My K-9 partner and I attempted a track two days ago. It was very hot and he was tired after completing two other short tracks but I thought he could handle it. The track was fine and he was doing good until the track lead into a wheat field. The wheat was green and flowering, could see the seeds. We only made it about 100' in the field when he started shutting down and lost the track. It appeared that he was very out of breath, coughed up something, and just layed down. I had to guide him out of the wheat field and into a normal grassy area where he picked the track back up and found the bad guy. After about an hour or two and when he was finally cooled down, my partner started coughing. It sounded like he was continuously clearing his throat. He brought up white mucus with small strings of blood in it about six times in one hour. He finally quit bringing up mucus but continues to cough occasionally. I've noticed that he will cough after barking at someone or just when he is laying down in his kennel. Today I've noticed that he gets out of breath faster doing normal things like run around the yard or play with my other dog. Our vet gave him steroid pills and told me to come back in a few days if he doesnt quit clearing his throat. I think he said he would put him on antibiotics if it didnt go away.

Has anyone seen this before? I've heard that cattle will sneeze or cough near a wheat field that is pollenating. I just hope there isnt any permanent damage and that it will go away.

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.......It sounded like he was continuously clearing his throat. He brought up white mucus with small strings of blood in it about six times in one hour. He finally quit bringing up mucus but continues to cough occasionally. I've noticed that he will cough after barking at someone or just when he is laying down in his kennel. Today I've noticed that he gets out of breath faster doing normal things like run around the yard or play with my other dog. Our vet gave him steroid pills and told me to come back in a few days if he doesnt quit clearing his throat. I think he said he would put him on antibiotics if it didnt go away. .....

If it isn't gone in a few days or if the allergy theory starts to look less viable, here's some info:

This site will narrow down possibilities:

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/cough.asp

and this one addresses diagnosis:

http://www.workingdogs.com/vcdogcough.htm

I'd read the second one now, while you're waiting to see if the temporary regimen of steroids works (JMO). Good luck; I hope it was just a violent hay-fever-type attack.

Dennis
I would have him looked at very closely by a vet that knows what they are doing. It is possible that he could have inhaled something and it is caught anywhere at this point. If he (the dog) can't get it out it can become a big problem. I would not wait another day, if I were you.
I have seen this happen and it can get bad. I can't believe something that came on so quick the vet dismissed as an illness

Doug

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Dennis
I would have him looked at very closely by a vet that knows what they are doing. It is possible that he could have inhaled something and it is caught anywhere at this point. If he (the dog) can't get it out it can become a big problem. I would not wait another day, if I were you.
I have seen this happen and it can get bad. I can't believe something that came on so quick the vet dismissed as an illness...Doug

Since I posted the URLs about coughing blood and mucus, I've been reading more about the suddenness *and continuation* of your dog's symptoms, and Doug Wendling is (IMO) giving you much better advice.

X-rays, scans, staying for observation -- nothing like this was suggested, even though this was sudden-onset *and continuing*?

I am thinking back about a dog I knew who inhaled part of a foxtail and got so short of breath from the inflammation and swelling that it was finally diagnosed and removed under anesthesia.......... have also read about a dog who inhaled a bunch of plant pollen she happened to have an allergy to, which caused serious respiratory distress.

Good message, I think, from Mr. Wendling.

obviously your vet thinks its an allergy, thus administering the steroids. i would be inclined to think that as well. it is becoming much more widely known that both humans and animals suffer from an intolerance to wheat that is called celiac sprue. part of the treatment is to be put on a diet completely free from gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats) a dog's intolerance to corn and corn meal has become a big topic of discussion in relation to dog foods. nutro dog foods has replaced the corn content with wheat meal in some of their foods. i cannot believe that this would be any benefit to the dogs, though i'm sure some folks are easily led by the label and the fact that nutro has gained a fair amount of respect in the industry. i doubt that there is any possibility of desensitizing the dog to wheat and the best course would be to keep him completely away from it. i don't know if you are afforded that luxury. maybe your vet can tell you more about wheat/gluten intolerance in dogs.
one other possibility could be that the field may have been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides. that might be worth checking out.

My partner is finally getting better. He has stopped coughing except when I grab him around his choker. The vet put him on Clavamox and some sort of antihistimine pill, both twice a day. His energy has come back up and has done several successful tracks since. Thanks for all the support.