Question:
Hi my name is Donna and my dogs name is Lightning. She is a german shepherd/Collie and she is almost six years old. In July we noticed that she was coughing a lot throughout the night and a few times during the day, but we assumed she may have a hairball or a bit of a cold and we ignored it. Within 2 weeks the coughing was keeping us up at night and while walking her in early August we noticed she was getting fat. That evening after feeling her tummy and realizing that it felt as if there was a build up of liquid I called my best friend who works at a veterniary hospital. She booked us in first thing in the morning witht he best vet at her clinic. She ruled out bloat, kidney, liver and after a few days she ruled out any form of heart disease or failure. She prescribed lightning a diuretic to take 50mg in the morning and 50mg at night to help relieve the fluid from her chest and stomach area. Lightning has been on these pills now for almost 1 month. The fluid has disminished a lot but I can still feel it in er stomach, and she is still coughing a lot at night and throughout the day. I have been searching the internet daily to try and figure out what is wrong with my dog, but I cannot find anything. Lightning is going back to the vet on Monday to get more diuretic pills, but I am wondering if they are really helping her? She is not any better? And after x rays, ultrasound and blood tests they have found nothing wrong with her? Can you please help me in finding out what could possibly be wrong with my dog. Thank You Very Much
Donna

Answer:
Oh dear.

I'm very sorry to hear about Lightning's troubles. I don't have any ideas for you, unfortunately, but I'm sure that many more knowledgable than I am will post with theirs. I just wanted to wish you both luck, and welcome.

Answer:
Did the vet aspirate any of the fluid in her stomach? What is the fluid? Poor dog!:(

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