worried about gill flukes, or is it something else?

Question
Hi Chris,

I was hoping you could help me out.  I have a tank with 4 large Oranda Goldfish and I've notice that a couple weeks ago my largest oranda started 'coughing'  he would sort of look like it was chewing, and then normally spit out air bubbles.  I thought maybe he just had something in his gills (like a small stone or food) and it would clear on its own. He's been eating great and acting fine.  Then about a week ago I noticed a 2nd fish 'yawning' more than usual, and today the first fish doing the more coughing action was rubbing himself on the stones for about half an hour, darting around and so.  

Does this sound like gill flukes?  or another parasite?  

Your help is really appreciated, also, what would you treat this with?

Thank you!  Lani

Answer
Hi Lani;

Those are the symptoms of gill disease but it could be bacterial. Often flukes lead to infection with bacteria too. Here are web pages about gill disease that will help you figure out which it is and what to treat with;

http://www.ponddoc.com/koihospital/Diagnostic/Bacterial/BGD.htm

http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Body%20And%20Gill%20Flukes.html

Good luck and I hope they recover soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins