hour, and it just isn't fair on him. Even though the vet has said he isn't suffering, surely he must be.... I know when i get a cold and im constantly coughing, it hurts like hell!! Anyway, will see what the vet says. Much love x |
I am so sorry. I do totally understand as I have had dogs that were that bad. It is a horrible condition. I do think that your vet should perhaps try a couple of other meds first (if you are willing). There are some that will help sometimes...but once they are as bad as you are describing, it really comes down to time. Will be thinking of you. |
Back to the vets tonight, and they have now put him on prednicare (steroid), half a tablet twice a day (5mg). She said it would take between 2-5 days for us to see a sign of whether they are working or not. If they don't, she said that we can go down the bronchal dilater route if needed. I really hope these tablets do their best lol. Gizmo in himself is fine now, the day after we stopped his cough suppressant(sunday), he coughed 24/7, just didn't seem to stop, it was awful. On the monday, he was still coughing until 9.30am, then stopped, and he was like that for most of the day until late evening when the cough returned, and as usual, carried on throughout the night. The same was for Tuesday(today), coughed until mid morning, then nothing until come to bed time. I know its more of a night time thing with collapsed trachea, but i don't half miss my bed lol, as i have to get up with him and sleep downstairs so as not to disturb the rest of the house! Lets hope that these tablets work... x |
Oh I hope so. Mention this to your vet: I had a pup with CT who often had extreme issues at night time. My vet made up a mix of torbutrol and acepromazine in an injection which I could give to him when he got really bad. Ask your vet what he/she thinks of something like this. It is a very tiny injection, easy to give...and it will help him sleep and not cough. |
Quick update: Unfortunately, we had to let our beloved Gizmo go last wednesday. I am absolutely heartbroken. I feel like part of my heart has been ripped out. And i just wish i could have one last hug and sloppy kiss from him. I know we did the right thing, and he is now in a better place. But it still hurts like hell. Thank you for all your support x |
I am sorry for your loss :( |
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, little angel Gizmo. |
I am so sorry for your loss. :( RIP Gizmo |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:14 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use