So, i guess i'm not looking for advice so much as i just need to rant a little bit. But of course any advice would be welcome, too.
Kiley turned 13 this year and we're still battling a bunch of health problems. Recently (i would say within the past two months) her coughing has taken a turn for the worst. It's at the point where she's almost constantly coughing, wheezing, huffing, etc.The episodes last for a minute or more at a time (as opposed to the usual couple of rough hacks and then be done for a bit) and she's usually worn out at the end. She's definitely breathing harder, even at rest, and the coughing bouts happen at any time (even when she's asleep - they wake us all up).
She has a heart murmur (grade 4 or 5 depending on which vet you talk to on which day) and a lung tumor that's pretty much taken up her entire right lung. The vet does not suspect heart failure at this point, there is no fluid build up in her chest or lungs, but the tumor HAS grown a bit for the first time since we found it last November. The coughing could be because of either of those but the vet hasn't really figured out how to find out which or given us much advice on how to reduce it.
I'm waiting to hear back from them about getting her in to see the cardiologist and/or a specialist for the lung tumor, but getting in to see them may not be possible right now due to COVID and/or financial restrictions. At this point i'm not looking for treatment/cure, i just want to see if we can't get a better handle on the coughing. She eats, she drinks, she tries to play (brings me toys, rolls on her back, etc)... she goes for walks and wants to keep going..... she just coughs the whole time. I don't think she's ready to let go (and i'm not either) but she needs some relief from the coughing.....
If anyone is interested i do have her most recent x-rays that i can post, and i could get a video of the coughing if you think you can tell if it's from the murmur, tumor, or other....
She also has vestibular disease, but she's mostly recovered from that episode - she has a mild head tilt and a little bit of wobbliness (which could also be from any number of other things to be honest) but that's it. She's partially blind and starting to lose her hearing. She's got mammary tumors, too. Poor old girl.
Kiley turned 13 this year and we're still battling a bunch of health problems. Recently (i would say within the past two months) her coughing has taken a turn for the worst. It's at the point where she's almost constantly coughing, wheezing, huffing, etc.The episodes last for a minute or more at a time (as opposed to the usual couple of rough hacks and then be done for a bit) and she's usually worn out at the end. She's definitely breathing harder, even at rest, and the coughing bouts happen at any time (even when she's asleep - they wake us all up).
She has a heart murmur (grade 4 or 5 depending on which vet you talk to on which day) and a lung tumor that's pretty much taken up her entire right lung. The vet does not suspect heart failure at this point, there is no fluid build up in her chest or lungs, but the tumor HAS grown a bit for the first time since we found it last November. The coughing could be because of either of those but the vet hasn't really figured out how to find out which or given us much advice on how to reduce it.
I'm waiting to hear back from them about getting her in to see the cardiologist and/or a specialist for the lung tumor, but getting in to see them may not be possible right now due to COVID and/or financial restrictions. At this point i'm not looking for treatment/cure, i just want to see if we can't get a better handle on the coughing. She eats, she drinks, she tries to play (brings me toys, rolls on her back, etc)... she goes for walks and wants to keep going..... she just coughs the whole time. I don't think she's ready to let go (and i'm not either) but she needs some relief from the coughing.....
If anyone is interested i do have her most recent x-rays that i can post, and i could get a video of the coughing if you think you can tell if it's from the murmur, tumor, or other....
She also has vestibular disease, but she's mostly recovered from that episode - she has a mild head tilt and a little bit of wobbliness (which could also be from any number of other things to be honest) but that's it. She's partially blind and starting to lose her hearing. She's got mammary tumors, too. Poor old girl.
