hello wonder if you can help.?
i cant get to a vet til tuesday and my dog keeps making a rasping sound,like a cough of some kind.At first i though he'd ate something and got it stuck in his throat and was trying to dislodge it.Although through the night it seems to be a lot worse.I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to soothe it until i can get him to the vet,
Sound silly i know but will he get antibiotics or medicine from the vet if it is a cough?
Or will it just go itself with out treatment??
I just want any advice to help when he does "cough" until vet will see him.He is eating and drinking and behaving as normal in every other way.Just sounds really dry,giving him lots of milk as he drinks that better than water.But any other advice to help him?

Sounds as if he has Kennel cough.  Its running riot at the moment and is incredibly infectious.  You can get anti-biotics from your vet to protect against secondary infection, you can also give peadiatric benylin.  Most healthy young dogs recover in a week or two with no problems, older, sick or weaker dogs can be at SERIOUS risk from pneumonia etc..  If you take your dog to the Vet, please leave him in the car and tell them you suspect KC and do not wish to infect other dogs, they should see him in the car.  Please don't take him out either while he is coughing, KC is an airborne virus and cross infection is rapid and as I said many dogs are not young and as healthy as your fellow, so such an infection could be very bad news for them.
Dawn.

thank you so much,being new pet owners havent had to ever deal with this before(former pets were when living at home with parents).And  worried about him.

I gave my dog benylin when I suspected kennel cough (same symptoms as you describe).  The pharmacist did give me a funny look when she said "non-drowsy" and I said "No thank you, drowsy will do fine"!!

This was on the Saturday and by Monday, he was fine.  It is prudent to keep a very close eye on them and contact the vet if you are worried.  Kennel cough is a bit like colds in humans, some of us are fine after a day of sniffles and others go on to develop pneumonia and complications.

thanks for that will try some today,might be better then by tuesday appointment.
Only question i have about giving this medicine is how much do i give him??
Just give him the dose described for humans??
just like i would for my children??

comman sense tells me to follow instructions on box but just asking how you did it??

sorry to bombard you with questions lol
just dont want to make things worse and overdose him on Benilyn..hard to explain at the vets,I guess..

Yes, you give the childs dose. It should be 10mls, mine was. I actually bought the Asdas own, it was 91p instead of £3 something.

By the way, opinions differ on exercise. Personally I do take mine out, 3 weeks stuck indoors will only serve to make them, and me, crazy. As long as they have no contact with other dogs, i.e. if they are the sort to run over to other dogs regardless keep him on a flexi, then he cannot pass the virus on.

It lasts between 7-14 days usually. Mine didn't go the vets, I treated it at home with cough medicine and antibiotics. Hope your dog is better soon.

Claire

hi claire thanks for the advice,have bought benilyn and given him 2 doses,just have to wait and see how he does.Although to be honest it seems to bother us more than him when he coughs.He still running around like a bull in a china shop and appetite still good(the bin holds the greatest treasures as usual )

I would be careful with his exercise too.  You can't stop them being their normal self at home, but wouldn't allow him to run around too much.  Hope he's feeling better soon, luckily I've never had it but know friends whose dogs have.

What Benilyn is it best to get in this case?  Kiddies or standard?  Dry or chesty?

Cheers

I use the kids benilyn (the one that helps them sleep at night in an attempt to get some peace ;) )

;-)

hi jane

it really works to,dogs cough has gone,