Hi there
I have owned my cocker spaniel for 12 years now (she is pedigree). I have noticed that she keeps coughing or it sounds like she is choking. I have heard that it may be kennel cough. Does anyone have any information on what this is or what my dog has? I will be very greatfull if anyone will reply to this message as i am very worrid and i love her dearly.
Thanks for your time

It really is impossible to diagnose over the internet and any response may only worry you perhaps unnessesarily you really need to see your vet as soon as possible meanwhile it would do no harm to give her a little paediatric benalyn which may help ease her symptoms let us know how you get on.

Our neighbours Beagle had kennel cough and it sounded like a hacking dry bark witha bit of a wheeze.All her vet gave the dog was a course of antibiotics and childrens Benylin the same as u would buy in any chemist only he charged her 3 times the price

Your neighbour did not need to buy the Benylin from the vet but the antibiotics will only (or should only) have been prescribed if there was an infection secondary to the kennel cough and would therefore have been necessary. Bearing in mind the guests dog is elderly and I can think of at least two more possible causes I really think a visit to the vet is important in this instance.

my old poodle has this she is 13 years old ,my vet says its brochitus(oops sorry about spelling)if you tap in between her collar bone she should do that choking ,coughing thing.dolly does this...

many types of cough in a dog is the respiratory problem , tracheobronchitis, all given the name of kennel cough, the cough is usually a bacterial infection sometimes called bordetella bronchisepticia . this can lead to pneumonia and death.vaccines only give 6 to 12 mths protection and have to be repeated as advised by vet , sometimes the cough can be there for a number of day before serious illness occcurs and other times it can hit in a matter of hours. I urge you to tell your neighbour to seek immediate attention from vet as Isabel advised. the dog is old and so therefore he is in serious danger if not seen to by a vet. , kia mummy is also right ,benylin or robbitussin cough mixture is part of the treatment and should be given to relieve the symptoms in the meantime ... mari

Coughing can also be a symptom of heart disease. I would get her checked out by the vet asap. Hopefully it will be nothing serious but you need to find out.

Joan
Take the rough with the smooth

Sometimes Old dogs develope paralysis of the Lanynx which seems like they are constantly clearing their throat you should get the dog checked out.For kennel cough we always give honey and benlyn and its never failed yet

just been having a chat with old friend reckons he keeps kennel cough at bay by using stockholm tar he puts it in small jars high up on shelves, and stirs it every few days to keep the fumes circulating , this allows dog to breathe, he says a jar of tar can be bought in a saddlery shop , he also gives buttercup syrup for the cough and that can be bought in pharmacy thought I would pass it on mari

In the 19th and early 20th Century the smell of fresh tar was considered to be a cure for whooping cough in children, and sick children used to be taken out to any road that was being tarmac'd just to inhale the fumes. Sounds similar to this.

Joan
Take the rough and the smooth

believe it or not joan that is still in practise as tar is good for respiritory problems but I think stockholm tar has some other ingredient as well , what I dont know. I will have a look in the saddlery tomorrow just for my own curiousity. another cure for whooping cough in children was to take them to where there was coal as the gasses in coal was equally effective according to our mothers . another thing that was supposed to work for whooping cough, was to go to a place where there was seven airs, or where seven breezes blow, and that was supposed to work as well ,our seven breezes were on a place called tory hill where there was seven different towns beneath and so seven different breezes. [ just to lighten the air :) :).:)] so now off walkies to the hills with all the bronchial dogs :)