Hello to you all,

My Boxer has had a dry cough for a week or so. He is 8 months old and has had two bouts of kennel cough, the second one was very bad. That all cleared up about 8 weeks ago but over the last week he has been coughing again. The difference is that this isnt the kennel cough type retching noise so I don't think he's got that again.

This cough only appears to happen when he gets excited, ie, if we're about to go for a walk or when I get home from having been out for a while. It doesn't seem to bother him at all but I'm worried anyway coz that's what we do isn't it? The coughing only last for a minute or so and then nothing until the next excitement moment.

I have tried cough medicine which he takes no problem but it doesn't appear to be making any difference.

Any ideas guys?

Rosie

Can't offer you any advice but have just been through a long period of coughing with my Meg.  She had kennel cough that lasted just a few days several months ago then started coughing again.  It didn't seem much to begin with - as you say when getting up in the mornings and when she got excited.  However we just carried on taking her down to the beach etc and the cough got worse.  We had antibiotics at 3 weeks then when she continued to cough after 4 weeks then a course of panacur in case it could be lungworm.  - She was then coughing at all odd times even at night.  Thankfully she seems to have stopped now so we will never know what caused it.  Vet said there are all sorts of viruses about - just like we have various colds.
I wouldn't be alarmed about lungworm unless a, the cough gets worse or b, you know like I did, that my dog was drinking from puddles and eating grass where foxes had been - as well as eating fox poo!   Perhaps he has some irritation in his throat from eating something he shouldn't?  However don't over exert him just incase.  As I have experienced, a cough can hang around for an awful long time - nearly 5 weeks in our case. 

I would get his heart checked if you're sure it isn't KC?? Boxers are renown for Heart problems aren't they? Even so, a cough can indicate heart problems and if it doesn't appear to be KC best to get him checked over? All the best, Dawn

I have to agree with newfiedreams, the cough you describe if it has been ruled out as a anything lodged or kennel cough then it points to your dog being 'winded' for lack of a better word as you put nothing happens until the next excited moment.  I would have his heart checked out to be on the safe side but get the vet to check both before and after exercise.

Also it is worth noting that in humans if you take cough medicine for too long you can actually develop a cough.  I wonder if it is the same in dogs, maybe not giving him any to see if it gets worse or better.

Emma

Yes Boxers have two types of heart condition that are known about
These being Aortic Stenosis (AS) and Cardiomyopathy (BCM/CM).
There is also another that I've heard that two dogs have which is Pulmonic Stenosis.
Certainly it's not one that I am specifically aware of as a problem within the breed.

To read more about these conditions see here http://www.boxerbreedcouncil.co.uk
Also on this website is the Boxer heart list (you need to click on health and then AS button)
Then there is link to the list from this page, it lists all dogs that have cleared for AS - listed by gender
and the dogs KC registered name in alpha order. So you should be able to see if the parents of your pup were heart tested.

Kennel Cough is still doing the rounds - I know of someone that picked it up from LKA.
It could be that your pup has picked it up again but only a very mild form as it has some antibodies from the last episode.

Best to get your vet to check your pup over to make sure.

Thank you for all the replies.

I've been to the vets and he thinks it's lungworm. He's given us some tablets and a little pot for a poo sample (comes with a tiny shovel!!!!) I've got to take the sample in today then return to the vet on Saturday.

I did consider heart problems as I know Boxers suffer from certain conditions but the vet is pretty certain its lungworm so we'll treat that and see how the cough is afterwards.

thanks guys, happy new year

Rosie

From what I have read one sample may not be enough to identify lungworm - it could take more.  This is certainly an up and coming problem that isn't widely known about.   The vet has posters all around the waiting room now.  With so many dogs being vaccinated against KC and getting mild doses lungworm could go unidentified for some time.  Is there some preventative treatment I wonder? 

Our pups had lungworm recently, treatment was panacur 10% suspension , but 7 day course, followed up with a repeat course a few days later. Pups recovered well on this treatment.
advocate can be used monthly to prevent re infection.

One pup, who was treatedby new owners vet prescribed only a 3 day course initially, with a 5 day break, followed by a 7 day course and that pup was then given a further 3 weeks course, and still under treatment.
Common cause is from eating slugs or snails.

hotspots areas are south /west wales and south east england according to our vet.