Question about coughing and gagging

I rescued a 12 year old female part poodle part bichon. Organization gave me blood test all in normal range and said they had trachea xrayd’ and just called it kennel cough. She coughs during the night and day, laying down or walking around, and she doesn’t throw up anything but a small amount of saliva. It doesn’t seem to matter what I feed her, wet, dry, different brands etc. I am a widow and just lost my 18 year old poodle in Aug and couldn’t stand not having a companion. We are getting along fine, and this started out as a foster, but have I just got myself into a similar situation as one of your questions in the respiratory section, can’t be diagnosed, and spend $1,000′s at the vet and still not know? There are recipes online to make at home but she won’t drink it or eat it if I cover it up with peanut butter. Any suggestions? Thank you for all your work there at DELTA. I am a donator, every month if I can, for years.

 

Answer from Dr. Gaylord Brown:
Kennel cough is not a permanent condition and is treatable with antibiotics. Therefor, if you just got her there should be treatment to stop this condition if it is kennel cough. If you have had her for months and she is still coughing it is not kennel cough. Allergic bronchitis and heart problems linger and though treatable are not curable. Her predilection for peanut butter is unusual but not harmful in and of itself. I recommend trying to phase out the quantity as obesity is sure to follow. Please get an initial consultation with your own veterinarian.