Murphy has had this wierd cough on off for aaages. Its like hes got something in his throat and hes trying to clear it. I mentioned it to the vet when i was last there and she thought it could be very mild kennel cough (hes been vaccinated for it but she said he could get it really mildly) but maisie doesnt have it too. Th evet felt his throat and listened to him breath and said all was normal so dont know what it is. Here is a video of him this morning doing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3HgrOUhR8E
Poor sausage! Definitely something going on there. How long has he had it for? If it's mild kennel cough it shouldn't last a long time...he should get over it. He obviously does feel like there's something in his throat. My old dog used to clear his throat a lot as his soft palate got saggy in his old age and it made him feel like he had something in there. Murphy is obviously way too young for that but the throat clearing/mouth opening thing was very similar...
Hes had it for at least a couple of months, so yea too long for it to be kennel cough. It is odd. Now iv got a video of it I may show it to the vet and see what she thinks.
I would go back to the vet with the video. Easier to see and hear than describe sometimes. Hope he's better soon.
Another vote for showing that video to your vet. It just made me wonder if he had a piece of grass stuck above his soft palate. This is not uncommon, they inhale a piece of grass and it ends up sitting on the floor of the nasal cavity, resting on the soft palate and just occasionally causing irritation and a soft cough/gag. Might be worth asking if they can check for it - you sometimes need to do it under sedation or GA to look at the back of the soft palate with a dental mirror or similar. Has he had a nasal discharge at all?
No nasal discharge at all. It is a funny one, because there is obviously something going on, but because he is fine in himself, it makes me reluctant to put him through any intrusive investigations... So i dont really know what to do, I will have to just wait and see what vet says. Thanks guys x
I had a friend who had a cat with similar symptoms and it was as Lochan said, had a piece of grass stuck.
Def doesn't sound like kennel cough does. Poor boy does look uncomfortable though and the licking shows that he feels nauseous too. I agree with the others, take the video and show the vet. I have never heard a cough like that before but I think it sounds like it is coming from the lungs? Hope the vet can shed some light on what it could be so you can get some treatment for it. Chloe
Lochan might have an opinion on this, but do dogs get reflux? If he was human, that's what I would be wondering about (or allergies but I think you would get sneezing)
Sounds like my Lab who suffers with bronchitis/asthma. Lucan had a cough that recurred every couple of months or so over 2-3yrs, I was told many times it was mild kennel cough but finally insisted it needed to be investigated. He had a bronchoscopy which showed up the inflammation in both lungs and trachea. He was treated at first with oral steroids which didn't suit him, then changed to an inhaler which although dearer is so much better. Hope the vet can sort Murphy out soon. x
mandyb - I was thinking along the lines of asthma/bronchitis too, when I said it sounds like its coming from lungs. Thanks for confirmation.
