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Geriatric Dog Cough

by marneemadsen - March 23, 2010

Hi Steve, sorry for one more...

12 yr old Border Collie hx of chronic blood def and stasis. Has done well over the past 2 yrs on formulas like XHLD, SWXFY, XCHT, DGSYS. Can have GB/TH and Damp Heat as well.

Stiff, better with movement. Rear end withered. Can get pronounced itch - coat seb sicca.

Chronic low grade cough that was better with XCHT for a while, now worsening. Loud, hacking/gagging, non-productive. XFZYT made worse (Client thought more phlegmy, breathing heavily, decreased energy). Recent onset night blindness, decreased hearing and sense of smell. Stools can be soft with mucus occasionally.

T = lavendar top, red to purple underside
P = slippery, superficial
(on XHLD and XCHT+QJ currently).

PTs: BL 18 T, BL 23 T, BL 13 T, SP 4 T

Can you help me pull together the cough, withered rear end, blood stasis, SP Qi Def, vision/hearing/smell?

Thanks again!
Marnee

by naturevet

March 24, 2010

Hi Marnee,

I have two ideas:
1. Try Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. It fits with the fact that XCHT worked for a while, and helps pull Yang down to the upper burner to improve hind limb weakness. It fits the purple red tongue, the slippery pulse, and sometimes the loss of senses. These are either from too much Yang in the head or too little. It drains Damp, and tonifies the Spleen mainly by making sure that Yang energy can descend to the lower burner.
2. Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang. This is used as an anti-tussive in the elderly, where there is too much mucous in the airways and a lack of Kidney Yang energy. It has Dang Gui in it that helps tonify and move Blood. It doesn't necessarily fit the pulse, though, or the tongue. But it should be safe to try. Of the self-propagating dynamic between the Lungs, Kidneys and Spleen, it addresses the Lungs and Kidneys, and thus the Spleen indirectly.

Hopefully one of those will work,

Steve

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