Dog Community

Chronic Bronchitis

Posted : 12/14/2011 7:36:36 AM

Hi, I am new to the community and I found you by researching chronic bronchitis. I came across posts belonging to stardancnminpin and Jessie's Mom discussing the bronchitis. I have a 9 year old dalmatian mix named Cocoa, although she looks more like a chocolate lab. She was diagnosed with chronic bronchitis earlier this year, and so far has taken no meds for it. I have read the posts from this past March (I believe) that stardancnminpin and Jessie's Mom posted on the subject. I would love to hear from them (or anyone else experiencing this) to see what progress they have made since that time, and what they have found works best for their dog's condition. As a result of conservative management treatment (successfully) for a torn ccl on her right leg that Cocoa received last New Year's Day, she eats home cooked food, and takes about 6 or 7 supplements/vitamins. Has anyone tried using a humidifier/vaporizer to see if it helps any. Cocoa's coughing is not what I consider bad yet, but it has increased with the colder weather due to the heat blowing in the house. Any comments, suggestions, or experiences are greatly appreciated. Karen

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/14/2011 12:02:07 PM

I've had dogs with chronic bronchitis/lung problems, and I've also had asthma/chronic bronchitis of my own. In honesty, this is one of the places where I find alternative medicine works better.

acupuncture/herbs to help dry up the lungs without a loss in lung function -- basically treating what's causing it to occur, rather than just treating symptoms.

http://www.tcvm.com -- there's a locator on the left, but please don't just look for the one closest to you. If you want to email me I'd be happy to share more with you.

kscelsi

Posted : 12/14/2011 1:04:42 PM

Thank you! I'll go check out that website now. That's exactly what I was wanting to hear....that alternative medicine would help. I want to stay away from the steroids as long as possible.

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/14/2011 4:05:40 PM

Just be sure the vet has addressed the possibility of heart problems and/or heartworm. Bronchitis in dogs DOES surely happen -- but heart problems and heartworm problems are more common.

There are alternative things that can help all three things.

I lost my Billy in March to a heart attack. We'd known for 3 years he had heart issues (and was treated) but suddenly he developed this "cough" and I had TWO vets (two good vets, in fact) who really thought it sounded like kennel cough.

I had a dog years ago who had a compromised heart because she'd had heartworm for YEARS that went untreated. It gave her an enlarged heart -- and she coughed A LOT. The heartworm had literally stretched her heart -- we got the heartworm treated (the slow way -- the vets wouldn't even touch her with the immiticide). She coughed every day of her life - she was 10 when she came to us ("Just give her a place that's warm on your kitchen floor -- she'll only live a month or so";) -- SIX AND A HALF YEARS LATER she finally went to the Bridge.

Cough? Oh yeah. BUT sometimes it was the crappy lungs ... sometimes it was "heart".

This is why I"m prodding you. It can be tough to tell the difference.

ALL are treatable (and it's not a huge deal). But different treatments. (alternative? Yep -- either in concert with a bit of regular meds or alone)

Dariya

Posted : 12/26/2011 5:18:29 PM

The owner’s attention is the best reward for a dog.