Lance's Reprieve
As some of you may have followed this story, Lance's coughing has worsened. He coughs like an old man with TB. He's now starting having spells outside; this is new. I've been simply unable to ignore it anymore and had to seriously start thinking about his quality of life. The cough medine with codeine did nothing. Yet he's a still a vital dog who is not incontinent, eats, sleeps, poops, licks, wags tail, and actually pays attention to the world around him when he feels like it. In other words, the old dude trundles along just fine...when he's not coughing. What do I do? I don't want to make a premature decision.
So I took him to the vet yesterday seeking info and advice. They ran tests and observed him overnight. His heart is very enlarged. They witnessed his coughing and found it troubling. But his blood work is amazing and they found nothing else wrong. Apparently Lance wants to be in the Guiness Book of World Records. Dr. B, who has been Lance's vet since he was 4 months old when the hospital opened, seemed in a quandry. Even Dr. Fox, the chief honcho, examined Lance. He personally called which surprised me; it seems Lance is getting the elder statesman treatment. (I learned that Lance is the only original patient left and the 2nd oldest dog in the practice. The oldest one is 17. They are all crazy about Lance over there.) I sensed Dr. Fox was having the same issue I was. He suggested that the enlarged heart pressing on the trachea was causing a vicious cycle of tracheitis. He was disappointed Lance had some coughing fits this morning even with a shot of steroids, but he was determined that a longer course of Prednisone, Amoxicillin and Tramadol (pain killer with secondary effect as a cough suppressant) may reduce the episodes. If the medicine can cut the coughing by half, Lance's quality of life would markedly improve.
So I collected the pupper. He greeted me with bounces, kisses and tail wagging. I carried him home (he can't do long distances anymore). He slightly coughed. He's exhausted and sound asleep. No coughing in an hour and half. So, I wait and watch.
So I took him to the vet yesterday seeking info and advice. They ran tests and observed him overnight. His heart is very enlarged. They witnessed his coughing and found it troubling. But his blood work is amazing and they found nothing else wrong. Apparently Lance wants to be in the Guiness Book of World Records. Dr. B, who has been Lance's vet since he was 4 months old when the hospital opened, seemed in a quandry. Even Dr. Fox, the chief honcho, examined Lance. He personally called which surprised me; it seems Lance is getting the elder statesman treatment. (I learned that Lance is the only original patient left and the 2nd oldest dog in the practice. The oldest one is 17. They are all crazy about Lance over there.) I sensed Dr. Fox was having the same issue I was. He suggested that the enlarged heart pressing on the trachea was causing a vicious cycle of tracheitis. He was disappointed Lance had some coughing fits this morning even with a shot of steroids, but he was determined that a longer course of Prednisone, Amoxicillin and Tramadol (pain killer with secondary effect as a cough suppressant) may reduce the episodes. If the medicine can cut the coughing by half, Lance's quality of life would markedly improve.
So I collected the pupper. He greeted me with bounces, kisses and tail wagging. I carried him home (he can't do long distances anymore). He slightly coughed. He's exhausted and sound asleep. No coughing in an hour and half. So, I wait and watch.