UPDATE 8/18/23: Took Gunner to the vet today, vet caught a heart murmur, did a scan (2 views) and has enlarged heart. I didn't get much info on a detailed diagnosis but I think it's a B2 MMVD. He's on 2.5mg BID Vetmedin (pimobendan) and 1 tablet of antibiotic doxycycline for the likely/suspected kennel cough. Hard to say from an x-ray about possible tracheal collapse but they were clear in the x-ray scan. I had suspected a "heart cough", also what my boyfriend's dad had said a few years back. Glad my boyfriend took the initiative and took him to the vet. Bill came out to about $440. He just got paid today and got a raise recently. The heart med is about $89/mo if that is going to save his life and prolong it
BREED: Mini American Shepherd pretty sure from a BYB
COUGH CHARACTERISTICS: wet/moist 3 coughs finished with prolonged hacking sound (rarely anything comes out I may have seen clear mucous on the ground)
DURATION: OVER 2 YEARS NOW
I live in Eastern WA so it's drier and this dog grew up on the west side for 6 years. He still experienced the cough but not as bad and I wonder if it has to do with me moving in with my boyfriend who he seems so attached to
Will upload a recording eventually but he does it every time in the morning between the hours of 3 AM to the time we get up and it gets worse (more coughs within a 15-minute period) as he gets excited and runs to go potty. We give a him a routine and everything, I feel like he has underlying asthma/chronic seasonal allergies even though we give a 24-hour Zyrtec every day. His energy levels seem fine and he definitely a "velcro dog" to my boyfriend who got him at 12 weeks. He is now 8 Y/O (fixed) and has alot of other behavioral issues (separation anxiety - destructive/chewing when we leave the home uncrated which we stopped doing, lip curling/growling/snapping at strangers if they get too close to his bubble on leash, pulling on leash, excessive jumping on furniture and my boyfriend but not me, We play and walk him fast I feel we are giving him enough attention and potty breaks. I am hiding in the bedroom as I type this post
BREED: Mini American Shepherd pretty sure from a BYB
COUGH CHARACTERISTICS: wet/moist 3 coughs finished with prolonged hacking sound (rarely anything comes out I may have seen clear mucous on the ground)
DURATION: OVER 2 YEARS NOW
I live in Eastern WA so it's drier and this dog grew up on the west side for 6 years. He still experienced the cough but not as bad and I wonder if it has to do with me moving in with my boyfriend who he seems so attached to
Will upload a recording eventually but he does it every time in the morning between the hours of 3 AM to the time we get up and it gets worse (more coughs within a 15-minute period) as he gets excited and runs to go potty. We give a him a routine and everything, I feel like he has underlying asthma/chronic seasonal allergies even though we give a 24-hour Zyrtec every day. His energy levels seem fine and he definitely a "velcro dog" to my boyfriend who got him at 12 weeks. He is now 8 Y/O (fixed) and has alot of other behavioral issues (separation anxiety - destructive/chewing when we leave the home uncrated which we stopped doing, lip curling/growling/snapping at strangers if they get too close to his bubble on leash, pulling on leash, excessive jumping on furniture and my boyfriend but not me, We play and walk him fast I feel we are giving him enough attention and potty breaks. I am hiding in the bedroom as I type this post