My 14 year old bull terrier died last night. The day before she had received an injection for a very bad flea allergy. Our vet said that she needed to have drastic treatment for a drastic problem. Yesterday she was panting and having what sounded like a very bad kennel cough. I telephoned the vet twice and was told this was a side effect which should last 24 hours. Her tummy was also swollen which, I was told, was a side effect of the cortisone. It was awful to watch our poor dog suffer, and we can only think that she had a heart attack or stroke as a result of this constant panting and 'coughing'. We feel devastated. I now see that there is alot of controvasy around the use of cortisone. Had I known this I would have opted for a natural product. In all other ways, she was fit and healthy, even though she was getting on in age. Had I not been told by the two vets that this was a 'natural' side effect, I would have taken her back to my vet for treatment. I have no idea whether anything would have worked at this late stage though.
