My puppy has been "hyperventilating"?

[CooperBoy]

Hi, my 4-month old Rottie (male, named Cooper) recently had a cold with a snotty nose (green and yellow snot), sneezing, etc. We took him to the vet and got an antibiotic. The vet was treating our dog like he's a big dog (older than he really was - 3.5 months at that time) because Cooper is bigger than a regular puppy - he's 30 pounds now (regular puppy, meaning other breed puppy). So, I decided to give Cooper 1/2 the doze of the antibiotic - the vet gave me enough for 10 days, supposedly 1 table in the morning and 1 table at night. I was giving Cooper 1/2 tablet instead, since it was his 1st antibiotic (I made sure he had enough plain yogurt too, to coat his stomach - we would put the yogurt on his food). Anyway, he started getting better right away, but once in a while (every few days) he would do this thing where he would look like he's hyperventilating - breathing in and out really deep through his nose. Since he wasn't snotty anymore and he would only do that once in a great while and it was nothing severe, the vet decided to resume Cooper's vaccine routine - Cooper had the rabies and the kennel cough vaccine in one day. It seems like ever since then his cold is back. The vaccine took place a week ago, and Cooper is all stuffed up, sneezing and doing that "hyperventilating"-looking thing few times a day. He doesn't have the snot coming out like he did before, but he seems congested.
What do I do? I still have some of that antibiotic left - 4 days worth of full dose, so I started giving him that because it seems exactly like that cold he had.
Anyway, has anyone heard of their/or any other dog that does that hyperventilating?
Thanks

[moondog]

Are you a vet? If not, why would you take it upon yourself to change the dosage of medication? Medications are administered by weight, not by age.

If your puppy needed the entire dose and you gave 1/2 of it, all you've really done is create an environment in his body that enables bacteria to resist the drug and flourish.

Get him back to the vet and make sure you tell the vet that you cut his medication in half, as he may now need another, different one in order to clear it up.

[CooperBoy]

The meds were working at that dosage, he was fine before the vaccines...

[CooperBoy]

To add to my last post... I told the vet about the change in dosage, I told him that Cooper seemed to be getting better. She (the vet) checked him out before deciding whether to vaccinate or not, and she decided that he was fine and safe to vaccinate.

My concern is that I've heard a lot of bad stuff about he kennel cough vaccines (as in, many rotts get kennel cough after the vaccine). I'm just trying to research this more before I go see a vet. I'm not careless, I'm more careful. Vets make mistakes too, all the time. I'd rather research this first before having my pup on a whole new antibiotic, unless completely necessary.

My parents overmedicated me when I was a kid, now, I know a child and a dog are completely different, but they both become immune to antibiotics if those are used too frequently and in too high of a dosage, so please, spare me the sarcasm... I'm more than careful with my dog, which is why I'm been keeping him "under observation" for the past two days (i.e.: staying home, keeping an eye on him, new developments, any symptoms, etc.)

[moondog]

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

The meds were working at that dosage, he was fine before the vaccines...

Again, are YOU a VET??

By cutting the dose in half of what's needed, all it does is "sorta help" for a short period of time.....just enough for the bacteria to build a resistance to it and then BOOM! they hit him again big time and at the risk of more serious complications.

A CORRECT dose of the correct antibiotic knocks them dead and obliterates them.

Two VERY different things.

You have a baby dog. Get him back to the vet and be honest about what you did.

[jlhnokc]

"Anyway, he started getting better right away, but once in a while (every few days) he would do this thing where he would look like he's hyperventilating - breathing in and out really deep through his nose. Since he wasn't snotty anymore and he would only do that once in a great while and it was nothing severe,"

"The meds were working at that dosage, he was fine before the vaccines..."

No he wasn't fine. Your posts told us that...he was still look to be hyperventilation every once in a while. That's not fine. When you brought him back to the vet, did you tell him you cut the dosage in 1/2? I'm also curious why you would do that? If you don't have faith in your vet to give the right amounts of antibiotic, you need to go to a different vet. I'm with MoonDog, take him back to the vet, tell him what you did and go from there.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

To add to my last post... I told the vet about the change in dosage, I told him that Cooper seemed to be getting better. She (the vet) checked him out before deciding whether to vaccinate or not, and she decided that he was fine and safe to vaccinate.

And the vet said "Sure, no problem?" If so, why would she (or he?) prescribe the original dose to begin with? Share with us the medication prescribed and the dose prescribed, and we can look it up.

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

I know a child and a dog are completely different, but they both become immune to antibiotics if those are used too frequently and in too high of a dosage, so please, spare me the sarcasm...

Antibiotic resistant bacteria are creating by overuse (using them as a prophylactic - not the case for your puppy), by not completing the recommended course of treatment (for the full 10 days without missing any doses), and.....doing exactly what you did - use a dose too low to knock them down completely. Because of that, the surviving bacteria build a resistance to the drug, and there you have it......ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA.

And.....where is the sarcasm, exactly? Because I asked if you were a vet?

[CooperBoy]

The name of the antibiotic is Clavomax, 250 mg.

Let me ask you a question, MoonDog - are you a vet?
There are multiple articles about overmedicating decreasing the ability of your immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses on your own - people and dogs alike. I'm a perfect example (human, not canine, obviously) - my mom gave me the whole dose of antibiotics whenever the doctor prescribed it (which was about once a month), which destroyed my teeth, lining of my stomach and made me resistant to any type of antibiotics, so any time I was sick I would have to go through 2-3 different types of meds till one worked. I know this is a human example, but same applies to dogs. Sometimes not panicking and letting the cold run its course can be better for a dog than treating him with meds at the first sneeze. After all, they are dogs, their immune systems are supposed to be stronger than humans', so that they can eat rabbit poop, and all other stinky stuff they always seem to find, without getting ill.
I don't blindly trust vets just like I don't blindly trust doctors; I do my research first...
Which brings me to my real question - could this be caused by the kennel cough vaccine? Interested to hear from someone who has something to say about this subject...
Thank you kindly,

[Nishasmom]

Please listen to Moondog; she is correct. It is so unsafe to meddle with your pets medications.

Most likely b/c of the low dosages he received, his cold was not COMPLETELY cured. After receiving vaccines, his immune system went back down (which is normal). Because of this, the cold he wasn't totally over had a chance to hit him again.

Go to your vet, get the proper medications with the proper dosages. Vets prescribe medicines by weight, not age.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

The name of the antibiotic is Clavomax, 250 mg.

Let me ask you a question, MoonDog - are you a vet?
There are multiple articles about overmedicating decreasing the ability of your immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses on your own - people and dogs alike. I'm a perfect example (human, not canine, obviously) - my mom gave me the whole dose of antibiotics whenever the doctor prescribed it (which was about once a month), which destroyed my teeth, lining of my stomach and made me resistant to any type of antibiotics, so any time I was sick I would have to go through 2-3 different types of meds till one worked. I know this is a human example, but same applies to dogs. Sometimes not panicking and letting the cold run its course can be better for a dog than treating him with meds at the first sneeze. After all, they are dogs, their immune systems are supposed to be stronger than humans', so that they can eat rabbit poop, and all other stinky stuff they always seem to find, without getting ill.
I don't blindly trust vets just like I don't blindly trust doctors; I do my research first...
Which brings me to my real question - could this be caused by the kennel cough vaccine? Interested to hear from someone who has something to say about this subject...
Thank you kindly,

If your vet prescribed an antibiotic for longer than the average 10 day period, I would be concerned. However, I would express this concern to the vet;I would expect them to explain to me why they chose this medication over another, and why the lengthy dosages are needed. I ALWAYS question my vet about fecal findings, blood-work, and medications; not in a rude way, just in a caring, interested owner sort of way . I like to know what is going on with my dog, and what to expect. Usually, a vet will require a re-check before refilling the prescription. If they are on meds for a long time, the vet should run blood tests to make sure no damage is being done.

[Cdn1050]

I agree with the others, medication for animals is prescribed by weight, not by age. That's wy when you take you dog to vet visits, the first thing they have you do is weigh him. Take him back to the vet, and ensure the proper dosage is given. And no, I'm not a vet just in case you ask. But as a parent, when I take my kids to the pediatrician if they are ill and I am given instructions on what meds to give them and the amounts, I don't tamper with the dosage. If I didn't have trust in the vet or my children's pediatrician, I would be looking for another vet and another pediatrician.

[moondog]

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

The name of the antibiotic is Clavomax, 250 mg.

The recommended dose for dogs is 6.25mg/lb twice a day. Assuming your puppy (at 30 lbs now, two weeks later) was about 25 lbs, that's 156 mg, twice a day. You underdosed by 60 mgs daily - that's 20% less medication than recommended. Which can cause precisely what I described above.

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

Let me ask you a question, MoonDog - are you a vet?

No. Gee, that wasn't hard at all. Why is it you can't answer that same simple question?

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

There are multiple articles about overmedicating decreasing the ability of your immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses on your own - people and dogs alike.

Yes, there are. And I completely agree medications should not be misused, either by overusing or underusing. They are only useful if used as directed and much info is there to be had on manufacturer's websites.

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

Sometimes not panicking and letting the cold run its course can be better for a dog than treating him with meds at the first sneeze.

I agree. So why did you choose to underdose your puppy instead of letting the cold run its course? Either use it as directed, or don't use it. By compromising with a partial dose, all you do is help create an antibiotic resistant bacteria.

My dog has had kennel cough once. She got rest, restricted activity, a humidifier, and good ol' chicken broth for the duration. No meds needed, although had it not cleared up in a few days, you can be darn sure I would have made sure she saw her vet for any needed medications and you can be darn sure they would have been given as directed.

Originally Posted by CooperBoy

Which brings me to my real question - could this be caused by the kennel cough vaccine? Interested to hear from someone who has something to say about this subject...

Sure, it could. Especially if your puppy's immune system is overextended. That's why sick dogs should not be vaccinated.

I don't vaccinate my dog for kennel cough. There are many strains flitting about, and the vaccine does not contain all of them, so there's always a chance your dog could come down with kennel cough even when vaccinated for it.

[poohbearsmom]

Moondog is absolutely correct. When a veterinarian prescribes a medication and dosage and time frame in which the medication should be taken, do it the way the veterinarian prescribes. Antibiotics should be taken as directed for the entire course prescribed.

Antibiotics work - if taken properly. If not taken properly, they do increase the risk of the dog immune system being taken over by bacteria that DO become resistant, and then you're in trouble.

The same rules apply to dogs as with people in regards to that. Just ask my MIL who took antibiotics prophylactically for decades (every family has one!), and then nearly died when her intestines perforated and antibiotic after antibiotic was tried.

The breathing issues you describe could well be from fluid in the lungs, so pussyfooting around with antibiotics is not a good idea.

re: kennel cough vaccine. There are MANY strains of kennel cough, and the vaccines only cover about 6 or so of the most common. It's better to get the actual vaccine than the nasal (my vet won't even give the nasal) because of the probability of the dog becoming symptomatic. Some dogs are more prone to symptoms than others, and this applies to any breed.