Star (about 9 yrs) has had an occasional cough over the last year or so, mostly when she gets up in the morning. No phlegm or anything, and sounds more like she's clearing her throat. Noisy breathing, too, when she's sleeping. Been checked, obviously; lungs clear, maybe a slight abnormal heart murmur. Vet suggested Baby Benylin or Tixylix. We've been giving her the latter, and it seemed to be doing the trick.
Until last week, when it got very much worse; more frequent, going on for longer and so on; scarey to listen to! So I took her to a different vet, and he thought it was bronchitis. The only treatment, apparently, is steroids, which would put weight on her, (?) but he said inhaling steam is a good way to clear the tubes. Yeah, right! I could just see her sitting over a bowl of steaming water with a towel over her head!!!
We can't seem to find Baby Benylin, so we tried Boots own brand dry cough mixture...BUT NOW, I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH!!
Someone suggested an inhalant; Olbas Oil, so I bought a bottle. Only £3:80. Now: THIS WAS ONLY LAST WEDNESDAY.
Not sure how to administer it, I tried dripping a drop or two into her nostrils that afternoon, and the next morning her cough was nowhere near as bad. Since then I've been giving it to her morning and evening, but now I sprinkle enough onto a folded tissue to make it damp, and I hold it in front of her nose so she has to breathe in the vapour; only for about half a minute or so, and I'm delighted to say that she has improved miraculously. This morning, Sunday, only 4 days later, she hasn't coughed at all. Absolutely brilliant!
I really hope this helps.
PS: I've also ordered an atomizer from Ama*on, as I thought a fine spray for her to breathe in might be effective, but that hasn't come yet. But the tissue method seems to be highly effective.
