Unresolving Kennel Cough

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Utlendigur — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 21:06:11 GMT

[quote user="Carolyn Danbury"]The last time I had an absolutely 'typical' kennel cough case that didn't resolve after a few weeks I radiographed the chest and found a pair of lungs riddled with neoplasia.[/quote]

I had a horrible case a few years ago - 3yr old bouncy, fit lab cross with typical KC cough but no other symptoms, and the other dog in the house had started coughing at same time. The cough didn't resolve after a few weeks on treatment so xrayed - which showed a huge megoesophagus. A year later the same dog developed a bit of vomiting and diarrhoea, looking like a typical gastroenteritis - which turned out to be an inoperable lymphoma that failed to respond to chemo.

Definitely xray.

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:34:38 GMT

This dog needs chest radiographs otherwise a) how do you know for sure 'its CHF is under control currently', b) there are not other reasons. That said I'm currently treating a sickly puppy with a cough that is taking a time to resolve, I'm of the opinion that parainfluenza virus can cause a much bigger problem on its own that is often recognised especially in an immunocompromised animal like my puppy and possibly your hypothyroid dog and that is not going to respond to any antibiotics.

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:34:34 GMT

This dog needs chest radiographs otherwise a) how do you know for sure 'its CHF is under control currently', b) there are not other reasons. That said I'm currently treating a sickly puppy with a cough that is taking a time to resolve, I'm of the opinion that parainfluenza virus can cause a much bigger problem on its own that is often recognised especially in an immunocompromised animal like my rny puppy and possibl;y your hypothyroid dog and that is not going to respond to any antibiotics.

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:25:19 GMT

Update:

The owner came in this evening as she was too worried. The cough is getting better, also there is a slight reaction to a tracheal pinch it is nothing like it was before. She hasn't given the codeine since Saturday as the dog hated it and was starting to avoid having his other meds.

Seems like it is resolving, just slowly. If it is no better by the time the antibiotics finish (this weekend) I will book in for radiographs.

I say book in, I mean convince the owner that the dog will be fine to be sedated/have a GA.

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:59:32 GMT

I'd radiograph too.

Bog standard kennel cough can take a while to resolve, but I'd be concerned with the other problems that this could be related to them.

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:49:37 GMT

You need rads-also are you in a lungworm area?

Wynne

Re: Unresolving Kennel Cough

Carolyn Danbury — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 16:46:52 GMT

The last time I had an absolutely 'typical' kennel cough case that didn't resolve after a few weeks I radiographed the chest and found a pair of lungs riddled with neoplasia. The dog had the classic kc cough with a positive tracheal pinch, was otherwise well, normothermic and with no abnormal lung sounds on auscultation. That was a depressing conversation with the owners... In your case I would be suspicious of a large heart pressing on the trachea contributing the cough. Either way I'd think about some imaging of that chest if it doesn't improve...