Dog influenza

[Ariel]

Hi,

I have a miniature Dachshund who is 9 years old.  Several weeks ago she got what we thought was a cold.  (A first for her).  She sneezes and has a cough.  She's been eating all right and doesn't seem very sick.  We took her to the Vet who put her on two weeks of Clavimox.  After two weeks she really wasn't that much better so we took her back to the Vet and they did an x-ray.  They found quite a bit of fluid in her lungs and diagnosed pneumonia.  They then gave her another antibiotic, Baytril.  It's now a week later and she's still coughing and sneezing quite a bit.  We're taking her back to the vet tomorrow.  I'm wondering if she didn't get the dog flu that is going around and does anyone have experience with how long it takes a doxy to get over respiratory diseases?  She actuallly seems pretty chipper except for the coughing and sneezing.

Thanks,
Ariel

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

I believe what I read is that the way to test for this flu is to send blood to a certain lab. Does your vet think it could be the flu? If you find out, please let us know. I keep hearing of more cases. I am glad your baby is doing better!! Did she have a fairly high temp? I think that is another clue.

[Barb]

I would sure ask them to do the blood work to find out for sure if it is the flu or not - you sure don't want to discount that it may be.  Keep after them until they make her better !!!!  Please let us know - sending rays that she feels better soon.

[Ariel]

Hi,

The vet did do a blood test for heartworms which were, in fact, ruled out.  I'll ask if the blood work was for anything else tomorrow and report back. 

Ariel

[dackel]

Poor little girl... I hope she feels better soon!  Lots of rays from California.