Why is my senior epileptic dog coughing with honking and gagging?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! After the treatment for kennel cough if the dog is doing well there is no further treatment. He may have a lingering cough when excited but that is normal. He can have his regular vaccines 2 weeks after the treatment was started. The Vanguard 7 is not a vaccine for kennel cough however. That is a distemper/parvo/hepatitis combination. I would recommend getting a kennel cough vaccine to lessen the severity if kennel cough should he come into contact with it again. Having seizures will not affect the recommenced vaccines. Good luck and kisses to Rambo!

Based on Zuko's age, it can be a variety of things causing the honking and gagging. Usually a honking cough and gag is trademark for "kennel cough complex" a combination viral and bacterial, upper respiratory infection that dogs can get from socializing with other dogs. This can happen at any age. Other things to think about in a 16 year old dog, would be laryngeal paralysis, which occurs when the muscles of the larynx become paralyzed and the area doesn't remain open as it should. Sometimes it can cause a coughing and hacking when the dog gets excited. It can also sometimes cause the airway to become obstructed. It would be best for Zuko to see his veterinarian and have an examination. The vet can see if Zuko needs any medications for the coughing or even some antibiotics if he has an upper respiratory infection. He can also make sure nothing serious is going on, like a lower respiratory infection, a heart condition, or something cancerous that can occur in an elderly dog. If any of those things are suspected, the vet may recommend Xrays and even lab-work to evaluate Zuko. Best of luck!

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral/bacterial infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

Hello, sorry to hear about Rambo. Its likely that he has some sort of pain coming from his ears. This could be due to an ear infection. Alternatively, Rambo could be having idiopathic vestibular diseases, which is a diseases seen in older dogs in which they develop and abnormalities in there coordination and balance. This problem tends to be self limiting and resolved within a few days to weeks. Finally, he could be having a primary neurologic disorder in his brain. This may be more difficult to diagnose and may take further diagnostics such as an MRI. I would recommend having Rambo evaluated if he continues to have these episodes. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Kennel cough, or Bordetella, is a common upper respiratory pathogen that is very contagious between dogs, and usually dogs have a loud goose-honk cough, sometimes ending in coughing up a bit of phlegm. This could be going on with your dogs. Don't worry, it isn't life-threatening, but I usually put these dogs on an antitussive to help alleviate the cough and sometimes an antibiotic. If you don't take them to a vet, the cough should go away in a week or two, but make sure you don't let them socialize with other dogs as they will spread it around.

Hello. Coughing & gagging is pretty indicative of tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, but in a 14 year old dog, I would be concerned about heartworm disease, heart failure, lung disease, tracheal collapse or bronchitis. So, there are many things that can cause a cough such as this. Only a good examination by your veterinarian, some blood tests & possibly a chest x-ray may be needed to fully diagnose Honey. Once this is done, the appropriate medications & treatments can be started to hopefully make her well. Good luck & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pete! Was Pete put on antibiotics when he was seen? Kennel cough is caused by many viral, bacterial or mycoplasma organisms. There is only the ONE vaccine for Bordatella. A lot of dogs sadly get a different bacteria or virus that causes the kennel cough signs. Kennel cough is very goose honkey. Since Pete is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is pacing at night and is 12 years old he should be rechecked. I would recommend X-rays of his chest. If his heart and lungs look clear then either put him on antibiotics and a cough suppressant if he isn't on anything or change the medications since he isn't improving and is actually getting worse. I worry about older dogs with possible kennel cough. The young and the old have increased risk for kennel cough to progress to pneumonia. I hope this helps and I wish Pete the very best!