my puppy has been to the vet twice last week with her cold and all he does is prescribe more amoxicillian which is an antibiotic and can't help a viral cold so today I haven't given her any and she stayed awake longer this morning but getting her to eat is difficult she is getting thin from this cold how can I get her to eat more to build up her strength and fight this dam cold she has?
2006-12-05 04:05:23 · 6 answers · asked by cutiepie81289 7 in Pets ➔ Dogs
no my vet said it was a cold not a cough
2006-12-05 04:11:30 · update #1
it's been 8 days with her cold I will try the crackers
2006-12-05 04:21:14 · update #2
my puppy has a cold not kennel cough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She isn't eating very much her nose is running greenish and she tries to expell the mucus you are as bad as the vet.
2006-12-05 04:24:35 · update #3
Generic-variety colds in puppies often last 1-3 weeks.
The purpose of the antibiotic is not to treat the cold itself, but to prevent the secondary bacterial sinusitis and pneumonia problems that so commonly develop when antibiotics are not given. (So no, your DVM is not 'stupid' for prescribing them....he is looking after her, and your, overall best interests.)
The lack of appetite is usually due to nasal congestion and decreased ability to smell. Try some chicken broth, chicken baby food (make sure it has no onion powder), and clear, unflavored pedialyte. Fluids are so much more important than food right now, but your DVM has a good food called a/d that can be syringe-fed to her if she won't eat on her own. (If she's vomiting, do not force feed her.)
Get the bathroom all nice and steamy and have her sit in there and breathe the steam for 15 minutes 2-3 times a day.
Give it time. Just as in humans, there is no 'magic cure' for colds in dogs, and many of the OTC antihistamines and decongestants can actually thicken the mucus and make it worse.
Fluids, fluids, fluids. (Water and Pedialyte.) If she continues to worsen, she should have a CBC and possible other tests.
And please give the entire course of antibiotics, so she doesn't get sick with a much worse problem. If you stop too soon, you're just teaching her bacteria to become resistant to them.
Good luck!
(And cross your fingers and hope and pray it's not distemper that is causing this 'cold.')
Btw....Kennel Cough is another TYPE of 'cold' that dogs can get. (Doesn't cause the symptoms you describe in this pup, however.) It's caused by a combination of specific bacteria and a virus. Lysol has no effect on it, despite what a previous poster claims.
2006-12-05 04:30:33 · answer #1 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many dogs that contract Kennel Cough will display only minor signs of coughing that may last seven to ten days and will not require any medication at all. The majority of dogs with the disease continue to eat, sleep, play and act normally... except for that annoying, dry, non-productive coughing that seems so persistent. It is always a good idea, though, to have any dog examined if coughing is noticed because some very serious respiratory diseases such as Blastomycosis, Valley Fever, Heartworms and even cardiac disease might display similar sounding coughing. Your veterinarian, through a careful physical exam and questioning regarding the dog's recent environment, will be able to establish if the dog's respiratory signs are from kennel Cough or some other respiratory insult.
Treatment is generally limited to symptomatic relief of the coughing with non-prescription, and occasionally prescription, cough suppressants. If the dog is running a fever or there seems to be a persistent and severe cough, antibiotics are occasionally utilized to assist the dog in recovering from Kennel Cough. It can happen that secondary bacterial invaders will complicate a case of Kennel Cough and prolong the recovery and severely affect the upper airway. Therefore the use of antibiotics is determined on an individual basis.
2006-12-05 04:20:51 · answer #2 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are right. Amoxicillin does not do any good for a viral cold but dogs sometimes will run a bacterial cold along side a viral one. Most people go to doctors and vets to get antibiotics for colds. This is probably why the vet prescribed the Amoxicillin twice. You should have told the vet that you needed to know other means to care for a dog with a cold.
You may want to try and pamper her with foods you generally wouldn't give her. Dogs are canivorous animals. You might want to try human food. Dog colds can last two months or more.
2006-12-05 04:35:03 · answer #3 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if your dog is getting thinner from being sick, thats not a good thing because it can get dehydred and that will make it worse. you should call your vet and tell them that your dog is getting thinner. does your dog have access to plenty of water? why dont you try and give your dog some crackers? when my dogs arent feeling good, i give them crackers to eat, and they love it.
2006-12-05 04:12:15 · answer #4 · answered by laura s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can try mixing the dry food with some warm beef or chicken broth, they will ususally eat that. you can also cook up some white rice with some boiled chop meat. its easy on the tummy so they will usually eat that too.
give your dog some peanutbutter too, it has lots of protein so it will help
my pup is sick too. she puked on me last night. it wasnt that much fun.
2006-12-05 04:29:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its Kennel cough you are referring to.
I spray lysol a lot and it only lasts a few days. Especially if they are on antibioltics. Lysol will kill the KC virus
2006-12-05 04:08:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
a few days
2006-12-05 04:14:23 · answer #7 · answered by skidoogurl08 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋