Kennel Cough, cognitive decline, poorly dog

H

HopOnTrot

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 December 2020
Messages
1,878
Visit site
Old Brown (13 year old terrier) has congnitive decline, grade 1 heart murmur and arthritis. He is on a slow decline and this week has taken a nose dive, he's been coughing in bed the past three mornings, very lethargic and seeming more confused.

Vets this yesterday and she's diagnosed him with kennel cough, although I'm not sure where from as he hasn't seen any other dogs recently (unless one has coughed through our garden fence from the road?) younger dog is fine, she also hasn't been near other dogs as she's reactive. Glands slightly swollen, throat sore and temp normal. She's given us painkillers for the cough and in the hope this might pick him up generally, we talked about medication for cognitive decline but because of the heart murmur he can't take it (noticed in September 2024 and has remained at grade 1 with monthly monitoring), he's also been on librella for 9 months and I must stress I think that's been positive for him as he picked up after he started it.

Last night we made him sleep downstairs, normally this would result in a dog barking at the stair gate, not a peep all night, he made it from the sofa to his bed and there was an accident on the rug at 6.30am. I made him go for a walk round the garden at 10.30pm to get him up and make sure he went to the loo.

He's had painkillers this morning (in yoghurt) which he ate but he only had a couple of mouthfuls of kibble, it's now sat on a plate next to him and he's not eating it. He has been drinking and yesterday I put a spoonful of yoghurt in a bowl of water and he drank all of that, will do the same again just now.

Can kennel cough really make him feel this bad? He's not coughing much (I haven't heard it at all today) I'm worried that the cognitive decline has ramped up and we are close to the end.

He NEVER been sick or sorry in 13 years and he feels so flat and lifeless, he wasn't even that excited to be at the vets yesterday (he loves the vets).
 
I think sometimes it's not just one thing it's the accumulated result of everything. Have you looked at the quality of life assessments on line? I found them helpful when my old terrier went downhill as they are objective and can be repeated weekly or as often as you like . Sorry you find yourself in this sad situation.
 
It could be worth asking for a second opinion -would it be worth thinking of a second opinion to check if there is value in getting any further tests done to confirm diagnosis?
 
It can really knock older dogs for six. The place where I kennel mine refused a dog with no vaccine which was going to be in the next run to my old boy last year, for that reason.

KC is very infectious and can be transferred through inanimate objects, clothing, grass, fences, bowls, balls etc and especially if his immune system is in his boots, so a dog walking past could have caused this, yes.
 
Yes, his heart sounded normal/no change from the normal murmur. but no further investigation. He has moved off the sofa this morning, finished breakfast and I made him some yoghurt water to drink, he's just got up and taken himself outside (via a couple of circles which is a new behaviour in the past month)

Neither of mine are vaccinated, we don't use kennels and the vaccine is contraindicated in households with immunocompromised people (me)

I'm "happy" that he's stable and not declining but I don't think I'd be happy if he was like this long term, will reassess Thursday and see if he needs to go back to the vets if no improvement.

QOL is a huge concern, we know the end is coming and we're talking months and not years. Our line is if he's consistently having accidents in the house or is unable to get up, hopefully he will resign himself to staying downstairs now (stairgate is up) although my daughter did make me google stairlifts for dogs yesterday and is planning to ask the builders to put one in the extension.

We are on holiday at the end of July and my mum (nearly 70) will be staying here with the dogs for a week, I'm going to have a word with our neighbour and see if she'll be on standby in case mum has any issues (neighbour has dogs and horses, mum is not a dog owner). The not knowing is awful.
 
Kennel cough can be very serious in puppies, old dogs and those with underlying health issues. My parters poor old dog had to be hospitalised once for a couple of days because he was so poorly. Kennel cough does not have to be passed on directly dog to dog. They can catch it anywhere that an infected dog has been.

Making sure he takes his meds, eats and keeps up his fluid intake is important. I would say if he isn't showing signs of improving after a couple of days then might be worth considering a re-check or 2nd opinion. What medication was the vet thinking for cognitive dysfunction? TBH a grade 1 heart murmur is very low, worth keeping an eye one but not worth withholding medication that may improve his quality of life. There are a couple of supplements around that aim to help improve brain function in older dogs that you could try? Aktivait, Acrylic and Nutramind come to mind.
 
Just done a QOL quiz and he’s 38/80, he was a solid 5 in every category.

He’s slightly perkier today but not much. Just playing it by ear and will get him back in if I think he declines.

He’s on Purina Pro Plan Neurocare which helped initially (and hasn’t triggered his atypical epilepsy/Spikes/CECS or what ever it’s called now) , he’s also on Aktivate and YuMove
 
Do they know what’s causing the murmur or are they just monitoring by listening? A heart scan isn’t invasive and might give you more medication options.
I assume you’re being careful around him and it’s others doing the care? He’s higher risk now than he would be post vaccine :(
 
HopOnTrot said:
Neither of mine are vaccinated, we don't use kennels and the vaccine is contraindicated in households with immunocompromised people (me)
Click to expand...

I merely mentioned vaccine/kennels to point out how seriously they took an unvaccinated dog being placed close to an elderly dog because of the higher risk to him, rather than say, his daughter, who was only four at the time.
 
Quick update: he’s picked up a bit, is now up and about during the day (Monday and Tuesday he didn’t move from the sofa and had to taken outside) and is happily tucking into wet food.

He’s been happy sleeping downstairs the past 3 nights which is a relief.

Will give him a few more days on wet food and carry on painkillers until Monday, if it stays cool I may even treat him to a sniffy walk at the weekend.
 
Back to the vets today, just wasn’t happy as he isn’t eating or drinking well at all. Saw a vet that we usually see and so she could see the change in him, temp, heart and lungs normal but throat really sore and he vomited when she pinched his trachea.

She’s taken bloods and given him anti sickness medicine and he came straight in and had a big drink, he’s eaten a little wet food mashed with yoghurt.

Vet has just called, kidneys normal, no anaemia but raised liver enzymes so he’s back tomorrow for an abdominal ultrasound.

So who knows what’s wrong with him but thank god for insurance!
 
Thanks guys, I’m so sad and I miss him so much already but we’d already spoken about not letting him suffer and scattering his ashes in the garden so we knew it was coming but it’s such a shock. I’ve had him longer than I’ve known my husband.

The poor other dog has been hugged and squeezed then I gave her a haircut and bath to give me something to focus on, so chances are she now hates me 😁

My mum got me an amazing pastel drawing of both dogs for my 40th and it’s lovely to have 🥰
 
So very sorry. It’s hard saying goodbye but sounds like it was the right call. We too have been talking about our Lakeland x Border who is 15 now and starting to show his age. When it’s right, it’s right. Take care of yourself and cherish those happy memories of your little dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top