Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My dog Kika just starting getting horse today. She has been coughing not all the time but sometimes when she wakes from a nap or comes inside from outside(it's pretty dry and chilly today in st. louis mo.)

It doesn't seem bad enough to call the vet do you guys think I should anyway. It's not a gagging cough or sound real bad like kennel cough when my dobe had that. Almost just like a quick dry heave??

Someone told me a while back you can give them a very small dose of childrens cough syrup.

All advice will help thanks

>>My dog Kika just starting getting horse today. She has been coughing not all the time but sometimes when she wakes from a nap or comes inside from outside(it's pretty dry and chilly today in st. louis mo.)
>>
>>It doesn't seem bad enough to call the vet do you guys think I should anyway. It's not a gagging cough or sound real bad like kennel cough when my dobe had that. Almost just like a quick dry heave??
>>
>>Someone told me a while back you can give them a very small dose of childrens cough syrup.
>>
>>All advice will help thanks
>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Never give your dog over-the-counter human medicines unless your vet tells you to do it IN THAT CASE (not for some other problem at some other time) and how much and how often. You can kill your dog, and I am not exaggerating.

Due to the risk of a toy breed progressing to pneumonia more easily than a larger dog and due to the serious canine virus going around, I'd have this dog to the vet quickly.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

In my family we've seen a few different reasons for coughing.

Gramma's girl Pepi has alergies that pop up to cause it. If it's just minor we don't want her to go on the meds but if it bothers her more then just a tiny bit, then it's off to the vet so she can get what she needs.

My ol' girl had a bit of a cough develop when we lived in an apartment for a couple years, we think it was the mold that developed in the bathroom sink area. In her case I was directed to give her small doses of an over the counter med like you mention. This was carefully directed by her vet for her specific issue, it was a different med then what Pepi needs.

If her cough is minor, then possibly watch and see - however, if it concerns you enough to post here and ask I would guess that it's enough to have the vet take a look.

Fingers crossed for your little one!

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tabitha