Our 16 month old boy developed a bit of a cough a few days ago (sort of like clearing the back of his throat), then this morning he went really flat, wouldn't eat and was weezing and panting but shivering at the same time. We took him to the vet and he had a temperature of 39.9oC. The vet said his chest sounds were clear but there was obvious pain when he breathed. He could hear pleuresy type sounds like his lungs were rubbing on his chest wall when he breathed. A big shot of painkillers/anti-fever and antibiotics later he was breathing a lot better and his temp is down to 39oC tonight but he's still coughing and pretty flat (although eating). Now our girl has developed the same cough.. although no fever yet (temp 39oC)

Has anyone had anything similar? They had kennel cough last year and it's not like that, it's not so much in the lungs as the throat. It's horrible watching them feel rotten and not being able to help

A picture of them when they're well to end it on a positive note:

I do hope your two lovely hounds are getting better.

We also had to take our lurcher Tousie to the vet this week with a cough. It actually turned out to be a throat infection. Her glands were also swollen. She had an antibiotic injection and is now on Ceporex tablets. She's getting better now but it certainly is taking about a week to get through her system. I think she's got a better time of it though than your hounds as she doesn't have a temperature. Get well soon.

Hi Sue and Hannah
Sorry to hear about your hounds. We haven't had the problem you have had but have had other coughing/lung issues in the past. Bree has calcifications in her lungs which we have no idea what has caused them. She used to have a very fast respiratory rate on rest which did concern us and lasted for nearly a year but that has settled a little. We keep an eye on her since her brother Yak died from pneumonia.
Lockie did have a morning cough at one stage which the vet put down to reflux which he gave us medications for and the next day he stopped Typical! That went on for 4 days beforehand.
Could they have picked something up from stagnant water like a dam or something? I always felt Bree's problem was from drinking skanky water from a water catchment.

Out of curiosity, does Toag whistle when he pants hard? When Lockie is running and playing hard he has a whistle, like his throat is constricted, quite odd.
I hope Toag and Aila get well soon

Thanks guys, They are definitely brighter this morning and Taog is back to running around, although still picky about his food and coughing. I think the antibiotics are starting to kick in. When we went to the vets last week for vaccinations there was a dog in the waiting room that had the same cough so mom took them to wait outside but they might have got it there??? Unfortunately it meant they missed out on the lure coursing day today, and it was the last one before we move. Poor Aila has been in training for weeks.

Never mind, they seem to be on the mend which is the important thing. I'm the same, I always worry about respiritory problems becasue that's what got Honour.

Have never heard Taog whistle, maybe Lockie has a loose flap of something in there which flops around?

Honour's situation was different. She had Pericardial Effusion which is fluid in the casing around the heart. The fluid builds up which stops the heart functioning properly which causes a build up of fluid in the lungs. The pericardial effusion was caused from an infection of some type. It was a shame that the vets didn't pick it up earlier as she could have been saved.
I'm so glad that they are responding to treatment.

Lovely picture of your deerhounds!
Hope they're getting better and better and soon be coursing again!

Thanks for that, I didn't know the details about Honour.. Poor girl.
I think our guys have sore throats from all the coughing, might have to make them some chicken soup to take to bed
Off to the vets this arvo to get some more drugs so we'll get an update then.

Pia, we are just about to move to 50 acres so I don't think they'll be lure coursing so much as chasing the real thing

Bundaleer wrote:



WOW!

Our dog is really sick. It was supposed to be a throat infection, but we took her back for an xray and it seems her heart is pressing up on her wind pipe. Apparently one of the valves has failed and her heart has grown massive to compensate. She is picking up a bit now that the drugs are working, but its awfully sad for us all. We are just having to make do with gentle walks around the canal. I think that this is quite common in dogs, she is on vetmedin for her heart and frusemide for the water retention. If anyone knows of any alternative therapy, we will consider anything if it makes her more comfortable.

How is Toag and Aila going?

So sorry Rob to hear about your dog. I hope the meds make her feel better and comfortable

Taog and Aila are both all better now and back to doing crazy zoomies around the paddock. They have one more day of antibiotics left but they seem to have stopped coughing all together which is good. We still have no idea what it was??

Rob, your poor girl must be feeling pretty miserable with all that. Will the meds fix the valve problem or is it going to have to be managed from now on? Keep us updated on her progress and I hope she gets better soon.

Hi Bundaleer
I'm afraid we had to have our Tousie put to sleep, its been about two weeks now. Unfortunately none of the medication seemed to work and in the last week we tried everything, but she just wouldn't eat and was just fading away. It was terribly sad, but the vet came out and we just had to let her go. The other dogs are quite down about it. The vet said it was inevitable, but we thought we would have more time. Tousie was a lovely dog, the best I've ever known. She would have had no life at all if she hadn't been rescued, and she had a great life, lovely walks and nice food. So no regrets.

So sad to hear! Thinking of you!

Have only just read the thread
am so sad to hear the news, what a lucky hound she was to of had you in her life
sending you hugs

Dr Poyner Wall once said to me she was then secretary of the UK club
You owe it to the hounds you have loved and lost to carry on
xx

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor puppy, It's easy to tell your self it's the right thing to do, but it's so much harder to actually do it and realise that it really is the end. My sympathy to your whole family and I hope your happy memories of your time together will soon replace the pain you are feeling now.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is never easy. Hugs to you and yours

feeling very guilty for only just now having read down the thread, and hence just discovering about your loss.
I know how terrible I felt after our first lurcher (deerhound whippet, we think) who we rescued had to be put down after a couple of weeks after being diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. Two months later I was still blaming myself and asking the vet if we had done the right thing, in giving her one extra day. But the reality was there was nothing we could do. Time is a healer, and soon the good memories are what remains.
Thinking of you
Vicky

Thank you Vicky. Things are much easier for us now. Actually life is simpler with just two dogs, but I'd have her back in an instant. She really was the best dog! The effect on the other two has been profound, but they seem more normal (normal for them) now. We had so many great times with Tousie and we have some wonderful photos..Just been looking through a few, here is one when of me and Tousie in 2006...

What a lovely photo she was a sweet looking girl

So sorry to hear your sad news, I've only just revisited this thread so did not realise. I expect you'll have plent of good days with your other dogs in the future when they get over things and that you'll never forget Touise.