My 5mth staff has been coughing and hacking while on walks, at first I thought it was just because she pulls so much on her lead that her collar is almost chocking her to the point when occasionally she vomits.
Last night she has been hacking and I thought maybe she had something in her throat...now Im worrying that it could be Kennel Cough ???

I've read previous posts etc but I really dont know. She has already had 2 courses of antibiotics and I really dont want her to have anymore as surely it cant be healthy for such a young dog.

I wish she could could talk :(

My partner things Im being nuerotic. If someone can give me abit of advice I'd really appreciate it I dont want to have to put her through another VET TRAUMA unnecessarily.

There is a serious bout of kennel cough gonig around with SBT's at the moment and for the cost of some antibiotics (about £12.50) you are better off safe than sorry by taking her too the vet. At elast that way you will have covered all angles and avoid unecessary heartbreak if the condiotion was to worsen!

When she's lying quietly go to her and press her throat where it joins her head if it's KC she'll probably  retch.

Anne

Thanks, I'll try the throat press method this afternoon and see how she reacts.

I'll take her to the vet as well just to get her checked over.

The poor little thing has had nothing but problems since we've had her it seems to be one thing after another.
I have another staff 6mths whos fit and healthy so I'll find out if I can get them checked out.

Thank you :)

Is she sneezing at all or have any mucus ?

No sneezing or mucus although i did put on another post that she is vomiting bile in the early hours of the morning.....

Hope it's not KC.

It may be that your youngster would be better off in a harness as the way you describe her walking and pulling is alarming in the sense that it must be very uncomfortable for her and also could do damage which may be long lasting :( 

Lindsay
X

  staffords are terrible pullers they are just so enthusiastic, mine all have harnesses otherwise they get bad throats and it sounds terrible when your out walking, but its still worth visiting the vets, the only downfall of a harness is if you want to show the transistion to a collar can be difficult, its worth taking your dog a good training class, but you might find that its still very difficult to get a staff to stop pulling, good luck.

ps where did you get him \ her from ( just nosey)

sarstaff

I have PM you as to where I got her from.

My two pups drag me round the streets, but most of the time I try totake them to the park and they are off the lead.

We have got a harness for her and generally use that on her, its only when doing a quick whizz around the block that we put her collar on and also for training purposes.

Both our Staffs really pull and no amount of treats, training etc seem to make them want to walk to heal, obviously they are both still babies so this will take time I just worry about hurting them.

Thanks for your help and advice.

x

I do hope it is not KC as it can be quite nasty.

And not meaning to butt in here but you may find you are having trouble getting them to walk properly because it sounds and I say SOUNDS as if you are trying to walk 5 and 6 month old puppies together. Do you get them to even listen to you while out? Walking at heel is difficult/on going with one pup so two must be a nightmare.
I have a 5 month old bitch pup and walk her on her own seperate from the 2 year old (who walks perfectly well at heel, on and off lead) I want my pup to listen to me on walks not want to "play dog play" with the older one.
Try walking them individualy and see if it makes a difference.

And I am sorry Staffords on leads are as capable of walking to heel as any other dog they are intelligent.  It is my opinion that it's only out of lazziness that stafford owners say "Oh all staffords pull" as they get towed down the street. They pull because people let them. And I can't see how you can have control of two staffords off lead if you can't get them to walk properly when on a lead.
Karen

youre probably right we do make excuses but i still think staffs are worse pullers than a lot of breeds

Hmmm I suspect that is debatable. I have though seen more people towed by Staffords and Stafford X's than any other breed. 

Karen

You've got me on that one we do walk the dogs together but my partner and I have one each if this makes any difference...

And strangely enough we do have more control over them off the lead as they are more weary of where we are and try and stick with us and are both good on recall etc....

The problem is that they just have so much energy and want to run and run and run!!!!!!! They just get so excited. its like they are always trying to get somewhere!

anyway  I've done the throat press thingy and I had not coughing and I had no coughing at all yesterday last night or this morning????? So Thankfully I dont think its KC although I will get her checked out.

Hiya

Our 8 month old staff bitch used to pull until about 2 months ago. Then I decided enough was enough as I was worried that as she got bigger would I be able to walk her. So I took her out on a quiet Sunday afternoon and when she pulled I brought her back sharply by a pull on the lead and made her stop for a few secs and told her no in a loud commanding voice. I continued this for about half an hour and did find a slight improvement. My husband and I persevered with this and within a week the pulling had lessened a great deal and now she doesnt pull except when she gets very excited or a car goes past to close . But we stop her then until shes ok and continue with the walk and shes then fine again. They can be stopped from pulling with lots of treats and praise along the way but it is hard work, my arm was aching the first time like I'd been lifitng heavy weights. Also we combine the walks on the lead with lots of free running in the fields and woods, so she doesnt get bored. It is worth trying honest!