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Question

I have a 19 year old mixed breed medium sized (45 lb.) dog....He eats and eliminates well. He is alert and sociable with people and other dogs..His rear legs are weakening so he doesn't get around as well as he used to. Eight weeks ago he developed a dry hacking cough, with deep throaty episodes.
I took him to the vet back in March , who ruled out Heartworm with a test, and prescribed Cephalexin for 14 days, thinking it might be kennel cough. The cough is just as bad after eight weeks...Any idea what this might be?
What questions should we be asking the Vet?
    &n bsp;                                                                       Thanks...
  & nbsp;                                                                                         Bob

Submitted: 182 days and 18 hours ago via PetPlace.
Category: Pet
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: >12; Male; Breed: mixed breed

Already Tried:
Cephalexin and cough suppressant

Accepted Answer

Hello,

I would doubt that this is Kennel Cough given his age. More likely it is Laryngeal Paralysis or Lar Par. This is a disease fairly common in older medium to large breed dogs where the opening to the windpipe does not open normally- the laryngeal cartilages don't open. This is much more common in older dogs than Kennel Cough.

Diagnosis can be confirmed with a sedated laryngeal exam. Treatment options include doing nothing if otherwise healthy and not causing much in the way of problems to cough suppressants (Hycodan or Torb) to surgery if severely effected. The surgery is an arytenoid tie back surgery and can be done by most surgeons.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.

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Expert: Dr. Gary
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 5/23/2009

Veterinarian

DVM, Emergency Veterinarian; BS (Physiology) Michigan State Univ

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