Skip to content

Breathing and Coughing problems

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Was wondering if anyone else's basenji has or had this before. My boy has been having some coughing and choking problems. He also wheezes when he runs around allot. Not sure if he has allergy's to something or what. I have had him to the vet, they think he might have a bronchial allergy. They are not sure. They took some x-ray's last year and took some more today to see if anything has changed, Haven't heard anything back yet, the vet said they may have a radiologist look at them. Any suggestions to help him would be appreciated. Thank you.

  • Has this been continuous since last year or is it a recurrence of last year's problem? If the latter, and its the same time of year, I would be guessing allergies.

  • Thank you. Sounds like he has allergies and a bronchial problem. They are suggesting antibiotics or stariods. Not sure which one to go with at this moment. Will have to get more info on both,

  • Really glad it is something fixable. Sometimes dogs with heart failure or cancer do that, but as he had this before, sounded like recurrence. I would ask why the different drugs... if bacterial, he needs antibiotics to clear it up. Steroids can help with allergic reaction/inflammation, but won't do squat for infection. Are they suggesting one and then the other if first doesn't work? Good luck!

Suggested Topics

  • 0 Votes
    10 Posts
    2k Views
    Thank you, All, so much for your time and helpful advice! Okay, we did something yesterday that may have been foolish but at the time his cough had gotten bad and after spending so much on vet bills and prescriptions, we decided to invest in a bottle of infant cough medicine. We gave a small dosage to Mack and after coughing up a big glob his coughing has subsided and he appears to be feeling better. We won't be repeating the dosage. I do love the idea of elderberry and honey! However, our fear of negative results after trying the infant medicine had us so on edge that if Mack does start coughing again, we will call the vet. Thank you all, again! I appreciate you!!
  • 0 Votes
    15 Posts
    3k Views
    I hope the vet figures out what is wrong & that your baby girl recovers soon. You are a good mommy to be taking such good care of her :) She's a lucky pup. Thinking about you & her as she gets better!
  • 0 Votes
    36 Posts
    13k Views
    @chilli07: after reading all posts, we changed Chilli's food to Innovo - Evo (no grain) this is the only product i can find here in melbourne..she hasn't completely stop but still scratching. might have something to do with her stealing food from the jack russell. found that out tonight! That is a big reason that I have for keeping both the kids on the same food. If Charlie manages to get into Zaires food I know it is ok. Also I have found that with a B and a Parsonn Russell in the house kennell feeding works best for me, as neither of these dogs will back down when it comes to food. :) Great to know there is someone else out there crazy enough to be owned by a B and a Russell at the same time. :D
  • 0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    Glad its nothing worse!
  • 0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    Dallas has the same thing & I was told it was a reaction to his recent rabies vaccination. It will go away within a few weeks.
  • 0 Votes
    22 Posts
    7k Views
    @etzbseder: While I've got people looking at this, my B also has a minor umbilical hernia, I was wondering, how big of an issue is it, and should I get him fixed. Do the potential problems get overweighed by the benefits? That is usually not a big deal. The majority of Basenjis are born with umbilical hernias. Should you get him fixed? As in neutered? Yes. Should you get the hernia fixed? They could do it when they neuter him if it bothers you…but it isn't a health concern unless it is quite big.