[Chicky Monkey]

Several weeks after bringing Harley home he started coughing. A very mucusy, wet, congested cough.

The vet (not my normal vet, but his partner) said it was kennel cough and we started 2 weeks of antibiotics. After 2 weeks, he wasn't better, so we did 10 days of baytril, another antibiotic. Still not better so we did 2 wks of another antibiotic. Still not better!

Next we do bloodwork, chest xrays and a fecal. They can't find anything. 2 more weeks on a combo of 2 antibiotics. STILL not better!

At this point we take him to an internal medicine specialist who does more bloodwork, more xrays, and puts him under and scopes him. She doesn't find anything in his lungs or airway, just TONS of mucus. She sends mucus samples to the lab. It comes back with 2 bacteria and we start 21 days of yet another antibiotic!

I am 10 days into the meds and he's still not getting better! I can't believe it! This poor dog has suffered for weeks with this. Every time we start a new round of antibiotics, he starts to get better for a few days then it comes right back. I'm going to wait another few days, then call the specialist again.

We are $2,000 into this with medical bills at this point, for criminies sake!

Has anyone ever heard of anything like this?

 

[SadieFern]

What a nightmare! I hope they figure it out, that's ridiculous! I wouldn't be able to afford that...don't know what we'd do. Keep us posted!

 

[DebBrown]

So sorry! You have been through the ringer! Whatever it is, it sounds highly resistant to antibiotics. Is there a MRSA for dogs?

Has your vet considered allergies? Some type of allergy might be complicating the issue.

I wish I could offer better advice.

Deb

 

[lmtoth2]

that's terrible Sorry but I have no advice. Did you contact your breeder? Do you think he came w/this "infection" or do you think he contracted it somewhere after you received him?

 

[annieG]

Do they do sensitivity tests to make sure the antibiotic is effective against this strain of bacteria before they prescribe them?

I also was wondering about allergies. What are you feeding him including treats?

I am sure someone out there has some more ideas....
:idea: :idea:

 

[ellabee]

Did the vet mention if he is wheezing? Allergies, bronchitic asthma, all this stuff going thru my head....

 

[Jac]

I am so sorry! By all means tell your breeder!
I know that vets try to narrow things down and to treat these symptoms but it does sound like kennel cough to me. The bacteria, however, must be treated...but then watch out for yeast infection, especially in the ears.
I had two pups come to me from the same breeder and they both had kennel cough. It was an awful time because they were contageous and I could not take them anywhere and they could not have their other shots because they were so sick. The male recovered fast, but the female was very sick for a very long time.
I ended up giving her colodial silver, you can find it in health specialty shops, it comes in a bottle with a dropper. I read about it online and found out that it was one of the old time general purpose antibiotics. It is, literally, silver...but they used to use it before modern antibiotics were so easily accessible.
Anyway, I gave them both a droper full (it is flavorless) in the morning at at night. I also gave them some cough medicine...I can't recall the name but it was a children's medicine and the vet told me to give it...most cough meds are not good for dogs, so be sure. Anyway, whether or not it was coincidence, when they started getting the colidial silver they both got better.
You can usually tell kennel cough by the coughing that happens when they wake up or move around...usually when sleeping it doesn't make them cough.
I'd suggest trying the colodial silver...it won't hurt! (I use it now on my own cuts, scrapes and sores...it really heals quickly!)
Please keep us posted.

 

[mtd885]

[
I ended up giving her colodial silver, you can find it in health specialty shops, it comes in a bottle with a dropper. I read about it online and found out that it was one of the old time general purpose antibiotics. It is, literally, silver...but they used to use it before modern antibiotics were so easily accessible.


Hey Jac I just heard of that stuff on the Today Show where they have some guy who turned BLUE from taking CS. I'm not saying the dog will turn blue :lol: Just noting the effect it had on this guy!

 

[SadieFern]

[
I ended up giving her colodial silver, you can find it in health specialty shops, it comes in a bottle with a dropper. I read about it online and found out that it was one of the old time general purpose antibiotics. It is, literally, silver...but they used to use it before modern antibiotics were so easily accessible.

Hey Jac I just heard of that stuff on the Today Show where they have some guy who turned BLUE from taking CS. I'm not saying the dog will turn blue :lol: Just noting the effect it had on this guy!

I see that guy on every show! Wonder what a *blue* doodle would be worth? :lol:

 

[lindamarie]

How awful!! Poor EVERYBODY and puppy!
I can think of nothing but an allergy!
As far as the colloidal silver.......I use that myself for allergies! Great suggestion!

 

[Calimom]

I hope you get some answers soon! That's a long haul!

 

[Jac]

I saw the blue guy too! I think that is not a common reaction! LOL But he did say that it is not reversible so he plans to continue to use it...he has never been healthier!

 

[Chicky Monkey]

As for food, I thought of that but it doesn't make sense. I kept him on the same food the breeder fed to him. Mid way through this process I switched him to Innova thinking the food might still be the problem, but it has had no effect.

No one has mentioned allergies. He's not wheezing or sneezing. He just has all this mucus in his throat. They now all agree that he never had kennel cough. But they don't know why he doesn't respond to the antibiotics. He did 2 rounds of baytril that the specialist said SHOULD have cured it.

I didn't call the breeder and I won't as I don't have a relationship with her and she would blame it on me anyway. I don't know if he brought the disease with him or he got it after we brought him home, but it doesn't really matter. She won't help in any way much less admit any liability on her part. I don't even care if she did and truly I just want to forget her.

I just don't understand why Harley isn't getting better. It's so weird. Poor guy! The doctors can't tell me why the antibiotics aren't working.

 

[Chicky Monkey]

On another note....we haven't been able to do any puppy classes or other obed training or even take him to the park yet! And he's 6 months old. Because of this illness he hasn't had all his shots because the vet is reluctant to give them while his system is compromised. He hasn't even been able to go to the groomer and he really needs a butt shave (sorry!). (He's got really long hair.)

 

[Linz81]

This poor puppy I do hope yall figure it out and he gets better soon!

About this CS, I too saw the blue guy! I was wondering if it would work on me? I have had flu like symptoms with very little fever for a solid week now. I am very "anti" antibiotics, could this stuff help???

Sorry I know it is totally off "doodle" topic :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[annieG]

You say he is on Innova....My experience with Innova was that it was too rich for my doodle and gave the runs. How are his poops?

It still could be a food allergy...I have asthma and allergies and they are made worse and I have more mucous in my chest when I eat certain foods. You might want to try a simpler food...maybe duck and potato. Or at least a single protein dog food....Innova is a chicken/turkey food.

Re antibiotics...I think kennel cough is a virus and generally antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Did they do a culture of the mucous?

 

[Chicky Monkey]

You say he is on Innova....My experience with Innova was that it was too rich for my doodle and gave the runs. How are his poops?

It still could be a food allergy...I have asthma and allergies and they are made worse and I have more mucous in my chest when I eat certain foods. You might want to try a simpler food...maybe duck and potato. Or at least a single protein dog food....Innova is a chicken/turkey food.

Re antibiotics...I think kennel cough is a virus and generally antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Did they do a culture of the mucous?

His poops look great, but I don't mind changing his food again! Do you have a brand recommendation?

They did 2 cultures of the mucous.

 

[MaxandMe]

I am so sorry to hear what you and Harley are going through.
I will say some prayers they figure this thing out for HIM and also for you as it does get expensive

OH the OB classes? don't worry about that and his age...i had to drop out last year with Max and didn't start him up again till he was 18mos, he's doing great and i've worked at home with him till we could go back.

Please keep us all posted and i hope this gets cleared up soon. Do notify your breeder

 

[annieG]

I have sent you a PM...look up in the dark blue section and click on you have 1 message..

 

[lmtoth2]

I feel so badly for you and your poor puppy. I haven't heard of these symptoms from a dog who had food allergies, but I am certainly not an expert. I know this post was in no way helpful, but I just wanted to tell you I really hope you find out what's wrong soon!