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Pug coughing/gagging - can anyone help?
I have a 6year old female pug, for the last 6 days she has been coughing/gagging but not all the time - it seems to come on randomly throughout the day and night. The coughs/gags have been dry except for one which caused her to be sick. She has always gagged but its not been so bad as this.
I am reluctant to take her to the vets - as we seem to always be there!! And I have read a lot of people say on the internet that after taking their pug to the vet with similar symptoms that the vet was unable to find the problem.
Can anyone help? Is it something that will go on its own?
I am reluctant to take her to the vets - as we seem to always be there!! And I have read a lot of people say on the internet that after taking their pug to the vet with similar symptoms that the vet was unable to find the problem.
Can anyone help? Is it something that will go on its own?
Hi. I agree, too many antibiotics is not good, as the immune system gets used to them and they can then become ineffective when you really do need them. BUT, I think your best friend needs antibiotics right now. The lumps or hives are typical of a dog with serious allergies. This needs to be gotten under control, then manage the condition with suitable treatments.
You really need the vet to take skin scrapings to see if this is mites, otherwise you may be treating something else with no consequential effect. So first task, get to the vet, get antibiotics and a proper diagnosis through skin scraping examination. If it turns out not to be mites, then that's good, you can then concentrate on the food (as that's still the 2nd most likely cause).
You say he was diagnosed once with atopic dermatitis ... how long ago and what was the treatment given at that time? Did it clear it up? If you can't remember what the treatment was, ask your vet who should have it on file/record.
People often think dogs don't sweat - but they do. They have sweat glands in areas of their bodies where there is no hair. Dogs regulate temperature by panting, and it is thought the sweat glands of a dog produce chemicals and odors to communicate with other dogs. No one actually knows for certain, but yes, all dogs sweat, just not like humans do.
Wild ocean canine caviar is a very good choice of dog food. It has almost no grain content and is high in duck protein. Now, here's a question, did your dog start with the allergy itching etc after starting on the wild ocean canine caviar or was he itching beforehand? I ask because maybe, just maybe, he is allergic to the protein contained in duck meat. The way to try to find out is to give him something else for a week to see if there is any change - I would suggest maybe chicken and boiled white rice - or any other meat, because these will all have different proteins.
Anyway, maybe I've given you enough to think about there. Hope things settle down soon. Have a lovely Boxing Day. Tony x
You really need the vet to take skin scrapings to see if this is mites, otherwise you may be treating something else with no consequential effect. So first task, get to the vet, get antibiotics and a proper diagnosis through skin scraping examination. If it turns out not to be mites, then that's good, you can then concentrate on the food (as that's still the 2nd most likely cause).
You say he was diagnosed once with atopic dermatitis ... how long ago and what was the treatment given at that time? Did it clear it up? If you can't remember what the treatment was, ask your vet who should have it on file/record.
People often think dogs don't sweat - but they do. They have sweat glands in areas of their bodies where there is no hair. Dogs regulate temperature by panting, and it is thought the sweat glands of a dog produce chemicals and odors to communicate with other dogs. No one actually knows for certain, but yes, all dogs sweat, just not like humans do.
Wild ocean canine caviar is a very good choice of dog food. It has almost no grain content and is high in duck protein. Now, here's a question, did your dog start with the allergy itching etc after starting on the wild ocean canine caviar or was he itching beforehand? I ask because maybe, just maybe, he is allergic to the protein contained in duck meat. The way to try to find out is to give him something else for a week to see if there is any change - I would suggest maybe chicken and boiled white rice - or any other meat, because these will all have different proteins.
Anyway, maybe I've given you enough to think about there. Hope things settle down soon. Have a lovely Boxing Day. Tony x
one more thing I bathed him last week and I noticed when I would scratch and or pet him that he had bumps around his neck as if to say I may not have rinsed him well .. but I did ! I also thought I felt bumps on his lower legs ..... he does have skin tags and also .. poor guy I am always having to wash his folds in face he get crusty around eyes and grey goup as well ....he is happy go lucky however having issues .. the vet likes to give him antibiotics so that is why I am avoiding at this time ..... too many antibiotics is not good for immune system.....
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hi tony ... It appears that I didn't send my last comment properly ! well .. mr marley is not doing well .... he is itching and it appears to be perhaps all over but mostly his rear legs ... this can also be due to his arthritis. It is somewhat cold here .. even though winter has been mild. I reread your food info barrel food allergy article. Very good article .... I do recall now marley was diagnosed with "atopic dermatitis" and food allergy. let's see since my last comment that never got sent (?) I had to bathe him in earthbath brand oatmeal aloe and conditioned him in burts bees conditioner since I ran out of etiderm ! etiderm is not available in calif due to cancer causing agent .. virbac will reformulate in meantime it was recommended by virbac to use keratolux after I told them about his dander and oiliness he gets .. weird... so I purchased that. he has been stuffed up, itchy etc .. so today I will use the keratolux on him ( 12/26) and I am wondering about this food .. ummmm he has been eating the wild ocean canine caviar ..... I just wonder about the stuffed nose and good snot sneezes he lets out when barking !!! ok I sent a lot of info ... still looking at flea control . I just hate to poison would love to ear your view on alternative flea control ..... I have done a little research ...... oh .. another strange thing about this boy .... fyi he sweats ! yes, armpits !!! he hasn't lately .. but he does !!!! he is just a sensitive creature ... oh he also take meds for his arthritis 2x daily and helps ...... hope you had a merry xmas !!!!! thank you for all your help !!!!!!
Hi. No, the other dogs may not be as sensitive to dust mites, even if that's what it is. Some dogs are far more sensitive than others. I would urge you to read my piece on food allergies, as that is a real concern with any dog that is sensitive to other things.
The vet cleaning your dog's ears is good, but it wouldn't necessarily identify ear mites, because they are so very tiny and barely visible to the naked eye - even if you are looking for them. The vet would need to examine waxy deposits under a microscope. Do you know whether he did this?
When you washed the bedding ... two things occur to me ... first, bedding needs to be washed at a high temperature (60 degrees at least) to kill off mites. But the larva can still hatch some days or weeks or even months later, so the only certain way is to replace with new. Second, what detergents did you use in the wash? Any dog that is sensitive to mites, etc., will also likely be sensitive to biological washing powders and block detergents, so it's best to use a non-bio type of washing liquid for sensitive skins.
Yes, many dogs find flea and mite control meds difficult to keep down. They are poisons after all - but necessary ones, unless you keep trying homeopathic treatments until you find one that works for your dog. I would certainly tell your vet about vomiting, as it needs to be a) monitored and b) an alternative treatment must be prescribed.
Is Marley still itching? If yes, where is he itching and how often?
Tony
The vet cleaning your dog's ears is good, but it wouldn't necessarily identify ear mites, because they are so very tiny and barely visible to the naked eye - even if you are looking for them. The vet would need to examine waxy deposits under a microscope. Do you know whether he did this?
When you washed the bedding ... two things occur to me ... first, bedding needs to be washed at a high temperature (60 degrees at least) to kill off mites. But the larva can still hatch some days or weeks or even months later, so the only certain way is to replace with new. Second, what detergents did you use in the wash? Any dog that is sensitive to mites, etc., will also likely be sensitive to biological washing powders and block detergents, so it's best to use a non-bio type of washing liquid for sensitive skins.
Yes, many dogs find flea and mite control meds difficult to keep down. They are poisons after all - but necessary ones, unless you keep trying homeopathic treatments until you find one that works for your dog. I would certainly tell your vet about vomiting, as it needs to be a) monitored and b) an alternative treatment must be prescribed.
Is Marley still itching? If yes, where is he itching and how often?
Tony
tony .. I just had his ears cleaned by vet less than two weeks ago since they do a very deep cleaning ... there was nothing to report ! His ears looked good : ) Marley was always prone to yeast in his ears so there was nothing ...... I do use the Nordic naturals omegas in their food .. I have notice with the fawn pug there has been less shedding ! getting back to marley and mites .. I don't think it's that serious ... the mange and all .... I am now more concerned about the itch and mites .... I wash bedding and have to buy the allergy free soap .... ummmm what to use for flea control .. that's my question . I don't like the comfortis .....my other dog throws up even when I feed with food as per instruction and break into two servings .... I still want to read your link in regards to food allergies ...... now if and if there are mites .. just due to dust in the house .... wouldn't the other dogs be itching too ???
Hi. There is nothing wrong with Comfortis, which is very effective, but it must be given each month, every month ... so having a break is not a good idea. If it is mites or fleas, have you de-infested the bedding and home environment? If not, the larva will hatch and re-infest your dog(s).
Nolvamite, Cerumite, Mitox, Acarex, and Tresaderm are also all very good at treating ear mites - and of these, Tresaderm is probably the best, as it has antibiotic in it. It is crucial to use the medication on all of your dogs, (and clean ears before treatment as per the manufacturer's instructions), as they will transfer mites from one to the other.
If the skin is itchy elsewhere, it could be sarcoptic mange, and you should get a vet to diagnose the condition - and then get the appropriate treatment. Treating the ears for mites will not treat sarcoptic mange at the same time, as it is completely different.
Good luck and do keep me informed how things progress. Tony
Nolvamite, Cerumite, Mitox, Acarex, and Tresaderm are also all very good at treating ear mites - and of these, Tresaderm is probably the best, as it has antibiotic in it. It is crucial to use the medication on all of your dogs, (and clean ears before treatment as per the manufacturer's instructions), as they will transfer mites from one to the other.
If the skin is itchy elsewhere, it could be sarcoptic mange, and you should get a vet to diagnose the condition - and then get the appropriate treatment. Treating the ears for mites will not treat sarcoptic mange at the same time, as it is completely different.
Good luck and do keep me informed how things progress. Tony
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