[cowboy4884]

I have a pitbul sharpei mix male dog about 3 years old. He was real healthy up to about 4 months ago. He has had all his shots. First off he got real skinny, the vet said worms so he was treated for worms, The kind that given by weight and given over a 3 day period. After that he bloated way up, I was told he had bloat so back to the vet he went and after an examination I was told he was just eating too much. I didn't change his diet but now he is back to being skinny. Other than being skinny he acts fine. I have 4 dogs just like him except they're female. Hes the only one that's skinny. I thought about treating him for worms again, but according to the package I have to wait. Ive started feeding him separately I thought that maybe he isn't getting enough food. Hes the boss in the yard but thought maybe he's letting the females eat more. I don't know. I would appreciate any other ideas. I don't really trust the vet.

[shazamataz]

You should be feeding them separately for starters, letting them all eat together is a sure fire way to start a fight, plus like you said, he may not be eating all his share.

He may have worms again, did you treat you other dogs as well or just him?
If you didn't treat the others as well then he may have caught them again from the others, if one has worms then you can almost guarantee the others will as well.

Bloat you would know, he would be dead within 24 hours without immediate vet care.

[cowboy4884]

Yes all the dogs were treated for worms. As far as the dogs being separated because of fighting, the dogs that eat together 3, there has never been a problem but Im now feeding the male separately. Also I went today and bought a bag Iams dry food and a case of can food that I'll mix for him. Also just in case I ordered a new batch of worm treatment for all the dogs.

Thanks Ken

[shazamataz]

Let me know how he goes with the new food and another dose of wormer.

I know mine love canned mixed with dry so hopefully that will encourage him to eat a little more.

[cowboy4884]

I brought my dog into the house to keep a better eye on him & make shure he is eating. Since then Ive noticed that he has a bad cough kind of like a gagging cough. Also Ive closely inspected his stooks and there's no sign of worms, He is eating and drinking. He sounds like he has a lot of congestion. He doesn't cough all the time 2 or 3 times a day, its non productive. I started him on 500mg amoxicillin X 3 a day. I thought that maybe I should change that to Keflex 3 times a day.

[Luv_a_bull098]

Kennel cough. Cepholaxin is a good way to help with kennel cough. Also, what I have discovered over the years in dealing with kennel cough... give him a big soup spoon full of raw honey along with musinex (The over the counter prescription for people with the talking mucus).. The green bottle. It helps a lot. Give the raw honey twice a day, and give the musinex once a day. I usually give it in the morning. The antibiotics will help keep his immune system strong so that pneumonia doesn't set in. Dogs can get pneumonia very quickly from kennel cough. My vet has never prescribed amoxi to me for any of my cases of kennel cough, so I'm not sure how effective it is. But some meds are better then none. And the honey does need to be raw. The live bacteria that's in the honey is what helps get the dogs over kennel cough quickly. You can use it too if you feel sick :)

[Aurora_Bell]

Has the Vet ruled out a heart murmur?