Chronic bronchitis etc.

[Paivi]

We have an almost 14 years old female basenji. She suffers from cardiac insufficiency and takes several medicines: Fortekor 5, Prilactone 40 and Dimazon 40.

She started coughing 2-3 years ago. Some months ago the veterinary told us she has a chronic bronchitis. For some months now she has taken Moderin (cortisone) according to the frequency of her cough attacks. If she coughs less, I give medicine 2 times per week, if she coughs more, I give medicine every day.

Unfortunately her cough is getting worse despite the medicine, and I am afraid it is not a good idea to continue giving cortisone for a long time.

Any similar experiences, ideas, advice? Thank you in advance.

[Rita Jean]

I do not know much ad med's but it will help if you can help keep the air clean in the house. Maybe air pur in room she sleeps in would let her to sleep easy. I also know if you limit exercise and make sure they are not to heavy it also will help. I would look online about med's and maybe call ask advice from another vet.

Rita Jean

[tanza]

At her age, I would continue doing what you are doing… she is older.. and needs to be comfortable in her elder years.... there other medications and really you should discuss with your/her Vet

[MacPack]

My Topper will be 14 tomorrow, he had pneumonia many times when he was younger and about 3 years ago was diagnosed with chronic allergic bronchitis. He started taking theophylline (bronchodilator) 100 mg twice a day, then we upped it to 125 mg twice a day. After almost a year his coughing got worse and chest x-rays showed enlarged heart so we started on lasix, (for congestive heart failure) dosed based on the way his lungs sounded every day but this was erratic, I settled on adding 20 mg of the lasix (diuretic) twice a day and we did much better for many months, then coughing again and we added spiralactone 25 mg twice a day, this is another diuretic but also helps with the heart. He has been on these 3 meds twice a day for about 9 months and he is so much better than he was a year or two ago. He only occasionally coughs, he was actually running a little at the park tonight…of course it was the first cool night we have had in MONTHS!
We have not had him on any steroids at all, thankfully. Topper has had a very good year, I hope his medications keep working and he stays stable on his doses.

Good luck to you, it is hard to see them breathe so hard, and cough and be out of breath. If what you are doing works well, keep it up, if not, look for other options. I hope your girl has many good times in front of her!

[Paivi]

Thank you so much for your answers!

We live in the countryside in a low energy house equipped with air filters. Air in house should be clean and "better quality", but maybe this filter system does not suit her? However, perhaps changing her mattresses and blankets more frequently could help.

Happy birthday to Topper, we wish he will stay happy and in a good shape for a long time!

Our basenji Rairai started with heart problems and her cough was supposed to be due to enlarged heart. We started all these different medications (one of them is diuretic) and they helped for a while. But then she started coughing again, and this time the diagnosis was chronic bronchitis. The heart problem should be under control now.

I was thinking about some products that could help her breathe more easily, but I have not found any. The vets here seem to "know" only cortisone… I would like to find a softer and more natural medication.

Thank you for sharing your ideas with us, knowing that we are not alone with this problem helps already a lot.

[snorky998]

Macpack's post regarding Theophylline made me recall an article I read a few years back about using a nebulizer with bronchial dilators such as Theophyllin and Ventolin. This might be an option for you. Administering a bronchial dilator directly into the bronchial tree makes more sense than an oral med. when you think about it. Perhaps your vet has more info on this.

[MacPack]

That would be the ideal option! At first we tried to use a nebulizer with albuterol but Topper hated having it blown at his face, we tried putting him in a small plastic crate with a towel over it to close off the air vents and blowing the nubulizer into that but he hated that too and really fought it. Vet said it works well for some dogs that don't mind it, not so well for others. And trying to use a regular inhaler with a dog is almost impossible, they don't take deep breaths on command like humans do!

If Rairai will tolerate being in a small crate covered loosely with a cloth and having the medication nebulized and blown on her, that would definitely be something to try. Or she may not mind being held and having it blown toward her nose. Topper tolerated this for a few days then said Absolutely Not! But it is a very good idea for any dog that will let you do it!

[MDSPHOTO]

I would check the side effects of the drugs as Many cardiac drugs can cause cough, beta blockers most commonly.

[Paivi]

Thank you for your suggestions!

I am afraid Rairai would not tolerate a nebulizer, she is not the most cooperative dog I have met. But you never know before you try.

Rairai already suffered from the cough before she started this medication for heart problems. So probably they are not the cause.

I'll meet a homeopath next week, she lives in Germany and works as specialist on homeopathic treatment of animals. I hope she can help.

[tanza]

@Paivi:

Thank you for your suggestions!

I am afraid Rairai would not tolerate a nebulizer, she is not the most cooperative dog I have met. But you never know before you try.

Rairai already suffered from the cough before she started this medication for heart problems. So probably they are not the cause.

I'll meet a homeopath next week, she lives in Germany and works as specialist on homeopathic treatment of animals. I hope she can help.

I think that is a great idea…. many homeopathic treatments really help our elder kids... my Kistii will be 15 in December