Kennel Cough

[tashie05]

Hello everyone.
My husband and I just got back from a two week vacation. We took our dog to a boarding place for those two weeks.

When we picked up Ein we were told that she has had kennel cough for the last week or so.

The woman at the boarding facility said that we should give her some vitamin C and Robatussin and not to worry about bringing her to the vet.

Our obedience instructor says we should bring her sooner than later.

I'm wondering how serious Kennel Cough is since we have never had to deal with this before. I plan on phoning the vet today if she does not show improvement (we only picked her up yesterday0.

Thanks to all who share their opinion on this topic.

Natasha

[Chip's Mom]

Your obedience instructor gave you excellent advice. I would take her to the Vet. Good luck and keep us posted on how she is doing

[Michael Romanos]

Kennel Cough = VET. Emergency vet if you can't get to see one pronto.

[glencorgi]

One thing to keep in mind about kennel cough/bordetella is that the vaccines against it only cover a small percentage of the strains of bordetella. Even though most boarding kennels require the vaccination, it is still very possible, as you have unfortunately and sadly found out, for one's dog to contract kennel cough. A vet check is in order, however the boarding facility staff is not necessarily off in their advice either. Some strains of kennel cough vets do recommend the Robitussin. Think of kennel cough like a cold, sometimes they aren't much more than sniffles, sometimes they can put one in bed for a week. Since our corgis can't tell us exactly how badly they are feeling, a vet check is always a good idea for kennel cough.

Debbie

[bec]

One of my current fosters (a greyhound) has kennel cough. My vet has advised me just to keep an eye on her. From my understanding, and my experience working in dog rescue, it only becomes serious when secondary infections set in which you will notice through symptoms of coughing up mucous/blood and the dog going off their food and becoming lethargic. It is also a bit more of a call for concern if the dog is a puppy, old, or already suffering from another infection or illness.

We see kennel cough all the time in dog rescue. If your girl was vaccinated, her cough shouldn't last long - and should not be as severe. She should be back to normal pretty quick.

Just keep an eye on her for those signs of secondary infection.

[fogebotom]

This spring one of my dogs picked up a strain that he hadn't been vaccinated for, at a show. After all was said and done, he coughed for one day and that was it. BUT-I have several senior dogs in the house that got much sicker-one in 24 hours of starting her cough, had pneumonia. A round of clavomax for everyone plus I must have bought stock in cough syrup. Make sure you use an expectorant as my vet wanted them to cough it out.

Ended up finding out that there was a dog had a couple of coughs at the show the weekend before my first dog showed signs. And more interesting that my older dogs got the sickest while Eddie - 5 mos old at the time, never got sick.

I recommend that you call your vet and discuss the options.

Cindy and the non coughing crew
www.foggybottomusa.com

[Michael Romanos]

Two things which makes kennel cough serious. Untreated, it can develop into a dangerous ailment, and it is quite severely a contagious disease among dogs ie can be passed onto other dogs who come into contact with the carrier especially puppies.

[bec]

but until a secondary infection develops the only treatment that can be administered is precautionary antibiotics.. and some anti-cough medicine

the only thing that will stop it spreading to another dog is quarantine..