We are new to the Forum and Found you because of an emergency RIGHT NOW, PLEASE HELP

[Teddy'sMom]

My puppy started dry heaving/heavily coughing or snorting at about 11 this evening. It comes and goes, but I am really worried because of this canine flu going around. Does anyone have the slightest idea of how to figure out the dosage of Robitussin CF for a 10-11 pound dog? I have seen this online as a way to help relieve the cough until our vet opens (in 4 hours). Any info will be VERY appreciated.
Thank you,
Whitney and Teddy

[IcyMist]

I wish I could help you, but I have no clue. I am sure someone who is knowledgeable will answer as soon as they see this thread. We have some very caring people in this forum. Puppy prayer sent for your little one.

[Teddy'sMom]

Thank you. He is usually so healthy and happy. He looks totally miserable, his ears are down, it is breaking my heart. He is still eating and drinking, that is keeping me from totally ******** out. I just worry about this flu that I keep hearing about!!!

[Dobified]

Teddy, you NEED to at the very least call you vet. I know it is very early in CA. you could probably wait till 8 am to phone but if you dog is really sick waiting is going to make your dog worse. You can make an emergency call.

This could be Kennel Cough, and that too needs to be treated by your Vet. You can give children's cough syrup, to figure out the dose, the doses are usually for a 60 pound child, so for 10 pound divde by six.

Kennel cough

High, dry coughs are typical of kennel cough or acute tracheobronchitis. A dog with kennel cough seems to feel fine otherwise. Cases usually heal in about two weeks, but the frequent bouts of coughing can be annoying to the owner who lies awake listening to his pet hack away. Treatment includes isolation to avoid infection of other family or kennel dogs, monitoring of temperature, rest, and if the coughing is severe, use of a children's over-the-counter cough syrup. A humidifier can help the dog breathe easier and thus reduce coughing and further throat inflammation.

Kennel cough in puppies and toy breeds can be another story; the throat irritation can be accompanied by thick secretions that can cause pneumonia.

Bordatella vaccine protects dogs from several strains of kennel cough. The intranasal version of the vaccine is more effective than the inoculation. Any dog that is constantly exposed to other dogs away from home should be protected against kennel cough.

[Dobified]

Also could be this :

Distemper

Many dog owners think that distemper is not a problem because puppies are vaccinated against it. However, not all puppies and dogs are vaccinated, and the disease remains a serious threat to puppies.

When puppies are born, they get immunity to disease through their mother's antibodies. These antibodies diminish as the pup grows, and vaccinations may not rebuild that immunity quickly enough to protect the pup from distemper and other diseases. Many veterinarians recommend that puppies be kept away from strange dogs for at least 12 weeks and preferable for 14-16 weeks to make sure the vaccines have replaced the immunity formerly provided by their mother.

Distemper can be mild in dogs that are in good condition or severe in ill-nourished animals. It can be fatal, especially in young puppies or debilitated dogs. Secondary infections can also be a problem.

The dry cough associated with distemper appears in the first stage of the disease, when the dog is listless and has a fever (103-105() and a thick, yellow discharge from nose and eyes. Although these symptoms resemble those of a common head cold in humans, dogs do not catch colds; when they appear, the dog should be taken immediately to the clinic.

Distemper is preventable by vaccination.

[Dobified]

As well as this:



Internal parasites

Infestation of internal parasites such as roundworms and heartworms can cause coughing.

Roundworms live in the canine intestine. The dog can become infected by licking or eating soil contaminated with eggs. The eggs are swallowed and hatch in the intestine; the larval worms travel to the lungs in the bloodstream, crawl up the windpipe, and are swallowed to return to the intestine and mature into adults. As they migrate up the windpipe, the larva can cause bouts of coughing.

Puppies can be born with roundworms if the mother is infested. Pregnant ******* can carry encysted roundworm larva in their tissues. In the last stages of pregnancy, the larva are emitted, enter the bloodstream, and travel to the puppies through the placenta. Worming the mother before birth is ineffective against encysted larvae.

If a dog is in good condition, a light infestation of roundworms is seldom a problem. Heartworm infestation is another thing altogether; by the time the infected dog coughs, he is already severely infected with this serious and often fatal disease.

Heartworms are transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes. The mosquito bites the infected dog, ingests the tiny heartworm microfilaria, provides a host for the next stage of development of the parasite, then transfers the juvenile larvae to the bloodstream of the next dog she feeds on. The microfilaria swim to the lungs, where they mature and reproduce, sending more microfilariae into the dog's bloodstream to be ingested by a mosquito.

The process of infection takes at least six months. The cough begins when the dog has enough adult heartworms to interfere with exchange of oxygenated blood between lungs and heart. A heartworm infested dog becomes debilitated, unable to handle mild exercise without wheezing and coughing. He may cough from the effort of walking from one side of the room to the other in severe cases.

Treatment of heartworm is extensive but is successful if the disease is not too far advanced and if the dog is in otherwise good health. Treatment involves injections of arsenic to kill the heartworms and then further injections to kill the circulating microfilariae. Initial injections must be followed by several weeks of rest until the dog's system can absorb the dead worms. The second set of injections is given six weeks after the first. Prevention of heartworm infestation is easier than cure and kinder than a bout with the parasite. An annual blood test to determine the presence of microfilariae should be done before beginning the preventive medication. Most veterinarians now conduct two tests, one to detect microfilariae and one to ascertain if non-reproducing adult worms are already present in the lungs. If the test is negative, daily and monthly preventive tablets are available, some with agents to handle whipworms and hookworms.

Many dog owners use heartworm preventive all year, especially if they are also fighting infestations of other worms. Prevention is not cheap, but it is far less expensive than treatment and it is far easier on Fido's system and quality of life.

[Dobified]

Please call your vet.

[Lessica Jake]

I wouldn't be giving my dog Robitussen unless my vet had told me to and had given me the dosage information.

[weezyNollie]

I agree Lessica Jake.. I'm a bit late, BUT. If you are having a bit of an emergency and plan on taking to the vet within hours.. do NOT self-medicate! It only inhibits those clinical signs, making it harder to diagnose.

[Teddy'sMom]

Thank you all for your input.

I called the emergency vet last night when this started, they told me to watch him and if the symptoms get worse then to bring him in.

I will not self medicate at all.

He has an appointment in a few hours, (finally), to see our vet!!

Ill keep you posted.