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Dog with cough possibly from fungal infectionPosted By Spunky Spider (Gibsons, Bc Canada) on 09/06/2012
Over the next 3 months till he seemed to keep whatever it was/is at bay with some days worse than others. If he over extended himself, chasing stick or exercising, he seemed to get worse and needed to rest a couple days but for the most part he was functioning and seemed ok. In May we spent some time on the ocean and because my dog loves fetching stick in the ocean and we thought that maybe if he aspirated some salt water while he was playing that that may help his lungs/cough. However, he took a turn for the worst and his eyes started weeping mucus so we finally conceded to try antibiotics thinking that maybe he aggravated his throat and got a bacterial infection. It was a 10-day treatment (clavamox 250 mg) and although it didn't work ultimately he did improve slightly.
We thought maybe he should be eating a homemade diet exclusively so we made him stews daily really wanting him to have the best nutrition to improve his immune system. Unfortunately I didn't realize he was losing weight slowly until he got really sick a few weeks later. He obviously wasn't getting enough calories from his new diet so I put him back on he combination of homemade and dog food crumbles I had previously been giving him. By June when he took another turn for the worst we took him to another vet to see if we could deal with it once and for all because all our attempts to treat him with proper nutrition, natural cures and remedies and a balance that we thought worked for play and rest he wasn't getting better. Too many months had passed and we really wondered about what it really was since it didn't appear to be getting better.
By June he had a full fledged major infection where he was lethargic and what ever it was got deep into his sinuses and he had swollen eyes and a lot of discharge and mucous continually. I took my dog to another vet to try to get another opinion and the vet felt that he needed to go on another round of antibiotics this time for 30 days (amoxicillin clavulanate 500 125mg). I also got another opinion from a 3rd vet. That vet determined that there was something in the lungs (from x-rays not through the stethoscope) and knew he was on antibiotics and suggested if it didn't clear up with the antibiotics that it may be chronic bronchitis. At the end of the 30 days we knew it was almost licked but there was slight evidence of a cough and eye infection left so we continued with another round of antibiotics for another 30 days (same dose) and also used tobramycin dexasone drops to treat his eyes which had not fully cleared up yet. About 5-10 days into the last treatment his eyes completely cleared up and he ceased all coughing for about 2 weeks. Yaaa! We thought we have finally done it. We continued on the antibiotics till the end just to be sure.
This took him to mid August 2012. All the meanwhile we were either putting hydrogen peroxide or raw garlic and sometimes ginger and sauerkraut/fermented cabbage in his meals. Just before he completed his last treatment he appeared fully recovered. But the last 4-5 days of his treatment he started coughing a bit... Very minor though. The vet said maybe it was because he was breathing in the water at the ocean. He's been off his antibiotics now 14 days and he is not doing well with each day getting worse. He is lethargic and more withdrawn than usual. His cough sounds wetter (although he isn't coughing much yet). Whatever it is in his lungs is still there and I'm afraid that it is growing and gaining momentum again. I'm afraid about what is coming next.
He is such a great, loving dog and depends on me to help him. I don't know what to do. I know that antibiotics weakened his immune system but I had hoped it would kill what I thought may be a vicious strain of bacteria or super bug. Yesterday I had a pharmacist suggest that it may be a fungal infection called crytococcus. I have Googled information on it and think it's a possibility. I read that antibiotics weaken the immune system and IF it's Cryptococcus or a fungal infection it makes it worse. I really need a regiment to rid the infection / possibly fungus. I started giving him methylene blue the last couple days as well as hydrogen peroxide garlic and ginger. I am considering adding coconut oil because I also take that everyday and I know it's antifungal as well. But I'm just guessing and experimenting the best I can. If anyone can help me with a recommended regime of natural remedies I would so much appreciate it. This is breaking my heart. I feel so helpless.
Replied by Jholl (Louisville, Ky - Kentucky) on 11/13/2012
The GSE tastes terrible so you need to figure out a way to trick a dog or even a human to take it. Wrap inside bread, whatever. Also, I highly recommend diluting it with water or chicken broth or something. It would likely burn taking it straight.
Other remedies such as olive leaf extract or oregano oil extract are also valuable for the same qualities. These are common remedies used for humans and dogs. You may want to do an internet search to find out more. There is also excellent information on this site.
Replied by Sandra (Ca) on 09/30/2013
In answer to your question, I am wondering if your baby has hookworms that have migrated to his lungs--or roundworms. When is the last time he was dewormed. Even tapeworm can cause a cough. And, no, a low percentage of fecal exams actually show infection. My opinion is that parasite infestation should be first line of defense. If worms are in his lungs, it may take several treatments as the dewormers only remove intestinal parasites. Keep dog as strong as possible while recovering and hydrated to cleanse the body from die/off symptoms and detoxifying internal organs. Also, too, we women tend to worry and carry fear and sorrow when our babies get sick. Let it go--they don't know why you are upset, they just know you are. It doesn't help them heal. Check him out. Best to rule parasites out first--it cannot hurt.
