My dog's had a cough for 6 months. What should I ask the vet?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor guy! is your pet a dog or a cat? What breed and how old? It is helpful to know a bit more. If he has been on TWO antibiotics and zyrtec since May and it has returned while on these medications I would have him rechecked by your Vet. I would want a chest X-ray and consider doing different medications based on the recheck exam and X-rays. There are many reason for a cough: genetic condition where the trachea collapses, larygneal disease, allergies, heart worm disease, other parasites, allergic disease that needs steroids, cancer, heart enlargement or heart failure. I wish you the best!

You didn't mention if his cough improved with each treatment. I am presuming that it improved, but then started again when you finished the medication. Since the cough has been going on for a period of months, is dry and recurs without medications, you could be dealing with something like chronic bronchitis, but there are other things that your vet needs to look for as well. I have attached information below on chronic bronchitis. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3151 If that is what BigMoe is dealing with, he may need to be on some medication long term instead of just a short term medication. I know you're on a fixed income, but I would speak to your vet about how BigMoe has responded to TemarilP and Hydrocodone and decide on your next treatment plan. Good luck! I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

You might ask your veterinarian if the X-rays could be reviewed by a radiologist. While the resolution that the forum pictures allow makes them a bit difficult to interpret, I am concerned that the X-rays do not appear normal, and she may have a more serious underlying condition. It may be that she has some underlying heart disease, cancer, or an infection that requires a more broad spectrum of antibiotic. I agree the blood work you've attached is unremarkable. Was a CBC performed as well? Check back with your vet about a radiology review, and a recheck exam as well. A consult with a cardiologist may be recommended, depending on the radiologist's opinion. I'm sorry I don't have better news, or a solution to offer you to try at home, but I think you need to circle back and followup with your vet on this. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Precious! There are many reasons for coughing: kennel cough, allergies, pneumonia, heart failure or cancer. Since it has only been a few days it is ok to give her more time. Kennel cough takes 2 weeks to resolve. If the cough worsens or hasn’t resolved in 2 weeks then I recommend a recheck and chest X-rays. I wish you the best!

Hi. A cough can be caused by A lot potential things. For an older pet, I would think about infection, heart disease, fungal disease, asthma, or even cancer for the older ones. I would do what your Dr recommended and definitely recheck if no improvement. I do think though a chest x-rays for an older pet would be very helpful. Good luck

I recommend bringing him to a veterinarian and having them listen to his chest. This may be respiratory or heart related but having a veterinarian auscultate them is the first step. It may require x-rays to determine what it going on also. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It goes without saying that any dog coughing this long should definitely see a vet as soon as possible. In a tiny dog who is this old, the possibilities that come to mind are: heart failure, collapsing trachea, fungal disease, “old dog bronchitis”, and cancer. Obviously, a few of these are quite serious. A good physically exam and detailed questioning by your vet will help him or her narrow it down in many cases, but often times x-rays are recommended to help us know for sure. Best of luck to you and Elliot!