Labrador with cough

[Roughquest]

My 12 year old Lab has appears to have a really harsh cough but only when he exerts himself or gets overexcited, the noise is terrible and really loud almost like he is choking, but he is not in any pain and is healthy in all other respects, its not kennel cough as he hasnt been in kennels or in contact with any other dogs, but upon reading some books he may have a larynx problem which can be cured by an op, but given his age am reluctant to let him go under general aneasthetic....any advice ?

Thanks

RQ xx

[reddoggy]

Get him to the vet as soon as possible, please!

[clair3934]

take him to the vet he could have a heart problem which is why he only coughs when he gets excited, his heart has to do more work and pumps harder, this could be very serious. good luck :-) let us know how you get on.

[Eels]

All well and good reading about larynx problems etc, but as mentioned above, he could have another problem entirely, which may benefit from treatment.

Don't wait around - go to your vet who will be best placed to examine your dog and diagnose what's wrong with him.

[Snappy]

It sounds like a heart problem. I have a 13yr old lab bitch who has this cough, it gets worse when she gets excited. This results in her passing out, her legs go funny then she keels over and goes all stiff, may even poo herself, after a few seconds she's fine again! Don't try to diagnose the problem yourself though. Because of her age, the vet is reluctant to do any invasive tests so she gets sachets of a powder of break up the mucus and some little red tablets. She's very young in her mind and as long as she's happy thats all that matters!

[lankeela]

Why this reluctance to take dogs to the vets and undergo an anaesthetic? If this is what they need the vet will do it in the safest way with one of the quick acting anaesthetics.

Sounds like a heart problem to me though, and he can be given medication for this.

[ruthann58]

same here sounds like his heart we had a lab with the same go to the vets they can give him medication that will help him and put your mind at ease

[Roughquest]

Took my gorgeous old boy to the vets this evening, he is fine in every aspect of his old age, his heart is fine, and the vet said his larynx is swollen hence his sore throat, so he has had two injections and needs to rest up for a couple of weeks - no walks which is sad.......and he has to be kept quiet......so its not so tragic as I thought.

Thank you for all your advice, out pets are like children aren't they ?

We love them to bits. But they give us so much consistant unconditional love in return.

RQ xxx

[clair3934]

Thank god Its not serious hope he ejoys his few days rest and that he gets better soon! :-)

[no nmes left]

if you dont want to give him an op id still phone teh vets, but with my dogs i find rubbing their throat as they cough helps to ease it