Tussigon For Dog Problems
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What's alternative medication for tussigon. My dog is 15.5,15lb shihtzu with partially collapsed trachea, with cough/gagging episodes mostly upon waking up - drink water, excitement. He has been on tussigon 1/2 pill 1-2x p/d. Very hard to give pill. Tried everything from pill pockets, ALL kinds food, empty capsules, compounding, pill ejector, etc, grinding and add chicken flavor & 10 drops water and baby syringe into pocket in mouth to hide it. Pill seems to work better if administered NOT ground up. He fights and stresses horrifically! It's war each time & has drawn blood from my finger. Pill Very bitter. He's also on BP meds, vetmedin for heart 2x p/d, 1/ 4 water pill & eye meds. denamarin every other day (big problem getting that pill down too). These I can handle in syringe. He seems to be uncomfortable and moaning for apx 1 hr after this pill only. Not chronically, but I think gastric upset? It does pa. Is there a 'flavored' liquid form that I can syringe as an inj. form of this pill, or is there another pill that works as good with flavor and not bitter? Hope you can help. Thanks for your time. Shelly

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Re: Cclark505 (# 15) Expand Referenced Message

My dog has horse cough, tested 4 times and still neg for valley fever

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27

Hi-I know this is old but just wanted to comment for anyone that may need the info and/or a new idea-
The main ingredient in hycodan is hydrocodone. My Yorkie has a severe collapsing trachea and bronchial collapse so he coughs all the time but he will not take liquids at all. So, we have the hydrocodone compounded into capsules at a compounding pharmacy and then when it's time for his med, I hide the capsule in a little coconut oil and put it in the freezer for about a minute to let the coconut oil harden and then wrap this in a thin layer of extra sharp cheddar cheese (his high value treat). The coconut oil and the cheese combo masks the flavor/smell of the hydrocodone really well. It took A LOT of trial and error to find a combo that works. Hopefully this will save someone else from pulling their hair out while trying to get their stubborn dog to take their meds!

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26

Greenies makes pill pockets to administer pills. You can use peanut butter and cheese in a can. I've even used a little bit of cream cheese and whipped cream. Hycodan works well I also have my dog on a Flovent inhaler.

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25

I had the same problem now I finally got her to take it. She gets in the cat food all the time so no when I feed the cat I make a little ball of cat food and cover the pill in the middle and down it goes with no problem.

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24

Hi, Jessie my JR has the same problem with her trachea, worse in the cold weather. I finally can give her a pill with no problem. Not the best solution but she is always in the cat food so I roll up a tiny amt of canned cat food and half a pill goes fast when she sees that. Not a good choice but the only way I can get it, will not eat hot dogs, cheese, turkey or anything as the smell can still be there but cat food overpowers the smell. Merry Christmas!!

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23

Shelly, My Jack Russell Jessie has the liquid pill form of that medicine and it is bacon flavor. You have to go the special pharmacy. Mine was Specialty Pharmacy in Las Vegas and it is hydrocodone bitartrate and we squirt it in her mouth and right after give her a little treat to calm her down. 2 mg/mL syrup. Hope you can try something. They have all flavors.

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22

This med comes in cherry-flavored liquid form...serve it with chicken or beef or favorite meat.

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21

YES...call the vet. There are many side effects. An adjustment in dosage or change of medication sounds needed. This IS a narcotic drug.

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20

My dog started this medication and is having loose bowl movements. Can this drug cause upset stomach?

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19

I have a Jack Russell, Parson Terrier, she suffers from collapsed trachea also. Tussigon has been prescribed for her also. I have used as some of the above have mentioned, pill popper, syringe with the liquid from a compound pharmacy (which in both cases she chews and tries to break the syringe). I have tried cream cheese wrapped in beef, which worked for a bit. I am still fighting whenever she needs it to give it to her. She is 14 and I think she thinks she is being punished. Maybe the bitter taste is what is the problem. Prednisolone sounds like a great idea. Have to check out with the Vet and see. Any side effects anyone knows of?

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18

Liquid Tussigon is sweet and cherry flavored...just squeeze it onto chicken or beef or bacon...no need to force it. My dog is 141/2 Toy Poodle, collapsed trachea. He is losing his wolf appetite with Tussigon...we are exploring non narcotic options, which seems to be doggie Robitussin, which has its own effects. Sigh.

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17

Get the liquid. It works better with a syringe.

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16

Askyour vet to prescribe the liquid. Its fast and helps right away.

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15

Are any of you with coughing problem dogs in the desert area around Phoenix or Tucson? The valley fever in this area is very bad and my dog has come down with it and has had a horrid cough until the vet finally diagnosed her properly. Anyway if you're in the desert Southwest you might want to check valley fever with your vet. Carolyn

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14

Hello....my poodle has a heart condition and he is very picky. I use a small piece of chesse and roll his meds in it like a cheese ball and he gobbles it it up like it a treat.

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13

Marilyn, Your information was very helpful. I have a 14 year old pom with a collasped trachea that has been on tussigon for several months now. I am going to ask my vet about the other meds you mentioned. She wakes up in the middle of the night with her horrible cough. Poor little thing...it is also very difficult to give her the meds. It works best if I grind the pill and put it in cream cheese or peanut butter. She had her teeth removed about 5 years ago. She eats very well! Thank you for your comments!

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12

I had used Tussigon and Torbutrol for my little Maltese, who has a collapsed trachea, liver problems, a heart condition. The Torbutrol actually worked better than the Tussigon, which I ground up and mixed with water and gave in a syringe. I had discussed with my vet the problems I had giving her the medicine. She suggested that she might do better on Prednisolone. She ordered a month's supply for me from a compounding pharmacy. She has been on it for 3 months now and I have been able to discontinue the Tussigon or Torbutrol. She is doing much better and does not wake me up at night coughing. While I have a fear of Prednisolone, I can only say she seems to be pain free now and she is eating regularly. While it may shorten her life, at least it has certainly improved the quality of her life. She is 14 years old and has a life expectancy of 18 years. I do not want her to live in pain if at all possible.

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11

To Shelly, this may be too late to help, but...my chihuahua gets a syrup for his coughing. It's Tussigon, but an elixir (It's hydrocodone /homatropine). He has collapsing trachea and enlarged heart but no cardiac meds yet. He gets 2-3 doses a day, and the amount is small, 0.6 mls each dose. He doesn't like it, however, he never fights me with it, either, and I give it to him in the corner of his mouth, very slowly, while he swallows.

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10

Shelly I have tried Tussigon and Torbutrol and I have found The Torbutrol works better on my Maltese. I give her 1/4th of a pill 4 times a day. I use a pill crusher and add a little water and honey and give it to her in a syringe. She does not like it but she knows she has to take it. The Torbutrol works faster and she has less coughing with it. The vet recently prescribed Prednisolone once a day, which is given on the inside flap of her ear, so it is relatively easy to administer . I had to go to a compounding pharmacy to get this, and you have to wear gloves when administering it, as it can be absorbed through the skin. She has a problem with her liver and she also has a heart murmur so surgery is not an option for her.

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9

I use liversworth to hide pills for my Shih Tzus (my older Shih Tzu was treated for coughing/collaped trachea with Predisone and Tussigon, too)

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