Elsa's hacking cough
Ever since she was six months old or so, Elsa's woken up with a hacking dry cough a few times a month, sometimes oftener. I took her to the vet, and no lung or heart issues. The fits only last a few minutes or so, and a tablespoon of ice cream or honey takes care of it.
She had a particularly bad one this morning, so I called my vet again.
Any morning vomiting, they ask?
Only once, I said, and that was from seriously overeating (thanks, mum and dad, for table scraps) and there was no coughing that morning.
Does she do it when she gets excited?
Nope, I said. That's when she barks or spins around so much she falls over.
What stopped it?
I told them about the ice cream, and they said that if it's stopped by soothing the throat, then it's probably a throat issue. She might not do well in dry climates or, because she's so little and close to the ground, she might kick up a lot of dust when she skitters or plays, and it settles when she sleeps. And though they did screen her for heart and lung issues (little dogs are particularly susceptible), she came back totally healthy. If I panic, they'll happily do it again.
I'm glad my vet is open at 8am when I'm in panic mode.
She had a particularly bad one this morning, so I called my vet again.
Any morning vomiting, they ask?
Only once, I said, and that was from seriously overeating (thanks, mum and dad, for table scraps) and there was no coughing that morning.
Does she do it when she gets excited?
Nope, I said. That's when she barks or spins around so much she falls over.
What stopped it?
I told them about the ice cream, and they said that if it's stopped by soothing the throat, then it's probably a throat issue. She might not do well in dry climates or, because she's so little and close to the ground, she might kick up a lot of dust when she skitters or plays, and it settles when she sleeps. And though they did screen her for heart and lung issues (little dogs are particularly susceptible), she came back totally healthy. If I panic, they'll happily do it again.
I'm glad my vet is open at 8am when I'm in panic mode.