An ill wind

JRobyn · Apr 13, 2017

Tried some "Vet's Best Gas Busters" herbal stuff. Looks like mostly dried parsley with some slippery elm extract, ginger, and enzymes.
Seems to have actually helped. But now he's acting "anxious". Don't really know how to describe it. Gets up, moves a few feet, flops down, repeat, repeat, repeat. He's also coughing/gagging more. It sure seems like the "laryngeal paralysis" that the vet says he doesn't have. He's going back to the vet. They think that some steroids will help.

Soundguy · Apr 13, 2017

Always check a coughing dog for heart worms too.. However, if he is having cough problems, its a good sign he's gulping and swallowing air. Air in the front of a dog always comes out as dog farts...

AlmostThere · Apr 13, 2017

JRobyn said:
Tried some "Vet's Best Gas Busters" herbal stuff. Looks like mostly dried parsley with some slippery elm extract, ginger, and enzymes.
Seems to have actually helped. But now he's acting "anxious". Don't really know how to describe it. Gets up, moves a few feet, flops down, repeat, repeat, repeat. He's also coughing/gagging more. It sure seems like the "laryngeal paralysis" that the vet says he doesn't have. He's going back to the vet. They think that some steroids will help.

Definitely you need to take him back in. It sounds like he is anxious or uncomfortable. He may be having problems with his breathing. I'd also suggest having some chest x-rays done in case there is a heart problem or other pulmonary problem going on. In the interim try to keep him cool (not cold) and in a dry environment mainly so he doesn't have to pant to cool himself.

Any increased difficulty of breathing can cause swallowing of air (aerophagia) which can then be passed as gas. Labs are the poster child for laryngeal paralysis but there could be something else causing the problem.

Best wishes to both of you.

JRobyn · Apr 14, 2017

Fart frequency and stench are both down a lot. Evidently the herbal stuff actually works. And after about 24 hrs he is no longer acting anxious. He still gulps great gobs of water, but if we ask him to stop after a few seconds he will, and then drink again a little later. This seems to have reduced much of the excess air ingestion. Still coughing/gagging, but the steroids should improve this. Looking up!

AlmostThere · Apr 14, 2017

JRobyn said:
Fart frequency and stench are both down a lot. Evidently the herbal stuff actually works. And after about 24 hrs he is no longer acting anxious. He still gulps great gobs of water, but if we ask him to stop after a few seconds he will, and then drink again a little later. This seems to have reduced much of the excess air ingestion. Still coughing/gagging, but the steroids should improve this. Looking up!

That is encouraging. Fingers crossed