Anthing to help w/ URI & coughing for dog?

[doggylover]

Hi! My yorkie has an URI and the vet gave him antibiotics and a cough suppressant (pill form) but he's having a hard time still. Does anyone know of any other alternative method of easing his cough? This poor guy was just adopted on Monday and has gone through so much recently. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[doggylover]

Hi, All! Oliver had a slight cold and was given cold meds from his Korean vet in Seoul on the day I adopted him. It was a 3-day supply. He didn't even have a cough at the time but I knew that kennel cough was common in rescue dogs from a shelter...

3 days later, I took him to an American vet and he received his rabies vaccine. She checked out the heart and lungs and stated that Oliver sounded fine but had an upper respiratory infection. She prescribed him antibiotics and some cough suppressant. Since then (4 days ago), his cough has worsened and now he won't eat or drink anything! We even made him chopped steak to hide his meds in and still... not eating.

I'm very concerned. The vet stated it will just take time for him to get over his infection. He's only 5 lbs so doesnt' have a lot of weight to lose! Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get him to eat/drink or even ease his cough a bit? Please, please, please help! He's been through so much and I just want to ease his suffering even if it's just a little.

Oh, and through his ordeal, Oliver is still the sweetest, cuddliest pup I could have ever asked for. No regrets on adopting him.

Thank you for reading.

[hamish&mandy]

Omigosh you and I are going through similar things right now (look at my thread on "help us please bad reaction to vaccination). Chester has a chronic cough to due to a heart problem. Here are some things that seem to help him:
*turn your bathroom into a steam room. You don't even have to get him wet, just run the hot water and sit in there with him. The steam could loosen up his cough.
*If the pill was ground up (or you might be able to do it if you feel comfortable) you could mix it up with a small amount of honey and just put it on his tongue. He won't be able to spit out the meds.
*you could run some food through the blender and put it in his mouth. Or if cooking might entice him our dog always looks chicken and rice mixed together. Or if you could get a hold of a chicken broth cup he could try that. Even a bite helps.
*Put a sweater on him or wrap him up in a towel and hold him. Keep him dry and warm. If you have the Korean ondol floor heating turn it on and let him lie on the warm floor.
*Try giving him a gentle doggie-massage on his shoulders and down the sides of his tummy. It could sooth him.
*Our dog is small too and sometimes (maybe this is just Chester's quirks) he's more agreeable with taking a little water from our hands or even out of like, a bottle cap, than a bowl.
Good luck sug, we're going through the same thing over here! I know what you mean though, we love our adopted baby too! :-)