my female cat is 18 yrs old she is still like a kitten my ? is for the last month her nose is constanly runny along with sneezing a lot
my female cat is 18 yrs old she is still like a kitten my question is for the last month her nose is constantly runny along with sneezing a lot
Is your dog coughing? Could it be kennel cough? Read some information about the disease and consider an exam by a veterinarian to rule out other possibilities.
Kennel cough is otherwise known as Infectious Tracheobronchitis. The clinical sign we typically see is a dry, harsh, hacking cough. Most owners that bring their coughing dogs in to see me will say "something is stuck in my dog's throat," or "my dog is choking on something." Other clinical signs we can see involve fever, loss of appetite, sometimes vomiting if they are coughing enough to stimulate the gag reflex, and lethargy. The cough can be followed by a gag or swallow and often, dogs can cough up a frothy, foamy mucus. This is not vomiting, but rather a productive cough. On occasion, the coughing is so bad that dogs can't even rest at night to recover from this disease. If an infection is severe, it can develop into the lower airways and cause a pneumonia.
So, how does your dog get infected?
This is an air borne disease that is usually seen in spots that many dogs frequent and interact. A dog that has the infection will shed the bacteral and/or virus in their respiratory tract, which is then aerosolized and breathed in by healthy dogs. Most dogs get infected when they are housed in close contact with other dogs in high risk areas. Examples would be boarding kennels, shelters, dog classes, dog parks, grooming facilities and hospitals. This disease has a bacterial and viral component. The throat normally tries to clear infectious agent and mucus with mucociliary bodies. These throat cells move mucus with ciliary projections. These ciliary bodies become paralyzed, so to speak, by this disease. As a result, mucus gets "stuck" in the throat and dogs develop a thick, harsh cough, attempting to move mucus and debris. That is where the harsh cough comes from. Dogs that are at higher risk for disease include those with more exposure, puppies, geriatric dogs and immunosuppressed dogs, or dogs with other underlying conditions.
THE INCUBATION PERIOD IS 2 TO 14 DAYS - meaning your dog could take up to 2-3 weeks for signs to develop.
How do we know this is kennel cough and not something else?
Kennel cough is a diagnosis of rule-outs. That means there is no definitive test for Kennel cough. Plainly speaking, it means that lots of tests are needed to rule out other possibilities before we can rule in Kennel cough. X-rays (or radiographs) can help rule out pneumonia or other complicating lung disease. Blood work may also be helpful in eliminating other differentials. History of exposure to other dogs can also make Kennel cough more likely, along with underlying clinical signs. Simple exam can help differentiate other possibilities as well and if Kennel cough is suspected, simple trial treatment can be performed as we evaluate them for response.
How do we treat it?
We treat the bacterial component of Kennel cough with antibiotics, directly killing the Bordetella organism.The cough itself can be treated with cough suppressants to provide comfort.Anti-inflammatory medications are recommended if they have a fever. Supportive care should be provided for the viral component, including rest and encouraged water and food consumption. If they are not improving in the next few days, other disease or progressive pneumonia should be considered. Pneumonia is a very serious condition and should be treated aggressively.
Is there a vaccine?
Yes, however, keep in mind that not all members of the kennel cough complex have a vaccine. The Bordetella vaccine is not a very efficacious vaccine. This means that dogs exposed to Kennel cough may still become infected, however the clinical signs and symptoms may not be as severe. This vaccine should be boosted every 6-9 months to be effective. Two doses should be given (approximately 3-4 weeks apart) the first time and then every 6-9 months after that.
VACCINATION IS NOT USEFUL IN A DOG ALREADY INCUBATING KENNEL COUGH.
Also keep in mind that for protective efficacy, the last vaccine should be given at least 5 days prior to exposure (at a kennel or dog park).
Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is a parasite that lives in the heart and the pulmonary arteries of a dog. This disease has been reported in every state and is most prevalent in areas where mosquitoes are in high numbers. Dogs get Heartworms from mosquito bites. These larval stages enter the skin through the bite and then migrate through the body to the blood vessels, where they are carried up to the heart. Dogs are not infected directly from dog to dog, but from dog to mosquito to dog.
Clinical Signs
Once the larva have developed into adult worms (this takes about 6 months), clinical signs may or may not be seen. Dogs that have a cough, breathing difficulty, exercise intolerance, or syncopal (fainting episodes) should be evaluated for Heartworm disease. If a dog is only infected with the larva, they usually do not show any signs at all. This is part of the reason this disease can be so deadly. By the time we are seeing clinical signs for Heartworm disease, they not only have Heartworm Infection but also have Heartworm Disease, which must be treated far more aggressively. Heartworms, in the adult stage, can do a lot of damage to the body.
Heartworm and its effect on the body
Worms living in the pulmonary arteries do a tremendous amount of damage. They damage the lining of the artery and cause an inflammatory response to ensue. This results in immune cells that try to destroy the parasite, but cannot kill it. This inflammation and continued inflammation, casue more damage to the surrounding tissue. These arteries become dilated from the inflammation and appear tortuous on an x-ray. This can also result in abnormal blood clotting and dogs can develop embolisms, which block the arteries. This results in shunting of blood to other arteries that are not blocked by worms. What happens in effect, is an overtaxed plumbing system and the pressure and inflammation cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs around the arteries. The complicating result is that blood is not appropriately oxygenated in the lungs and cannot deliver adequate oxygen to the rest of the body. This commonly results in coughing and exercise intolerance. Some dogs can cough up blood or fluid and it is not uncommon to see secondary infection in the lungs. With this kind of pressure in the arteries, the heart has to work harder to pump blood where it needs to go. This leads to a higher blood pressure and can have drastic effects on the right side of the heart. Worms can create even less space in the right side of the heart as they fill the ventricle. Obviously, the can tax the heart to a point of no return. Sometimes, a heart murmur or arrhythmia can be ausculted on physical exam if this is the case. As with any murmur, sudden death can occur. When this right sided heart failure occurs, fluid can back up in the abdominal cavity, which can result in a distended abdominal appearance and difficulty breathing. The immune system does not stop trying to control all of this and the inflammatory response becomes systemic, causing irritation and damage throughout the body. As a result, these dogs become very uncomfortable.
Treatment for Heartworm Disease
Treatment depends on staging of the disease, the area of infection and the dog’s clinical signs. This means your vet will need to decide how to treat the disease. This process is usually costly and is not without pain and involves crating/kenneling your dog for several weeks. This is not an easy process for owners to go through. It is important to note that even though treatment for Heartworm disease exists, this disease can be fatal.
Heartworm Prevention
There are lots of different types of heartworm preventive that you can use for your dog. Please discuss this with your vet and decide which one might be best for your dog. Some not only cover heartworms, but also cover gastrointestinal parasites and protect against fleas and ticks. Some of the more popular brands include Heartgard, Advantage, Interceptor, Sentinel, Revolution.
Heartworm in Cats
Heartworm disease in cats is quite a bit different from dogs. Cats are so small that only one adult worm can be enough to cause heart failure. Cats also appear to have more inflammation with immature worms than dogs do. Commonly, cats that are Heartworm positive will not show many clinical signs and often death is seen before anything other clinical signs. Please contact your vet for more information on Heartworm disease in cats.
Prevention
The good news is that feline heartworm infection is 100% preventable and there are currently four products on the market that are reliably effective. Keep in mind that cats need a higher dose of ivermectin than dogs, so it is important that you buy a product marketed for cats. It is also important that your cat be tested prior to administration of the preventive.
It's that time of year again, when the temperatures warm up, the flowers bloom and we enjoy the sunny weather at an afternoon BBQ. Unfortunately, it's also the time of year when we should be concerned about Heartworm disease. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes when they feed. These parasites migrate to the heart where they grow to be adult worms. Heartworm disease can be difficult and expensive to treat, and can sometimes be fatal. Don't let your pets get infected. Please test them today at your local veterinarian and get them started on a preventive monthly tablet. To Learn More about Heartworm Disease, please check out the link below:
Information on Heartworm Disease
My dog does not like to drink water very much. I need some suggestions to get her to drink more. She will eat ice cubes that I put in the water. I thought it might get her to drink the water too but it does not.
Annie is a small Border Collie who came from rescue. The people in rescue thought she was about one year of age but my vet believes she is about three years of age based on the condition of her teeth.
She seems to be in excellent health and eats extremely well and urinates okay. She has never been interested in drinking water even on hot days. I used to add water to her food to make sure she gets enough water but I stopped doing it after a while. She drinks a little from time to time but does not seem comfortable and usually chokes or gags a little when she does drink some. She eats a homemade diet of meat and grains and vegetables and vitamins and supplements. The only other thing to mention is that she usually only has one bowel movement a day and the stool is pretty small although it looks nice and firm and full of bulk. She will pick ice cubes out of the water and eat them but does not drink much water even though I encourage her to do so. Someone suggested a pet water fountain but they are pretty expensive and I don't know if that is the answer either. Thanks for any suggestions you can give me.
I was hanging Christmas lights in the front yard this afternoon, listening to the radio, and heard a public service annoucement. They said that pet influenza was present in our area (Denver) and they were suggesting that every dog owner have their their dogs get flu shots. They did say that dog influenza is not the same as people's, but that it was highly contageous among dogs that went to day care or kennels, and that it was not transmissable to people.
Do you think we should get our dogs vaccinnated?
i have a 9 year old female lab. for the past week she hasnt been eating well at all. she is drinking ALOT of water and she is very lethargic. she also is spotting when she lays down. it is a pinkish color.and she is licking herself alot. i think she may be in heat,but usually it is red in color.she has never "leaked" when she lays down like she has been. she seems to have a loss in energy and she is coughing. .not alot ..but frequent enough for concern. i did get her to eat some boiled chicken and rice.when she has went into heat in the past it hasnt quite been like this? any suggestions?
i am writing you about my upstairs neighbors dog,hes been coughing alot,non stop.she just called me and said hes not breathing that good,and she doesnt have the money to run him to an emergencyvet.i told her i think hes got heartmurmer.same symptoms my moms dog had,hes really old.i hope someone can replyback to me.so that i can let her know something thank you
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Questions Answered By:
Dr. Lauryn Spohn, DVM
