Coughing

[Chuffy99]

She’s a 10 year old springer spaniel with a long vet history
Has approximately 60% of her lungs from a grass seed abcess at 3 but bar she is noisy when out of breath no problem
She started to cough about 3 months ago, sounded like she had something in her throat, due to previous oesophageal abcess she’s been in for a camera down and into her lungs but all healthy
Vets have no further ideas and we are going to end up at Dick Whites and I shall have to sell a kidney as no one will insure her, anyone have a coughing dog and found an unusual cause?

 

[AmyMay]

Have they ruled out an issue with her heart?

 

[Chuffy99]

Yes all tests and scans clear, only other slightly odd thing is she’s always been a poor eater and now is ravenous and trying to eat the other dogs meals as well as her own

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I don't want to frighten you, but our little terrier was coughing last summer; it was a dry sort of cough, almost like he was trying to be sick, and his whole body was wracked with it. We thought it was just the dry summer and he'd got a bit of dust in his throat, but thought well let's see what the vet says just in case.

Vet felt his abdomen, and then said OK so let's take a scan. Sadly it showed up a "mass" on his spleen. After doing a lot of research including the uncertain outcome of an op, and even then whether it would be fair, we decided bearing in mind his advancing years that the kindest thing would be to PTS which we arranged for at home, in the hay barn which was his kingdom.

Vet had explained that if the tumour had burst, which would have happened if it hadn't been removed by operation, then it would have been not only horrible for him but it would have meant we'd have then have to rush him in to be PTS immediately.

Sorry if worrying you, but I would urge you to ask your vet for a scan asap.

Or perhaps investigate lungworm............

 

[Chuffy99]

Wormer used should deal with heart worm but will enquire more re lungworm
Heart appears fine on scans/echo thing so mri is being mentioned but as this dogs vets bills over the years come to 30k (thank you Sainsburys) I have said no more huge bills