Hi there

Just wanderd if any of you could tell me the tell tale signs of Kennel cough, my bitch has been doing a lot more coughing than usual.........and I was wandering ifr she was comming down with a touch of the KC?

DOGS

Hi

Whenever mine had it it started all of a sudden (usually after kennels), and came on fast... they also used to *really* cough, like right from the bottom of their lungs (if you see what i mean). After a couple of days they would also start spitting out fluid - a sure fire sign to get them to the vet. I also used to keep them in the car while waiting

HTH
Chloe

When Holly was bad she used to cough and then stretch her mouth wide open and sort of gag - it's a really distinctive noise and absolutely disgusting :(

If you think they do have KC give them some Benylin and call your vet in the morning. If you do have to take them in then leave them in the car and get the vet to come out to you - it's incrediably infectious and can be very serious to poorly dogs - which afterall, is why most dogs are in the vets :D

Fiona
x x x

A decent cough mixture is "Potter's Vegetable Cough Remover" available from health food shops. Good for horses as well, and scares my children's coughs away!

Heidi,
Mine came down with it last week on a Sat. afternoon (bef. Christmas) when everything closed for the weekend. They'd been out of the kennels exactly a week after staying for a week.

Chienne suddenly developed a long drawn out wet cough (+ gag---exactly what Fiona said), a really hot head, and a desire to hide away from everyone. She also went off her food. Her coughing lasted 10 minutes at a time. Samma was rasping when she was lying down... I could hear it loudly, if I put my ear to her chest.

I asked for advice on here and got it :) :) Basically, what I had on hand was children's cough medicine --grape flavour :) I gave such a tiny amount to Chienne (1/2 teaspoon for a 17 pound dog). She stopped coughing within an hour and was able to go to sleep. I dosed her and Samma 4 times a day for the next 4 days.
I called my vet on Monday morning and she listened to the fact they were better, Chienne's temp was almost normal, and said I could bring them in up to Tuesday early afternoon if they did get worse.

Well, ever since Sat. night, they've been improving. Chienne started eating on Monday and has been doing ok since. They're off the cold meds. And Chienne has a little bit of hack every so often...once a day.

Personally, I think that giving them the cold med so early, kept things from getting much worse. Since they are 7 & 9 years old, I know they won't bounce back as quickly as they did when younger. They're ok now and I never did take them into the vet which did save time, money, and my health --since I was sick all last week too :rolleyes: :P

But just in case no one saw it when I posted....
THANKS everyone for the various suggestions and advice last SAT & Sunday :) :D :) It was very much appreciated, especially by the girls. They REALLY thank you :)
toodles

I was just about to post asking after your girls - I'm really pleased they shook it off so well :)

Fiona
x x x

Yep -- the Children's Triaminic did the job :) I picked up some more yesterday since I ran out.....just in case for the future :) :D :)
Chienne wouldn't take it on her own...but she didn't mind when I'd pop open her mouth and tip the spoon in :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Hi Hiedi hope you don't mind me changing the subject but how is Saskias foot.Gillian

Hi there

Saskia foot is fine know, just wish people would clean up there mess after them. she hads it bandaged up for a few days and she is running about great now. phew :)

Although Xmas eve Zeus the eldest walked in limping, he had not cuts over him but took him to the vets any way, the vet looked at him and said that it looked as though he had knocked his toe up as it had a slight swelling, he was given antibiotics and pain killers also. Woke up Xmas morning and he was fine running about as though nothing was the matter. found out later that the little sod had stumped his toe. clumsy git and there was no need for the vets...........oh well least he was ok.

My dog is coughing a little but not for a long time and she is not letting out a wrenching noise or coughing up fluid, just little bursts of coughing that she has never done before

It could start with a small cough in spades or with a big retching cough up to a couple of minutes.
It really differs from dog to dog.

Taylor

My dogs have had kennel cough simply start out with nothing more than a runny nose and they were sneezing.
Other times we've just had the cough.

If the dogs are kept warm, dry and not exercised, it is very possible to clear up kennel cough within about 7 - 10 days, providing it is not a really bad case and that it doesn't go around all the dogs. One year we had it for about 12 weeks. One of the dogs would just get over it and another would go down with it.

Good luck

I have made very good experience with fennelhoney to treat a stubborn kennel cough. One bitch from the pound was literally cured in two days (cough, sneezing and green gunk *yikes*).

Taylor

Can you not get innoculated against this ? How ofetn does kennel cough go around ? What I mean to say is - is it a regular infection ? Can dogs get it more than once ?
Lel

Kennel Cough has different varieties of 'bugs' which makes it difficult to protect against every single one. There is a kennel cough vaccine which is like a nasal spray up each nostril to be dosed every six months. The American Vet told me that the 5 in 1 yearly vaccine for Lepto/parvo/etc.. also carried a type of protection against KC. I don't know if this is true. Never heard of it before.

My two had their vaccinations last august or so... They still came down with the stuff. But I think the length, symptoms, and severity was greatly lessened because they had the vacc. I also didn't wait for it to get worse because I knew it wasn't normal for them to be that way.
I really believe the children's cough syrup gave them the needed break from the symptoms so their bodies could rest and fight off the infections. They were pretty much over it within the week.
I think they can get another form again someday.. but I won't worry about it unless I put them with other dogs in close quarters again in Winter. That seems to be the time they get sicker than in the summer time. :)
hth answer your questions,
regards,
toodles

Hi Sara,

You're right about the five in one, as far as I know it is the ParaInfluenza part of the five in one which provides cover of a type against kennel cough

Theresa ;)

Hi Lel, it goes around pretty often & dogs can get it several times whether they are vaccinated against or not. My lot have had it in varying degrees 3 times & they were all vaccinated against it.
Hi Eog, yes the KC vac is usually included with the other 3/5 viruses, much like the MMR, 3 in one or 5 in one.
Christine, Spain.

What courses this is it being in kennels?

I think my bitch is safe (touch wood) she weighs 23kg (sorry can not understand pounds so if God forbid I needed to give her some cough medicene how much do you think and how often?

Heidi

Hi Heidi, no being in kennels doesn`t cause it, just a lot of dogs together helps it spread cos it`s very contagious. Think of it like our colds or flu & how they are spread around & thats what happens with KC. I should think you can give 2 x 5mltsp of cough medicine 3/4 times daily.
Christine, Spain.

Thanks Christine.
It could be why Chienne came down with the KC faster and nastier than Samm. They both had their KC vacc in August. But Samm had her 4 in 1 in early Oct. ( no lepto + no reaction)
Chienne had the 5 in 1 less than 2 weeks before they went to stay in the kennels. So based on that, it does seem to provide a bit of protection which didn't have the time to sink in for her :( Now I really feel terrible :( I won't do that mistake again. :)

Don`t feel bad Eog, it`s not your fault! Have a look at their vacc cards & read the initials on the little stickers & this should tell you exactly what they were vacc against. If you need help deciphering them give me a shout. How come they had different ones? Usually the vet has a standard procedure.
Christine, Spain.

Oh, I can decipher them.... just not remember them :rolleyes: I'm upstairs and their records are downstairs. Too lazy to dig ;) :P :D

I guess I'm really special :P :P :P ;) I basically told my vet about Samm' reaction last year for about 2 weeks after her shot. So he did an 'alternative' vaccine which left out the lepto. He said that was the one that many dogs react badly to. Since she doesn't "fight" or have access to rats or other rodents, I went ahead and ok'd it. She had absolutely no reaction in tiredness or anything else this time :) :D :)

Great stuff Eog :) About no reaction not you wanting to go & check!!! Didn`t they also do without the parvo & distemper? Remember you comong back from vet & telling us he didn`t think they should be done every yr, or something like that :) It`s true tho about the Lepto.
Christine, Spain.

I had them done because they were to stay in the kennels in December. The vet agreed that they really don't need them every year. But Peter (kennel owner)hadn't been there when I asked what was required. It was his sister (groomer) who thought they wouldn't require the DHPP + Corona just to stay there. Lepto was the optional one. It turns out due to insurance and licensing, they did need it. C'est la vie :)
I like the German vets I go to...unfortunately, I'll be frequenting the base vet more because the dollar to euro ratio is getting worse. The same treatments at each place is getting further and futher apart due to the Dollar value dropping steadily :( :( :(

Oh Eog I find that really sad! It also makes me angry because very soon these kennels have GOT to stop insisting on annual boosters. The manufacturers themselves are saying they aren`t necessary so how dare they contradict them???? Yes I understand the insurance thing but how on earth can a boarding kennel be sued for a dog who stays there catching any virus when they can catch them anywhere else whether vaccinated or not????????? It`s like us catching flu when we stay in a hotel & then sueing the hotel, stupid!! Sorry for going on, will stop now.
Christine, Spain.

We enquired about kennel cough innoculation whilst at the vets with pup . The vet advised on it as pup will soon be mixing with other dogs at training classes etc - but did someone mention that their last jab includes protection against kennel cough anyway or have i read the message wrong ?
If we get pup ( Gus) innoculated how often will he require a booster ? I didnt know that he still has a chance of catching this also , even with the innoculation ??
One last question , is anyone breed more prone to catching this or is breed irrelevant ?
Lel

Hi Lel, I think you`ll find the KC vac goes into the mix when pups have their puppy vac & then also when they are boostered. it`s very rare that vaccs are given individually nowadays. Dogs are usually boostered every yr but vacc protocols are changing now & there is evidence that annual vacc aren`t necesaary. And yes dogs can still catch things they have been vacc against & no KC or any other virus/bacteria doesn`t mind what breed the dog is. If you go to the search at the top right of board & put in vaccinations you will find a lot of discussions on vaccines. Hope this helps :)
Christine, Spain.

Christine ,
I am confused now
our pup was in yesterday for his last jab and the vet has made an appointment for next week for a seperate innoculaiton for KC . He never mentioned once that the fiinal jab has this included already .So Do I still need to go ahead with next weeks innoculation then - is the vet just making money for an unnecessary jab ?
Lel

Hi Lel,
Puppy shots are different than an annual booster. That's what Christine and I were discussing. Kennel Cough isn't usually a traditional part of the Puppy series. It's not a shot, but a nasal spray that goes up each nostril. And some dogs don't care...others vehemently do :rolleyes:
hth,
toodles

Now I'm with you-
Sorry I was lost there for a moment :)
Lel

Hi Lel, you`re unconfused now OK? :) If you look in your puppies vac card you will see little stickers that have initials on them & somewhere in the card should be an explanation for them telling you what they stand for & they will be what vacc your pup has had.
Christine, Spain.

The confusion here is over the nasal Intrac, which combats some types of KC, and the Parainfluenza, a more serious condition, like flu! which is part of the booster and puppy vaccs, at least in the UK.

Hi Christine,
No, I don't find it sad at all. :) The kennel isn't requiring it out of whimsy. German federal law is. Considering there is no overall health regulation in Germany making anything other than rabies vaccination required, I cannot blame them.

The chance of the vaccine causing a reaction in my dogs is far less than if they're enclosed with other dogs who are not vaccinated against Parvo, distemper, etc... These dogs are originating from the US and Asia when their owners move here. So who knows what they'd be carrying if there weren't some type of necessary requirements.

Usually, Peter insists on the dog's vaccinations being at least 6 weeks old. He made an exception in my case because there had been some difficulties + knowing Chienne had been vaccinated last year and how healthy she is. As I said, it was my own fault... but I'll consider it a learning experience ;)

I find it interesting that the stronger, younger dog came down more severe than the more sensitive older dog who had the vaccine longer in her system. If I believed that one situation proved everything, I'd be convinced for sure. ;) :) :D

Hi Eog, if the maker of the vaccine(intervet I think) are saying it is unecessary to booster annually then why do kennels say it is? There is no scientific evidence that boostering every yr increases the antibodies against parvo & distemper so how can it be justified? And I have to disagree, (think we`ll both have to agree to disagree on this one tho :) )they will be more at risk from a reaction than parvo or distempe.
Eog I`m not sure I understand your last bit " If i believed......convinced for sure" about proving everything?
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine,
My last "bit" was a jab at all people who use a single case to create a belief in causation to think that ALL results would be identical because of that one time. :P :) Hey, I've been reading it on negative stuff, I just thought I'd apply it positively for once ;) :)

I don't think our pact to agree to disagree has anything to do with this situation. You keep bringing up "The kennels" as requiring the yearly vaccinations. I'm stating that the German Government requires it. It's incidental that I pretty much agree with the requirement. But my kennels have nothing to do with this necessity. It's the LAW! My kennels would be shut down in a heartbeat and Peter would go to jail if he did not comply.

German law is like that. You don't fool with it. This is a country that by LAW, regular stores are banned from being open on Sunday. Only tourist stores are allowed to be open. Everything they sell, must have a specific sticker attached. A couple of Berlin Department stores opened for a Sunday and sold everything with the tourist sticker on it. They were fined 6 million deutsch marks and forced to close for a week. And that was being open on a Sunday because it could possibly destroy families :P :rolleyes:

They are not necessarily going by the manufactures recommendation for these vaccinations, they go by their own beliefs. Good grief, they've banned Bull/Terrier breeds, but no restriction on their own problematic dogs.. And these are very old people who've never had anything to do with dogs, but want to be very cautious :rolleyes: So it's no one's choice at all here. It just is.
take care,
toodles

I think it is important to add here that in the UK (most insurance companies for pet cover (if not all)) require ANNUAL boosters for the insurance of your pet to be valid.

This is something I looked at on the 2 different policys I have for my 2 and BOTH have it as a requirement.

Sara (whose Sam is off for his booster this weekend)

Hi SaraW, I`ve heard of people having their dogs insured but if they choose not to booster then the insurance company are OK with that but just don`t cover only for whatever they hav`nt been vacc. against.
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine :)

That's interesting - I may have a word with them about it and see what they say. Thanks :)

I am getting more and more interested in yes or no to vaccines - Phoebie will definately have hers done in April as they will be her first since the puppy ones and these are only Sams second lot (since puppy) so I'm not too worried about them at this age but may well look into it all more before their next lots are due. I chatted to my vet about it the other week while I was there with Sam about something else and he seemed surprised what I knew (all info gleaned from here ;) ) He is a believer in them (not for monetary reason) but was open to discussion and didn't just dismiss my concerns and ideas.

SaraW :)

Hi SaraW, I`m pretty sure there are a few people on here who mentioned it with a bit of luck they`ll join in when they read this :) Ooo I know that look from the vets, as if to say "how do you know such things" & the eyebrows go up in surprise :) :). Well theres lots of links for info on here & if you need any more give me shout.
Christine, Spain.

Sorry Eog but I had no idea it was the law over there for all dogs to be vacc, I`m shocked! Well all I can say is *the law is an ass*!! Know about the banning laws tho.
Christine, Spain.

Just to be clear, Christine. :)
German law requires that ALL dogs boarded in kennels must have their shots + rabies current. But the law only requires dogs in general public to maintain yearly rabiesvaccinations.

That's why I don't disagree with the policy...who knows what other people's dogs are carrying around or bringing in from other countries?
regards,
toodles