Thank you Connie and all. The only place my dog has been before he started coughing was the vet's
a week and a half ago and there were no other dogs (in sight at least) at the time. I don't know how
hardy this virus is but it seems easy to contract so maybe it persists in the air for a time. My concern
now is his lack of appetite--he's a huge dog (was 185 lbs. in his prime but has drifted to 175 lbs. in his
old age) and has eaten half a small can of Wellness turkey food in the last 4 days. I've tried to tempt
him with soft-boiled eggs (also a favourite) and he doesn't seem interested in anything. He is drinking copiously. Still seems alert and will go for a slow walk or two around the block, sniffs everything.
How long should I let this go on? Cough is less frequent so seems to be resolving. Should I still haul
him off to the vet? Apart from his stress in going there, it is getting increasingly difficult for him to get
into the car, too far to walk and we failed with ramp training--he just put his ears back and refused.

That inappetence would make me call the vet.

All that I read (and I am not a health professional) says that inappetence with kennel cough (if it is kennel cough) may be a symptom of a severe case OR may indicate another problem.

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_canine_tracheobronchitis

"Drinking copiously," for me, is another warning to have him checked out.

To get the most from a vet phone call and/or visit, I'd first write a list of the symptoms and the timeline.

All JMO!

 Quote: Kim Winsor

Thank you Connie and all. The only place my dog has been before he started coughing was the vet's
a week and a half ago and there were no other dogs (in sight at least) at the time. I don't know how
hardy this virus is but it seems easy to contract so maybe it persists in the air for a time. My concern
now is his lack of appetite--he's a huge dog (was 185 lbs. in his prime but has drifted to 175 lbs. in his
old age) and has eaten half a small can of Wellness turkey food in the last 4 days. I've tried to tempt
him with soft-boiled eggs (also a favourite) and he doesn't seem interested in anything. He is drinking copiously. Still seems alert and will go for a slow walk or two around the block, sniffs everything.
How long should I let this go on? Cough is less frequent so seems to be resolving. Should I still haul
him off to the vet? Apart from his stress in going there, it is getting increasingly difficult for him to get
into the car, too far to walk and we failed with ramp training--he just put his ears back and refused.

First of all, I am in NO way Vet, but loss of appetite, extreme thirst/copious drinking, and lethargy are not symptoms typically associated with a basic Kennel Cough infection -- In an 8 YEAR old Great Dane, I would want this dog to have a more thorough work-up or 2nd opinion, IMHO.

I, too, believe that, at the very least, a phone call to the vet is indicated ASAP. Like Connie says, write everything down before you call. I am very sympathetic to the fact that your dog is stressed by vet visits and that you're having difficulty even transporting him. I can't imagine dealing with a dog that size! But the symptoms you are describing, going on for that amount of time, are cause for serious concern, IMO.

I took my dane to the vet but had a horrible time trying to get him into the car. His back legs are so
weak. He hasn't eaten anything in nearly 7 days despite all my efforts to tempt him, pureeing turkey
breast and other things. I sobbed all the way to the vet's thinking it was his last car ride. He had a
temp. of over 41. The vet thought that this might be a dog flu that has been going around, something
that is shaken off in a couple of days by younger dogs, but harder for old dogs to overcome. She said
that his lungs sounded clear. It was difficult to get an oximeter reading from him--but one number
that finally did come up was rather low and his tongue is a bit dusky. He isn't coughing as much now
but is very lethargic. I have not been able to be with him today so don't know if he is still drinking--
he hasn't in the 3 hours since I've been home. I'm very worried but, in his present state, I don't think
I can get him in the car again. It exhausted him yesterday (he tried to climb a couple of stairs on his
way to the car, his back legs gave out and he started to slide backwards down the concrete steps with
me trying to catch him --he outweighs me by over 50 lbs.) He doesn't seem to be in pain. My plan is
to continue for the next 9 days with the meds and reassess. How worried should I be over his lack of
appetite? I can't think what else to offer him. He has a chicken allergy.

What did the vet say about the low oximeter reading? What did she say about the lack of food intake? What about the fever? (That's about 105.8 F., as opposed to normal of 101 to 102.5 F.)

What meds are you referring to? Did the vet prescribe something? What?

What did she say about his tongue? Did she mention poorly oxygenated blood? Since the causes of cyanosis include heart disease and respiratory illness, did she say what she thinks about the darkened tongue?

Have you seen him drink since you posted? Is he dehydrated? https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dehydration-in-dogs/ Did the vet think he was dehydrated? If so, what did she say about it?

Yes, I would be worried about seven days of not eating. I'd be worried if he is not drinking. ( https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/dehydration-in-dogs/ )

I'm not clear about what the vet said, aside from the possibility of 'flu and that his lungs sounded clear.

I'm not a health professional. I'm just trying to understand what the vet thought and said.

Same here!

That 105.8 is getting pretty serious.

Did the vet at least give him fluids? If the dog is unable to walk, my vet would have requested that he stay overnight so they could administer IV antibiotics, and IV fluids.

I apologize, but I am not very impressed with your vet.... did they run blood tests? What meds did they prescribe?

Lack of appetite, especially that pronounced and prolonged, is reason for SERIOUS concern. The body has stopped all gut action for a reason - it is diverting energy to other systems to keep the body going... that is never a good thing.

If it were my dog, I would go back to the vet, or find another, and I would not stop until I saw improvement in my dog or I had a definitive diagnosis. Be your dog's voice and DEMAND help and answers.

The vet did give him half a litre of Ringers. She did want to keep him in but I have access to IV fluids if he stops drinking well. She suggested doing blood work and xrays but didn't push it.

My resources are not unlimited and the vet consult plus antibiotics plus anti-inflammatories (doxycycline and metacam) cost $300 and my dog is 8 years old--a lifespan for a very large great dane I suspect and, although he is family, I feel that I could spend a lot of money on tests and he will still
fade, the only difference being that I would know the cause.

I have managed to get him to eat a tiny bit of soupy turkey and keep offering food every couple of hours when I'm home. Will retake his temp. but feel that he is just shutting down and all the tests in the world can't make him younger.

It was difficult to get a reliable oximeter reading because he is a black dog. She was concerned about the dusky tongue but we opted for supportive care and to see how he does. His breathing is still rapid and any excitement or stress causes coughing.

Thank you everyone for all your help and advice. I'm sure someone will tell me if I am completely
wrong and should be pulling out all the stops. I just have a feeling that it wouldn't help if I did given his age.

Am beginning to think that, as someone had mentioned, this could be congestive heart failure,
which, although it is essentially a terminal condition, can be slowed down. I've got him eating a
slurry of canned turkey every couple of hours. Still on the antibiotics and anti-inflammtories,
still drinking well. The fever may have been a red herring although I have to wonder what was
behind it.

Armed with this theory, I think it is worth going back to the vet again to try for a diagnosis. Am
willing to spend the money to get him help, but worry about the open endedness of a search for a
cause, financially speaking, in this poor old boy.