From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-08-11 17:22:24 UTC
Subject: RE: Coughing
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7073708.1123780944319.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
We've encountered coughing with cardiomyopathy and also with a heart tumor.
Large items in the stomach supposedly can sometimes cause reflux which can either irritate the throat or can even be inhaled causing pneumonia. (It's kind of a Catch 22 because reflux can cause coughing, but an individual who has powerful coughing can also cause bouts of reflux that way.)
Some respiratory infections are antibiotic resistant, including sinus infections.
Some individuals cough because of smoke (Is anyone a smoker there?), allergens, or pollution. What has the air been like there? Last week the ozone was high here and everyone was feeling it.
Speaking of ozone, it is a fresh smelling pollutant and lung irritant, and many of the ionizing air "cleaners" create it. Because our extended family includes 3 elders who are under the care of pulmonologists (2 permanently and 1 temporarily) and cardiologists (2), and because I am under the care of an allergist we have often heard the warnings that if any type of air filter is used it should be a hepa filter one and not an ionizing one. There is also a past Consumer Reports on this topic. If you are using an air ionizer that may be the cause.
Low humidity can at times irritate throats or sinuses.
Among humans it's been postulated that a child might become a habitual cougher pretty young if the child imitates an elder who coughs -- but I have to warn you that I was told that before the work on all of the damage second hand smoke can do.
My inclination is to have the vet keep an eye on the one who has been checked already, but have the kit checked because the coughing had not existed before.
If someone is smoking in the house then stop it. If an ionizing filter is being used then switch to a hepa filter instead, and even look up your particular one (not with the manufacturer or with a magazine that takes money from manufacturers) but with an independent source like Consumer Reports or a medical one.