Posted by Wanda F. Jackson on March 26, 2004 at 11:43:03:
In Reply to: Asthma in Dogs posted by Penny Calfo on December 06, 2000 at 10:06:20:
Last year, my 10 year old, 7.5 lb. Min Pin was diagnosed with Asthma. Prior to taking him to his Vet, he was exhibiting many of the same symptoms that I do with asthma (I have had asthma for the last 7 years). They were deep, perpetual-hacking cough accompanied with wheezing and sneezing. He also often appears to need to cough up something, but nothing ever comes out. It was continuing to get worse and neither of us were getting much sleep.
His Vet listened to his lungs with a stethascope and his cough and wheezing. She took his temperature and checked his vitals. With the light physical, she said he definitely had asthma. Of course I had already related to her that his symptoms were very similiar to mine.
She put him on 0.5 cc Albuterol twice per day, when coughing was not controlled she had me give him 1/4 - 1/2 tsp of tussin (cough syrup) and 1/4-1/2 tsp of children's Benedryl to help both of us sleep. She also mentioned that during severe periods, prednisone could be used for short periods of time.
The major problem was an uncontrollable cough that includes wheezing - very similiar to symptoms that a human has.
Hope this helps.