Jezzy diagnosed with chronic bronchitis

Amy, I don't have any experience with this condition but just wanted to offer my support as you deal with Jez's situation.  She's in the best of hands with you.  (((hugs)))

I don't know about this one either, Amy.  So, I'm also offering support and best wishes as well.  I have used milk thistle many times and it never hurts especially when the dog is on medications. 

NEVER HAD A DOG WITH THIS PROBLEM....JUST A SON.   SO I REALLY CAN'T OFFER ANY ADVICE.  BUT I WANT TO WISH YOU AND YOUR "FUR KID" THE BEST.

 (((Amy))); I'm sorry you're dealing with this and hope my experience will help. I almost thought this was an old thread of mine; my dog's name is Jessie and she also has chronic bronchitis. You did not cause this; please don't blame yourself. I felt the same way you do when Jessie was diagnosed. Her x-rays also showed a pattern in the lungs similar to your dog; it's called an interstitial pattern. It's often a normal change from aging and doesn't necessarily mean CB. Did the vet confirm an infection? Jessie went through tests at a vet teaching school and they determined that her CB was not caused by an infection, but  by allergies. They didn't want to treat her with steroids until they ruled out infection because steroids would make an infection worse. She doesn't have the barrel chest you describe and she coughed a lot more than your dog before she started treatment. She has been on a MDI called Flovent for over a year and it has helped her tremendously. Her last x-rays showed that after a year and a half, her lungs had not gotten worse, and she only coughs once or twice a day, sometimes even less. She can still take long walks; we walked for four miles today, which isn't unusual. Flovent is a very low dose of steroid (220mcg),  but because it's delivered directly to the lungs it's very effective. It hasn't raised her liver enzymes. I use a spacer (brand name AeroDawg) and a mask to give her 2 puffs a day;

Welcome to Trudell Medical International - AeroDawg* Canine Aerosol Chamber
 

 Here are some links about it's effectiveness and safety;

  Respiratory Drugs - WSAVA 2005 Congress   

Use of Inhaled Medications to Treat Respiratory Diseases in Dogs and Cats -- Padrid 42 (2): 165 -- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association  

Management of 13 cases of canine respiratory disea... [J Small Anim Pract. 2006] - PubMed result 

   I think the best antioxidant you can put her on is CoQ10; not only is it a great free radical scavenger, but it increases the supply of oxygen to the cells, which is important when breathing may be impaired. I think fish oil is a good idea because it's anti-inflammatory.  Jessie also gets 200 IU's of vitamin E daily; not sure how much to give a dog as small as yours. It's important to avoid irritating your dog's lungs. I vacuum and dust often and do not use aerosol air fresheners, any type of powder on the carpet, etc.You should avoid giving her a cough suppressant because couging clears the stuff out of her lungs. You should use a harness when walking her to avoid restricting her airway. Her teeth need to be kept clean to protect her lungs from bacteria. Jessie's 12 and had a dental 2 weeks ago. She did great. I'm sure I forgot something; please let me know how I can help.

 I forgot to tell you that there are Chinese herbs that may help. Before starting the Flovent, I took Jessie to a holistic vet to see if acupuncture would help. It didn't, but he recommended two powdered Chinese herbal mixtures made by Dr. Xie's company;

  Welcome to Dr. Xie's Jingtang Herbal  

  I mixed them in her food but they had a very strong smell and she wouldn't touch her food. Jessie also has chronic pancreatitis, so I was very limited in what foods I could use to tempt her to take the herbs. I made treats using Hill's canned z/d mixed with the herbs but she wouldn't eat them either. The vet suggested mixing them with water and using a syringe to give them to her. That didn't work either because Jessie has laryngeal paralysis and aspirated the mixture, causing her to cough quite a lot. Fortunately, the Flovent is easy to use and has worked very well, but you may want to go to a veterinarian that practices traditional Chinese medicine to to see if the herbs will help Jezzy.

Ms. Socks lungs looked like swiss cheese -- and I have had COPD & asthma (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) for many years.  However, I control it ***completely*** with homeopathics and some herbs.

I'll email you my phone -- let's talk.  I have Hawthorne berry I can send you (I'd just started him on the loose herb -- tastes like dusty strawberries - he loved it), and a bunch of other stuff.

 NO GRAPE SEED (just emphasis -- not yelling at you) -- for the same reason dogs can't have raisins!!  It's the seeds in raisins that are essentially the toxins.  Too hard on the kidneys.  Pine Bark probably wouldn't be my choice either -- it can cause seizures. 

Reishi mushroom is a good anti-oxidant. 

I always pair Vit A & E together -- they're somewhat co-dependant in the body.  Probably 7,000 units of A paired with 300 units of E.  But I'd probably *** the capsules and give half today and half tomorrow of each.  That's enough for a wee girl.

The slippery elm will be more effective if you add it to water and make a slurry (you can add that to food).  A tsp. of slippery elm + 1/2 c. boiling water and whisk.

But if we talk I can tell you pressure points that relieve coughing and the homeopathics that have quite literally saved my life.  See if your vet is comfortable with homeopathy -- -Heel products absolutely rock (and usually you can get them at Whole Foods) -- but they have a bronchitis formula that is **really** good.  But like I said, we probably need to talk -- there are TONS of things you can do.

And honestly?  this is BETTER than heart problems -- 7 years ago I was on four breathing treatments a DAY and a ton of steroids and inhalers and and and ande AND ...

Today?  NOTHING.  Ms. Socks had acute lung problems because she'd had untreated heartworm -- she had holes in her lungs as big as your thumb.  But we kept her fine with some herbs (and I didn't even know about the homopathics then) and she lived to be SEVENTEEN and a HALF!!!

I'm here to hold you up -- THIS I have lived and know tons about!! *grin*  ***HUGS***

Wishing you and Jezzy the best ((hugs))

There IS something about keeping the chest covered -- even in hot weather -- that DOES help enormously.