Hi I am new to this and in need of some serious pet help!

[tthomasree]

Hi, my name is Theresa, and I have a one daughter (Tina age 24), son (Tyrone age 22), and son-in-law (Chris age 32) who are all military. I had too introduce it this way to explain the dilemma......well my son, Tyrone returned from Iraq 2 weeks ago and Tina & Chris came home from Korea after being stationed there for 5 years with a sweet lil man named Maxx. Maxx is my granddog and he is a 18month old Yorkshire terrier. Well they have all went on a trip together (the kids that is) and left Maxx with us...well my husband and I have been trying to care for him.
We found out earlier this week he has allergies and therefore, we got him benadryl for that, a bed to sleep in, and my hubby got him a much needed flea collar. Now, we feed him twice a day and walk him frequently...since, he likes to go outside & loves riding in the car more. He went to get groomd a week ago and he had to get all his cute hair cut off, because my daughter and her hubby shows up at our house without a brush and haven't been brushing him daily. Well, I won't comment on that part...however, we do the best we can and I now brush him daily as his hair begins to grow back. but, last night Maxx started coughing or hacking and the benadryl slightly relieved it...but for the 1st time since we met 2 weeks ago he hacked up about a 50 cent piece size of clear, frothy, phlegm and my electrician was here and said it sounded as if he had a hair ball or something he was trying to get up. Well no fever, he still eats well, plays, drinks his water normally, but every now and then he starts hacking again or coughing like sound. Otherwise, he is normal and the same as he has been other than the allergies (we are in Alabama).

I became concerned about pnuemonia...please help me....like my kids are in their own world and this is unfair to Maxx...we have rather come to enjoy him. There is no one home with us other than Maxx...but neither of us has cared for any pets in over 20+ years.

Regards,
tee

[Chaser]

I don't have direct experience with it, but could be kennel cough...basically equivalent to the human cold or flu. I don't know if that produces a lot of phlegm though....

If they don't have a vet here yet could you find a vet near you to take him to? You sound very worried about the little guy and I think a vet would be the best able to help. Good luck, and please let us know what the vet says!

[luckypenny]

Welcome to pets.ca Theresa . How wonderful it is for you and your husband to care for little Max. He's one lucky pup!

Has you daughter or SIL taken Max for a check-up at the vet's yet? If not, I think this should be first on your list. The vet will make sure he's up-to-date on his vaccinations and will be able to tell you what his cough is all about. You might also want to inquire about a preventative flea treatment that will be safer and work much more thoroughly than just a flea collar.

Please keep us updated on Max. When you are able, we'd love to see pics of him too . Thanks again for taking such care of the little guy.

[tthomasree]

Thanks, Maxx has only has phlegm twice once last night and today but clear and a little bigger than a quarter round.........but, I guess we will go onto the military base to the Vet tomorrow, if no changes. He is so sweet and wonderfully happy....

[allymack]

i dont think it is kennel cough, as anything coming up isnt one of the symptoms and it was anything we saw in Enzo when he had it, although while i was reading up on it, it does "Some owners also note vomiting in their dogs, but usually their pets are just expelling a large amount of phlegm". I dont think it is pneumonia from what you described. What does his breathing sound like, is it shallow? are his breaths rapid? If possible get his temperature, a fever is another sign on pneumonia. It possible i could be one of those two, hopefully kennel cough if it is, as it can easly be cleared up. you really should have this little guy checked out by a vet as soon as you can! i hope he is alright

[tthomasree]

We purchased the trimline liquid collar...that you pour on the back of his neck every 3 months. I have read up on the signs and symptoms of kennel cough and it sounds like we defintely have a match. But, now that I know it isn't in it's present form life threatening..we will be at the vets on Monday am good and early.

This is such a wonderful sight, as I was stressed all evening mentally about him...although he was still playing and doing his little thing. But, I called his PARENTS and they stated he is current on all his shots, and had a visit to the vet before he left Korea 2 weeks ago. His medical records are in their bedroom (with theirs) downstairs and we know who will be reading them tonight! Now, I realize why the benadryl was helping somewhat. However the 20+ hours of flying time to get here from Seoul, Korea may have affected him also 2 weeks, as he was under the seat as a carry on, since he weighed in slightly under 5lbs. and a week later to the petsmart for grooming.
I will keep you all posted..tee