Sasha woke up this morning and it looked like she was gagging on something. She hacked a few times and gagged up a little whitish-looking goopy stuff. (Sorry but I don't know how else to describe it).

I got her some water, which she drank and then fed her; she ate all of her food. Later on in the afternoon, she was doing the gagging thing again and coughed up more of the goopy stuff. I took her temp; normal and she's still eating and wanting to play. She's been doing the gagging thing occasionally this evening as well.

Does this sound like it could be kennel cough? What can I do to help her? Would it be ok to give her some Zev following the recommended dosage? http://www.drugs.com/vet/zev-can.html

What breed is Sasha? I ask because the symptoms you describe, coughing, gagging, whitish phlegm coming up, are often seen in Dobermans who have dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM, and it is a symptom that the disease, which can be "silent" up to that point, has progressed to congestive heart failure.

My only experience is with Dobermans, but I'm sure those symptoms could indicate CHF for other reasons, in any breed, as well.

I'm not a veterinary professional, and I'm not meaning to alarm you. Honestly, I've never had a dog with kennel cough so I don't know how it presents itself. And I'm sure what you describe could be caused by any number of other reasons.

I just wanted to put that out there because, if I saw those symptoms in my dog, I wouldn't wait more than a day to have them seen by a vet.

Kennel cough responds to antibiotics. "cough syrup", (what you've got) doesn't help much.

The coughing that you describe can be a heart sign. Heart coughs usually come on slowly, happen "now and then", then progress to all the time--that's what we see in the most common
"heart coughs". If the heart problem is from something ghastly like a heart based tumor, it can begin suddenly.

Kennel cough is typically an overnite phenomenon--usually after the dog has been around other dogs. It lasts about 3 wks, responds well to antibiotics. Dogs generally are not "sick", they eat, act normal -- but the cough is loud, frequent and dramatic -- a "goose honk cough" and many folks do seek treatment.

Cherri, Sasha is an 5 year old American Mastiff.

To my knowledge Sasha hasn't been around any dogs that have kennel cough. We've only been around dogs in class and the last time we went to class was two weeks ago. I called the 4 people in class and their dogs are all ok.

She does sound like a goose honking but then seems to have trouble catching her breath. This didn't start out as a "now and then" thing. She's gone from nothing to frequently in the space of 12 hours.

Betty, you mentioned a "heart based tumor" and that got me thinking; Sasha's been developing lumps on her skin since she was 1 year old but once a lump pops up it never changes size. The lumps she's had for over 3-4 years are the same size now that they originally were. I was having them tested every time one would pop up but that got expensive and they were always nothing so I stopped getting them tested. I do keep a record of the size and date when I notice a new one.

Actually, while I was typing this, she just woke up from a dead sleep wheezing and gasping for air. Now I'm little worried it might be more than kennel cough. We're off to see the vet.

Good luck, Debbie. Let us know what you find out. Hoping to hear it's nothing too serious.

 Quote: Debbie Martin

Cherri, Sasha is an 5 year old American Mastiff.

To my knowledge Sasha hasn't been around any dogs that have kennel cough. We've only been around dogs in class and the last time we went to class was two weeks ago. I called the 4 people in class and their dogs are all ok.

She does sound like a goose honking but then seems to have trouble catching her breath. This didn't start out as a "now and then" thing. She's gone from nothing to frequently in the space of 12 hours.

Betty, you mentioned a "heart based tumor" and that got me thinking; Sasha's been developing lumps on her skin since she was 1 year old but once a lump pops up it never changes size. The lumps she's had for over 3-4 years are the same size now that they originally were. I was having them tested every time one would pop up but that got expensive and they were always nothing so I stopped getting them tested. I do keep a record of the size and date when I notice a new one.

Actually, while I was typing this, she just woke up from a dead sleep wheezing and gasping for air.
Now I'm little worried it might be more than kennel cough. We're off to see the vet.

Personally, I would take her to the Vet immediately, with those symptoms -- A five year old Mastiff is a geriatric K9 even if it turns out to be something else, such as Laryngeal Paralysis ... Whatever, I'd want her diagnosed ASAP, so I'm glad you're on the way to have her examined right now.

Whew! It's kennel cough. Now I have to worry about my other dog Kiss getting it as well. I'm keeping them separated as much as possible and washing my hands between dealing with each dog.

How contagious is kennel cough really?

 Quote: Debbie Martin

Whew! It's kennel cough. Now I have to worry about my other dog Kiss getting it as well. I'm keeping them separated as much as possible and washing my hands between dealing with each dog.

How contagious is kennel cough really?

Oh, thank GOODNESS It's as contagious as a "common cold" is in humans.

Kennel cough is super contagious, your other dog will get it unless it is immune. I wouldn't even bother trying to separate them.

Generally not serious with an adult dog but it can be more serious to puppies.

When I competed in the show and obedience rings I usually got my dogs the shot.

It seems there are different strains in different areas.

I had one dog that got it and it was after we kenneled her and two others for a week. All three had the shot already and the kennel was not to far from the house.

Go figure.

I haven't kenneled a dog outside of family since.