Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts!

• 04-18-2008 2:45 PM

  stardog85 Joined on 09-10-2007 South Carolina, USA Posts 1,390 Points 105

  Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact  I just got this email from my dad: "Oreo has a lung infection similar to pneumonia. Regime of antibiotics for 14 days should clear it up. If she doesn't show signs of improvement by Monday, we'll need to probably do x-ray and or blood tests. Dr. Koch favors the antibiotics as highly likely to resolve the issue. She is at more risk due to age. Her heart is doing well for now." If anyone has experience with this type of thing can you share so I can give my parents as much info as possible?  Oreo is a 13yo Lab/Cattle Dog mix, generally healthy though she is epileptic. I'd also appreciate some good vibes sent her way if possible!  Erin, the Amazing Maggie Mae, and Super Puppy Ziva

  Filed under: lung infection, pneumonia Post Points: 0

• 04-18-2008 3:11 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,563 Points 4,170	Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact  Good health vibes coming her way! Get well Oreo!
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• 04-18-2008 3:59 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  sl2crmeg Joined on 10-08-2006 New Smyrna Beach, FL Posts 2,397 Points 245	Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact Mmmm, Oreooooos *drool* Ahh, sorry! Get Well Soon Oreo!
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• 04-18-2008 4:20 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  JackieG Joined on 04-15-2008 Central Texas Posts 123 Points 105

  Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact Sending you good thoughts.  A close friend's dog was originally diagnosed with pnuemonia and was on antibiotics for a total of three weeks with no improvement.  Lab work confirmed a fungal infection of the lungs.  Long term treatment will hopefully resolve this dog's infection.  Just wanted you to know that if the infection doesn't clear up with antibiotics you may want to pursue further tests. These type of fungal infections are not very common and many vets will rarely see a case. Hope everything clears up for her soon.  I have a senior dog and it is scary when they get sick.   JG

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• 04-18-2008 7:09 PM

  In reply to JackieG

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,007 Points 1,955

  Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact *My* first question would have been has the dog had a heartworm test?  Antibiotics will only help if its bacterial.  If it's viral or fungal it won't.  Has the vet given anything for the coughing?  (and I hope like heck the vet gave due consideration to heart involvement)  I often use just a honey & lemon mix with slippery elm for a dog with lung problems.  Slippery elm is a really good anti-inflammatory for the lungs.  But it's not a cough *suppressant* (i.e., you don't want to suppress the cough if the vet wants the dog to cough stuff up -- but you want to soothe a cough so it doesn't completely wreck them and make them tired). Try this -- 1C of honey (preferably unfiltered honey from an apiary somewhere close to you -- regular grocery store honey is ok) Juice of one fresh lemon (Real Lemon is ok if it's what you have) 1 tablespoon of slippery elm powder (empty capsules if you need to if you can't find it in bulk) 1/3 - 1/2 c. of HOT water -- stir it into the slippery elm first -- it makes a gelatenous mess.  You can add a bit more water if it's all too 'thick' (altho it's easier to give to a dog thick than thin actually and it's not a problem) In other words there's no real 'recipe' - it depends on the slippery elm you're working with and how much lemon you add and how thick the honey is. The real pain is stirring the water into the slippery elm -- it wants to 'glop' together so if you have a little whisk or fork it can help smooth it out.  But even if it's lumpy it's no big problem. You *can* easily add 2-3 teabags of chammomile to all of this -- just plain tear open the dry bag and add the herbs to the slippery elm and water (maybe increase the water to 1/2 a cup or better).  This gives you a different type of anti-inflammatory but it will also help the tummy.

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• 04-18-2008 7:28 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  stardog85 Joined on 09-10-2007 South Carolina, USA Posts 1,390 Points 105

  Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact Thanks for the good thoughts everyone! I'll keep the possibility of fungal infection in mind if she ends up going back in on Monday.  I don't know if Oreo has had a heartworm test recently, but since she had accompanying nasal discharge and coughed up mucous several times (as well as being on Interceptor), i think that heartworm disease is a pretty small possibility.  My dad did say her heart's fine, so it sounds like they may have had a good listen to it as well.  Do you know if slippery elm is ok for an animal who has had seizures (and many at that) in the past?   Erin, the Amazing Maggie Mae, and Super Puppy Ziva

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• 04-18-2008 9:43 PM

  In reply to stardog85

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 4,194 Points 40	Re: Experiences with lung infections? Need good thoughts! Reply Contact   I'm sorry to hear about Oreo; sending lots of healing vibes. Life isn't about waiting through the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain. Janice
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