BarbedWire Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 (edited) Hi all I have a senior dog who sometimes wheezes and coughs when we are watching the telly together at night. When he was last at the vet I did ask him about it and he said it was a lung condition and was probably due to his age. He did name the condition but it went in one ear and out the other. He said there was a medication for it if it got bad enough. What I want to know is if anybody else has experienced this and how bad you would let it get before you started medicating. Thanks Edited August 19, 2014 by sarsaparilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Might it have been laryngeal paralysis. Not uncommon in older dogs. Not a lung condition but a degenerative condition of the muscles and/or nerves controlling the larynx. If so treatment would vary depending on the cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thankyou. I just rang the vet and spoke to the receptionist. The vet I saw was busy, so she asked another vet who suggested that it was commonly known as lung changes. She said that as a dog aged its lung tissue hardened. Or did she say softened? It was one or the other. Sorry not a good listener :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 lung changes . Now , that is really helpful - NOT . When you were at the vets did the vet do a thorough check? listening closely in all areas - ask about the wheezing -as in how often ..what dog was doing when it coughed etc ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Yes he did listen to his chest. He was just there for his annual checkup and I mentioned the wheezing. Sorry I have never had an older dog before. He is 12 but acts and looks as if he is 2, God bless him. He is such a sweet soul. The receptionist said it is commonly known as lung changes ie in layman's language. That is the best I can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 We board an older dog who has developed asthma & on occasions requires an inhaler . Personally that answer isn't good enough unless you misses alot of the convo. Does he only do it a night ,when more excited ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thankyou to those who have taken the time to read. I was really just hoping someone else had a similar problem. It is not urgent. I only notice it at night when he is sitting next to me watching telly. I am an asthmatic and it does sound like asthma. He is not distressed. I will just have to ask the vet for more info. I have been there three times this week and I can't afford another visit unless it is super urgent, so I will just let it ride for a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 it is commonly known as lung changes ie in layman's language. lung changes can happen for LOTS of reasons ....it is disappointing they did not take time to explain - or even to print out something so you could read it & take it in later ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 16, 2014 Author Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thanks Persephone. It's my fault too. I don't hear very well and I should ask more when I have not heard accurately. It's just easier to pretend you have heard when you haven't. Often when you tell someone you can't hear properly they either start shouting, or remember to speak clearly and face you for one minute, and then revert to mumbling or whatever they were doing. I find vets like talking to their computers not their clients. Thanks for trying to help though, and Showdog and Starkehre too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbedWire Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Thought posters might be interested. I have just spoken with my vet and my dog has chronic bronchitis which he says is quite common in older dogs and unless it is troubling him is best left alone. I guess my earlier question is still pertinent. When would you seek more intensive treatment for an older dog with chronic bronchitis? It is not bothering him and he loves going for walks every day. ATM I am vacuuming everywhere to get rid of as much dust as I can which I thought might help. Any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB1824 Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 I think the vacuuming is a great idea. :) In regards to seeking more intensive treatment (please feel free to disagree anyone cos I have had no experience with it!) I think I would try something more if you notice him having longer fits of coughing, or if it looks like he's using effort to breathe, or if he starts showing other signs (he might be more prone to secondary infection) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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