Breathing Issues - Ted's Q&A

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Dog Suffers From Pulmonary Fibrosis

Posted by Marisol (Venezuela) on 04/30/2012

Dear Ted, I read in one of your letters that you had tried treatment on your pet dog. My dear pet dog Chaco has just been diagnosed w Pulmonary Fibrosis. He is 7 1/2 years old. I want to know what I can do for him. At night I hear him cough and some times he seems to gasp for breath. I want him to feel better and breath better.

Please let me know soon. Time is of the essence.

PS.: Chaco has had erlichia hemorragica for years and is under control. Erlichia is transmitted by ticks.

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
04/30/2012
391 posts

The common treatment for pulmonary fibrosis is N acetyl cysteine, for humans of 60 kg it is 500 mg x 3 times a day, so in a dog, the dose is calculated on a per weight basis, if the dog is 35 kg, the needs 1/2 the dose of human, and vice versa. The dog might need more such as selenium yeast, iodine, and some others, but try to concentrate on the N acetyl cysteine first.

Ted