My puppy hacks and always has red eyes

by savana
(jefferson city, mo)

I'm worried about my 6 month old papillion mix. Her eyes are always red and she will "hack" every so often. she swallows constantly and I feel that she is tryng to tell me there is something wrong with her.

I have taken her to the vet and they suggested that if might be allergies. They also did x-rays, but only found some bloating in the stomach. They said it looked fine. I don't know what this could be!!! please help!!!!




Hi Savana
The symptoms you describe could be allergies. Coughing, sneezing and red eyes can be seen as a reaction to allergens, just the way they are in people.

It's good that you took her to the vet and that they took X-rays, that should rule out any serious issues, but obviously she's still having problems.

You could try giving her Benadryl (but call your vet and ask for the correct dosage for her weight), and see if that helps alleviate the symptoms. It's often successful in helping with allergies.

If that doesn't do the trick I would suggest taking her back to your veterinarian and asking them to do some more tests. The red eyes could possibly be conjunctivitis, which is an infection, and could be related to infection elsewhere in her body. Blood tests and an exam should show up any problems.

It's always better to be safe than sorry with puppies, and if you're worried talk to your vet again. If you're not happy with their response, get a second opinion. You know your pup best and if you feel something is wrong, follow your instincts.

Best of luck, hope she's feeling better soon.