Coughing dog - any thoughts? ( Sorry its a bit lengthy)

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Littlest greyhound (aged 7) has been intermittently and infrequently coughing since January. It started off as a dry-sounding cough, most often when she has just woken up, however she would cough a couple of times and that was it (once or twice a week at most).

I took her to the vets last month as I suspected a heart murmur, but it turns out her heart is clear. She is eating and drinking normally, showing no exercise intolerance, is not losing weight, and is apparently healthy in every other way.

The cough seems to have got slightly more frequent recently, so I was going to take her back to the vets today but she hasn't coughed all day so I postponed it. I spoke to the vet on the phone and she has said it could be any number of things - she has suggested possibly doing a chest x-ray and doing littlest greyhound's teeth in case she has a gum/throat infection. The vet did say that this was all speculative though, and it might not show anything!

I know it isn't kennel cough - none of my other three have coughed at all. Any thoughts or ideas? Would you leave well alone (on the basis she is showing no other symptoms at all) or would you x-ray?
 
Lungworm? Red lab had random cough we assumed was grass seed related - sneaky git likes digging next to toys with his mouth and chucking bits of turf. Strictly forbidden so Mr sneaky waits until humans are distracted by difficult bit of "path" to dig..

Was persistent but responded initially to abs/nsaids but never went away so scoped but turned out to be lungworm. Dog fine now.

He's wormed consistently but wasn't necessarily done for that every time. Insured and OH is a vet hence odd order of doing things. Good old diagnostic assumptions;
 
Ah ha well done, you have reminded me of the one thing the vet and I discussed that I'd forgotten about! I will worm her this weekend, just got to pop to the vets and get some Milbemax - thanks :) :)
 
blackcob said:
There's an in-house test for lungworm available now, only been around since late last year I think, and pretty cheap (ours is under £20). :)
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Would it be sensible to have a test done? I was going to worm them anyway as they are probably about due, but I'd get the test done first if that gave me an answer :)
 
I thought the blood test was for both kinds - nothing is ever simple is it?! :p

Milbemax is now licensed for lungworm treatment as well but only when dosed monthly. I use Advocate.
 
It doesn't transfer dog to dog but presumably they have all had the same exposure. That's if it is lungworm at all! :p Would it be cheaper to have a written prescription and buy in bulk online?
 
Advocate is a sensible first course of action, if it does not resolve it then the dental would be a good next step as it is fairly common for a blade of grass to be stuck in the back of the throat causing the cough
 
They have all been Advocated today, so watch this space - many thanks for the very helpful comments and advice :) :)

ETA - I should have said, I totally agree with what people have said, if this doesn't sort things then she will go in for a dental/x-ray to see what is going on
 
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