[dancer]

Her name's Candy, and she's probably 14 or 15, and up until very recently, she's always been in good health. She has always been very active(got alot of exercise chasing squirrels!). But for the past few days she's been just coughing and coughing, and we're afraid that we may have to put her down. We don't know what's wrong with her, but she won't eat, although I did get her to drink some water this afternoon...I'm just so worried about her. She can breathe, but she has a coughing spell every few minutes, and she's been really tired because she hasn't really been getting sleep at night because she's coughing...So again, please say a prayer for her.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Awww!! I'm so sorry about Candy! She's at a ripe old age...bless her. I'll pray for her and you

BBJ

[babyruth]

Has she been on heartworm preventative? Sometme coughing can be a sign of heart problems. Is it a croupy sounding, productive cough or a dry, hacking unproductive cough?

I will definitely be praying for ya'll regardless of what is causing it!

[Lindsayanne]

Have you taken her to the vet? It sounds just like kennel cough- which is NO BIG DEAL. (well, it CAN be- especially for older dogs- but won't if you get her on some antibiodics- which should be cheap)

Kennel cough can send them into horrible sounding constant coughing fits, but it itself is not life threatening. The danger is that while they are sick with the virus they may develop an infection- which can kill them. But antibiodics can prevent/treat the infection before it gets bad.

You can probably get her to drink more water by opening a can of low-sodium chicken broth (regular chicken broth can do more harm that good because of all the sodium) and mix it 50/50 with water- it will taste really good to her and she'll get the water she needs to boost her body's defenses.

[UnDun*]

Kennel cough? or maybe she has something stuck in her throat? the dog at my barn coughed too for a while...he'd break into a jog and start hacking. He had kennel cough....but something as simple as a dog bone/pig ear could scratch her throat.
I hope shes alright...talk to the vet and maybe have him/her check her out.

[babyruth]

Here are some common causes of coughs in dogs:

www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Zo...

Infection
*Canine Distemper
*Kennel Cough
Parvovirus
Roundworm
Lungworm infection
Tracheal worm infection
Tubercu- losis



Irritation or damage to airway/lungs
*Cancer
*Dental disease
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Tight collar or choke chain
Foreign Bodies
Inefficient liquid dosing
Inhaling dust/fumes

Poor blood supply*
Heart disease
Heartworm infection

[dancer]

Wow...Thanks guys-ya'll really made me feel better. From what ya'll said, it sounds like kennel cough, which I've never heard of, so I'm realllly glad ya'll told me!! I'll go see if we have some chicken broth right now...

[dancer]

One more thing-yes they are on heartworm preventative!

[dancer]

OK, no chicken broth...is there anything else I can use???

[babyruth]

Kennel cough usually is a very loud, deep fog horn sounding cough. It is very annoying and very contagious. If you think it could be kennel cough, you need to quarrantine her away from any other dogs and get her to the vet. You my want to call in and let them know that you suspect kennel cough, just so they can take measures not to infect any other dogs (such as having you come in a side or back door instead of through the waiting room). Left untreated, kennel cough can manifest into something more serious, especially in an older dog.