I have a 6-7 mo. old hound...

Question
I have a 6-7 mo. old hound mix puppy that I got from the SPCA. He is sneezing and coughing some with a green discharge coming out of his nose. He also has loose stools, not watery but like a soupy mash potato's. He is very alet active and happy. He is eating and drinking some. I guess it would be normal amounts for his age. Any answers?

Answer
Hi Gina!  Congrats on your new addition!  It sounds as though he is experiencing common puppyhood illnesses, but will need veterinary attention for the proper treatment.  His sneezing, coughing and nasal discharge is no doubtedly the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection.  This can be easily cleared up with antibiotics, but getting these antibiotics as soon as possible would be most beneficial, since an upper respiratory infection that is left to fester will end in pneumonia.  His loose stools can be caused by a few things.  If you have just brought him home, this could just be a sign of the stress of a new home.  This may also be the result in a sudden change of food.  Or, this could be an intestinal parasite that will easily be treated with a dewormer.
Some things to do for his loose stool...
Boil some boneless chicken with rice and feed him this instead of his regular puppy food for a few days, then slowly, day by day, incorporate his regular food in with this mix, until his diet is again, just on the regular food.  The boiled chicken and rice is a very bland diet, easy for the intestinal and digestive track to digest, and the rice also works as a firming agent for the stool.
Your veterinarian will prescribe the needed antibiotics for his upper respiratory infection (aka Kennel Cough), and will be able to test the stool to see if there is a parasite present and treat accordingly.
I hope this helps and give that guy tons of welcome home kisses for me!
Hilary