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Question

we purchased a boxer the last saturday of january, he had a runny nose when we purchased him the store told us that was from stress. she gave us an antibiotic. two day later i took him to vet who felt that was the problem. two days later we took him to a different vet as we noticed he was coughing. that vet gave us script for coughing and antibiotic. told us it was a virus and would have to wait it out. the puppy is so much worse that his breathing is very labored and not eating or drinking on his own. i have been feeding him water and pedialite with a dropper. he did hand feed tonight science diet with shredded cheese. Is there any thing else i can do? would a humidifier help with the stuffy nose? he is struggling to breath through nose his breaths are shallow. I don't want to lose him PLEASE HELP!!!

Submitted: 290 days and 5 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $45
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: <1; Male; Breed: boxer dog

Already Tried:
amoxicillin 100mg,torbutrol 5mg,temeral p , primor 120mg,metaclopromide 10mg

Posted by Christian K. 290 days and 5 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX,

This is Dr. Christian. What antibiotic is he currently on? When did he eat last? Does he have vomiting or diarrhea too or just the respiratory signs? Is the drainage from his nose bloody and does it come from one nostril or both of them? Are his gums nice and pink?

290 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

petey is on amoxicillin100mg and primor 120mg. we hand fed him science diet wet puppy food with shredded cheese with it to get him to eat. he ate at 7:30 tonight the first time in over a 24 hour period. the drainage is yellow his cough is so forceful he brings his back legs off the floor it is like he is gagging the vet said tonsils were swollen. his gums are pink. my concern is it is getting harder for him to breath when i give him the congestion pill it dries his nose up and everything gets blocked we have been washing it with warm washcloth. i also put a towel down by his head with mentholatum rubbed in the middle and folded in half would a humidifier be helpful

Accepted Answer

Okay. It certainly sounds like kennel cough (here's a link: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/infectious-tracheobronchitis-kennel-cough/page1.aspx). You can definitely use a humidifier to help loosen the mucous. Some coughing is okay, it is loosening the mucous and moving it out of the lungs. If you have a suction bulb (those bulbs used to suck fluid out of a baby's nose and mouth) I would recommend using that to clear what you can out of his nostrils. A fan set on low aimed at his head may help his breathing some. Keep doing the warm washcloth cleanings too. Kennel cough can be a pretty serious condition if it progresses and it seems as though this could be the case. It sometimes takes a stronger antibiotic to clear it. I've had better success with doxycycline in these cases. Another possibility is distemper which is a virus and definitely a bad one but much less common. The symptoms fit however. Here's a link about canine distemper: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/canine-distemper/page1.aspx

 

You might have to change antibiotics again to find the right one to cure this problem. If it is distemper then a wait and treat the symptoms approach is the best you can do. He might need to be hospitalized in order to get fluids and keep him hydrated. Hydration will help him fight infection much better and give him a better chance. Good luck and let me know if you have more questions.

 

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Expert: Christian K.
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 2/5/2009

Veterinarian

12 years of veterinary experience in medicine, surgery and behavior with exotics,canines and felines

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