Sorry if it's too long.

My dog had been coughing for a couple of days and was lethargic, so I took him to the vets a week ago. I told her I thought it may be lungworm, as he roots about the garden and eats everything, if I don't watch him closely - and we have so many slugs here. I'd done some research on it and he had the symptoms.
She said it wasn't (without testing him for it) and said because of his age (12 and a half) it was probably congestive heart failure. So she put him on heart meds (Vetmedin) and diuretics (Furosemide).
I took him back three days later but he hadn't really improved - was still coughing and laboured breathing. She said to up the dose of diuretics, as it would help with any fluid on the lungs.

Went back today, as he was meant to have an x ray but she said they didn't have time (even though I had an appointment) and to come back tomorrow. But his heart test results have come back negative, so he doesn't have congestive heart failure. But she's told me to keep him on the Vetmedin. His liver and kidney function tests also came back fine.

She thinks he has a mass of some sort in his lung, because the heart sounds muffled on one side. But I'm still suspecting lungworm, as that can lead to lung lesions and affect the heart.

Anyone got any ideas or experience? She doesn't seem very clued up about lungworm at all. Also, not sure if he should be on the heart meds if he doesn't have heart failure - surely they'll do more harm than good?

If anyone has treated for an already present case of lungworm - which meds did you use? I can only find for preventative.

I know he's back tomorrow but I've been so worried about him all week. I'm staying while he has the x ray, as am neurotic about him having a sedative and not being strong enough to come out of it. I've been in tears all week, after being told he has heart failure - just to be told today he hasn't. But then I'm now scared of what it could be. He's still lethargic and off his food a bit today and was sick yesterday - but she said that wasn't important.

Sorry this post is all over the place but I've been having such a panic. He's my baby and I'm just a mess right now.

One of my dogs had an.pulmonary odema (fluid on lungs) and they suspected lung worm and he been given panacur for 1 week.He was also coughing and not feeling well at all. It turned out it was not lung worm. But that is the treatment for it. Surprised your vet did not give that to your dog, and also says to still give the heart meds when the test come back negative. I would ask for second opinion.

I'm thinking of asking for a second opinion, to be honest. Starting to lose faith a little bit.
I'll mention the Pancur tomorrow. Thank you.

Hope your dog will be ok.

You can buy panache yourself, pets at home do it. Usually ling worm is obvious at the coughing stage as they bring them up and then swallow them, and the coughing subsides for a few days, it's not kennel cough is it? That's rife at the moment, mums collie had it (he's 14) and the vet was so worried about the breathing being heart failure that he didn't think of kennel cough at all (not faulting the vet, better to rule the worst case out first), it was me that suggested it.

I'd be worried about getting the dosage right, if I did it myself. Going to ask tomorrow about that.
Don't think it's kennel cough, as I mentioned that also and got it dismissed - but will ask again. Thank you.

What does the cough sound like? Is it mostly wheezing or coughing? Is it consistent? Might be doggy asthma?

It's like a honking goose and then he gags at the end of it. It's only a couple of times in the morning, when he wakes up and then if he exerts himself (trying to chase the stray cat).

But he just seems out of breath, panting a lot and fed up. Am worried about the mass she said is on his lung now - hopefully the x ray tomorrow will show more.
Just don't want to keep him on heart meds, if it's not his heart. Have been researching now for days but am just getting more confused.

And he didn't want his dinner tonight, so that's more worry. I know it sounds daft but he's kinda my soul mate and we spend every minute together - so am a bit frantic at the mo.

The goose honk does sound like kennel cough, it's very distinctive. I'd question her on it again as it can lead to the fluid on the lungs that causes the shallow breaths.

I was listening to different dog coughs on YouTube (that's my entertainment) and it did sound more kennel cough. I just have no idea where he would have picked it up from. Now he's older - he just potters round the garden. Unless foxes have it - as we have loads of those.
I'll definitely mention it tomorrow.

Kennel cough is defiantly doing the rounds, my three (my two and mums) have all been vaccinated but still got it, lasted about 6 weeks even with antibiotics, apparently like flu and ere are numerous different strains so vaccinations don't always prevent it.

It's airborne so it could be a dog walking past etc. 90% of the dogs coming into us have it, whereas usually it's around 50% mark.

Ah right - thanks. Shall get her to check that out.

When we got our dog he had kennel cough quite bad. It sounded like you described it and sometimes hed do just the gagging noise. It wore off after a while but he used to make it worse when he was walking because hed pull so his collar was tight. We got him a harness and that helped it.

Yeah, mine has a harness. Shall definitely look into the kennel cough theory. Just hope to get him off the heart meds.

If you've any doubts about the vet don't think twice about getting a second opinion, I did when my cat was poorly and its the best thing I've ever done - I don't think she would still be with us if I hadn't.

This is what's worrying me.
I've always taken my animals to this vet surgery but have seen a new woman there - who I haven't seen before. I may ask to see the head vet, as he's always been very good. Yet I booked with the woman because my dog is better with women, than men. My boy is getting so stressed from having to keep going there. May have to get him to try and be brave, bless him.

You can ask to see which ever vet you want, ask if any of the them specialise in dogs - there are several vets at the surgery I use and 2 of them are specialists in feline care (they are both studying PhDs in it) so I always ask to see one of them, they also have vets who specialise in dogs, small animals and reptiles.

So it won't matter swapping over, once in the middle of a case? I'll talk to her tomorrow and see the outcome of the x ray but then I think I'll book in with the head one, from then on.

I'd swap, tell the new vet the specifics of the cough (what it sounds like, when it happens, again, emphasise the goose!) and go from there. Maybe worth looking at a change in practice, a new practice may make you and dog less stressed.

True. I really wasn't happy with going there today and then getting told there wasn't time to do the x ray - when I had an appointment for it.
I'd starved him from Monday night, ready for it - so have had to do it again tonight. He's stressed enough and not wanting to go out - in case I take him there again. Today was pointless - and that was after waiting 40 minutes past my appointment time.
It's the only vets in my town, so may have to look further afield for a new one. I'll definitely go tomorrow but then may look into somewhere else.

No it shouldnt, my cat had almyost 6 months of treatment before I changed to another vet.

The new vet contacted the old vet and asked for the case notes.

Within 20 minutes of seeing the new vet we had a probable diagnosis, a change of treatment and a treatment plan to go forward with.

We also found out that the treatment the old vet had been prescribing was just treating little cats symptoms and not the cause of her problem.

1 x-ray later and she was diagnosed, prescribed treatment and has been fine ever since.

If i had stayed with the original vet I think we would still be plodding on with the wrong treatment.

If you ring around new vets just explain you have had some treatment but aren't really satisfied and want a second opinion - they'll be happy to see you.

Thanks for the advice. Glad your cat is ok now.

Just an update - he didn't make it and died yesterday. It was too quick and I should have had months left with him. I hate that I may have made the wrong judgement in taking him to the vets, as I believe it's because of the meds that he rapidly deteriorated.

Two days ago he was chasing the stray cat in the garden and eating chicken and being cheeky. Then he had the sedation for his x ray and also she put him on new meds, as well as the other ones. I was up with him all night, as he was in distress. I took him back yesterday morning and she said to see how he went but, he got worse throughout the day and I rushed him back yesterday afternoon. He was on oxygen and had blood tests which showed he was in liver and kidney failure. His blood tests were normal only a week ago. He couldn't breathe properly and she said to let him go. I had two vets in there persuading me it was the kindest thing and he wouldn't make it through the night, if I took him home. She said it would be cruel to take him home. I held him and told him how much he's loved - and she sent him off to sleep.

I don't know if I did the right thing. I feel like I betrayed him. I was looking into his eyes, while she killed him. I'd promised him I would make him better and I feel like I've let him down. He was such a mummy's boy and would be with me every second of the day (literally). What if he didn't want to go? What if he wanted longer and to be at home? I've never had to make that decision before for an animal. I feel like I was pressured into it and made the wrong one.

I'm angry, guilty, devastated, raw with grief, don't know whether to reach out to people to try and talk through my pain - or just curl up numb.
He's being cremated tomorrow but, in the mean time - he's still getting lots of cuddles. He was my whole world and it's like the light has gone out of it.
Thank you for everyone who gave me advice.

I'm so so very sorry Losing an animal quickly is so hard to understand.

I think you made the right decision in letting him go, its truly the hardest decision to make and one many of us on this forum have had to make.

We lost our greyhound very quickly earlier on this year, so I know the pain you are feeling.

At some point I would ask the vet why his blood results were showing normal only a week ago, but at the moment you need to grieve and try and get your head around things - easier said then done I know.

Hugs xx

Thank you. I questioned her repeatedly to the point of arguing. She said she didn't know - that these things happen sometimes. She denied that it was the medication (Corvental). She said even if it had caused side effects, that they should have worn off. I just don't see what else it could have been. He was fine before he took it, and then 2 hours after (this was Wednesday evening) he was in such distress.

Yesterday, when I had him at home he kept going off on his own, which is so unlike him as he's always under my feet and won't leave my side. But he kept going off to sleep in another room and, when I went and laid down with him there - he'd go off again somewhere else. I'm wondering if he knew he was dying and wanted to be alone. I will just always blame myself. There was something telling me not to give him those tablets but I did, as I thought the vet knew best.

Sorry you lost your dog too. x