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Why is my puppy still sick with cough, mucus, and breathing problems?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed | 8 months and 9 days old | 30 lbs

My puppy has been sick for a while and every doctor prescribes her medicine that doesn't work, she has mucus from her nose and sometimes vomits mucus too. She can barely breathe and has a cough. This usually comes and goes. Please let me know what to do or what she has.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Rebecca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 8th, 2017

I'm sorry Hennessey is so sick. There are many potential pathogens or problems that could cause chronic discharge and cough. Be sure that you have been giving medications or treatments as directed, and do not stop any antibiotic therapy early as this could cause resistance. But If she is not responsive to current therapies, further diagnostic testing may be necessary. In some cases radiographs of the head and chest may be helpful, or sending out bloodwork or tissue swabs to a lab to try to determine what pathogen's may be causing her illness.
In some cases if her primary veterinarian is unable to dart term and the cause of her illness, it may be worth discussing referral to a specialty clinic or veterinary school for an internal medicine consult.

Good luck, I hope you get some answers soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 12th, 2019
I am so sorry, it sounds like Lovie is very very sick. I am concerned that she may have pneumonia, and she may also have a number of other serious issues going on. I wish there was something I could recommend for you to try to do to treat her at home, but she really needs to go to a vet. I know you said that she was admitted to a vet last month, but she needs to go back to a vet. Bloodwork and chest X-rays may be recommended to help identify the underlying issues so that an appropriate treatment plan can be determined. It sounds as though she may be a relatively complicated and severe case, so please know that veterinary specialists are available to help with cases such as hers. Consider scheduling with a veterinary internal medicine specialist if you are concerned that your family vet may not have all the resources to best treat Lovie. Find an internist here: https://find.vetspecialists.com
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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