Case 9: Cough

Case 9 — Cough

Mark D. Kittleson, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVIM (Cardiology)

Bingo is a ten-year-old male outdoor dog who has been coughing for the last few months.
The owner’s daughter thinks the coughing is more frequent in the morning but that it persists throughout the day.
She has seen him cough up thick, white, viscous material. The cough is described as being similar to a choking noise.
Lately Bingo has also been tired and will sit down on walks.
He has been losing weight.
There is no referral veterinarian.

T = 100.8°F; P = 144; R = 96 (pant)
Bingo attempted to bite when his ears were touched, so his ears, nose, throat, and eyes were not carefully examined.
He has mats in his hair coat and is thin, with a body condition score of 3/9.
He has a V/VI left apical systolic murmur that is also a IV/VI on the right side. On auscultation, an arrhythmia was noted.
Wheezes were auscultated in his left lung fields, and he has crackles in his right ventral fields. There is a significant abdominal component to his breathing.
The rest of the physical exam was unremarkable.