Maggie collapsed

Thinking good thought for Miss Maggie.

I'm calling the vet in a few minutes with an update so I figured I'd update you all too. Maggie rested well all night, but I didn't - she coughed a little every 2 hours or so which meant I was wide awake and worried every 2 hours.  This morning she got up as normal but when she got excited about breakfast she started coughing some more and coughed up a big puddle of phlegm.   I think we may be told to go to the er clinic associated with the specialty clinic today and I'm scared.

Callie and Amanda - thanks so much for the additional info!  Especially with the cough now it is starting to look more heart related and I don't know if that's a good thing (better than neuro?) or not.  Our vet is a holistic vet who specializes in acupuncture so if she isn't able to handle full TCVM treatment herself I know she'll know someone nearby who can.

Everyone else - thanks for all the good vibes so far - this was the first thread I looked at today as I needed a little bouying up and it did the trick!

Erin - I'm just seeing this and sending all my best for you and Maggie. I know you must be really worried and I hope they can figure out what's going on and treat it easily. (((HUGS)))

Good thoughts coming from Michigan.  (((Erin)))

Heard back from our vet and she says that we likely won't get much more than what we did yesterday at her practice if we went the the ER vet now. She's calling them herself to see if they would call in the on-call internal medicine vet if we went to ER today and if so, we may end up going in. Otherwise I'm to keep her quiet, give her supplements, and keep an eye on her until Monday. Our vet did give me her cell # in case I need it after hours - I love her!

It is looking more and more like something heart or lung related - just not sure what at this point.

She was just up chasing flies around the kitchen, so I know she's still feeling decent and that helps. She inhaled her food as usual as well.

Just talked to our vet and it looks like we may drop by the specialty clinic for a bit more blood work (coagulation profile) and another xray to make sure nothing is progressing.  Other than the overnight coughing and phlegm this morning she seems to be holding steady, but our vet said that it wouldn't hurt to check things out today just in case and it certainly would make me feel better as well.

She's been acting normal otherwise, so that does make me feel somewhat better.

Good vibes for Maggie!

Erin -- try mixing up a little honey and lemon with some slippery elm in there  (1 teas. slippery elm in about 1/3 c. boiling water.  Add !//2 c. honey and juice of lemon until a syrupy consistency)

It calms the cough.  Also ask your acupuncturist to show you to trigger point  just at the top of the breastbone in the center.  IN fact, just try it -- slip the tip of your index finger over the top of that bone and push finger in *behind* the bone a bit.  Will calm the cough quickly.

Hoping Maggie is still feeling OK and that this visit today will help put your mind at ease.

 Good thoughts headed Maggie's way, and to you.  I know you must be very worried about your girl.

We're back from the e-vets with more info!  It looks like whatever is going on is mostly lung-based and could be as simple as the beginnings of an infection or inflammation caused by inhaling something irritating.

The bloodwork came back fine (we were testing clotting function) and the xrays showed no change - which given the coughing I was concerned about the situation being worsened - and a normally sized heart.

The vet gave us an antibiotic just in case it's a slight infection and sent us home with instructions to come back if she worsens but just to see our regular vet on Monday is she maintains or improves.  No ultrasound needed unless she worsens!

The collapse may have been due to vagal nerve stimulation or some other weird thing, but nothing points to it being an ongoing issue. :)

Callie - the vets don't want her on cough suppressants so as not to mask any worsening of symptoms; is the remedy you mentioned a suppressant or just a soother?

Great news! 

  I'm sending healing vibes for Maggie and hope it's not very serious.

That's good news!

stardog85

Callie - the vets don't want her on cough suppressants so as not to mask any worsening of symptoms; is the remedy you mentioned a suppressant or just a soother?

I'ts JUST a soothant -- and the slippery elm is a darned good anti-inflammatory for the lungs.  Youc an give her as much as she wants -- the lemon is some mild Vit C, and local unfiltered honey is the best if you can find it.  If you go to a health store usually you can get slippery elm "tea" (which is just bulk slippery elm).  That way you don't have to empty capsules.

It's one of the reasons I always suggest the honey and lemon for dogs -- because it is NOT a suppressant and you can give it in between if you *are* using a cough suppressant or just give it alone if you don't want the cough suppressed.

It's also comforting to be honest -- "Here, Mom'll give you something to make you feel better!"   yeah -- it works.

Good luck!