Hi all, my dog has had kennel cough before and it cleared up straight away with antibiotics and he seemed to have no effects apart from the hacking cough.  However, he has been in reputable kennels for 3 weeks while I was on holiday and I picked him up on Sunday.  Yesterday he developed a terrible cough and I phoned the vet and made an appointment for today.  He got progressively worse and I sat up all night with him having these coughing fits, which were so bad I phoned the emergency vet at 3am as the dog was so distressed he wet himself.  I managed to get an appointment at my own vet this morning and he has been checked over and there is no concern about anything except these horrible coughing fits.  He's got tablets to take but he is just so unlike himself, just lying on the setee, floppy, looking miserable and having these coughs.  I don't want to phone the vet again as I feel I'm fussing, so has anyone else experienced a bad dose of kennel cough?  I expect its just a side effect of the tablets that he's lethargic?  I know, I'm flapping!

Also, should I phone the kennel to alert them?  My dog wasn't vaccinated against this (although the vet said this vaccine doesn't always work).  I'm not blaming the kennels but I'd hate anyone else to have this worry.

Thanks for reading.

CG

This is a subject that comes up on a regular basis. If you run a search using the search facility in the top right hand corner of the forum page, you will access many threads on this topic. Happy reading :-)

Make the dog a warm honey and lemon drink more honey than lemon this soothes the throat i have used this every time.

OK thanks, I'll do both suggestions.  I know it's not life threatening but I hate seeing him like this.  Just nipping out to buy the honey!

CG

Have owned dogs for years and as I show it is not unusual for me to have an outbreak every other year or so, never much problem except the fact that you have to keep the dogs in. But this year Solli Sod had a really bad few days, I have never know one be so bad, but it passed in 3 days and he was fine then, he did have antibiotics for it though. So I have know way of knowing if your dog has the same infection but the chances are it is, and if it is then there was no lasting problem and it was short lived, so lets hope eh!

I'm sure he'll be fine but I've never seen him so quiet.  The coughing fits were constant last night, now they are coming only every half hour so he's improved.  I'll get my mum to dog sit tomorrow as I don't want to leave him on his own (I work 4 hours).  The vet did say there are several variations of this and some can be very serious, she said its like human flues, they get to the superbug stage.  Ah well the upside is at least I won't have to walk him tonight! (Garden duties for me tonight, not quite as cold).

Hi Copper Girl

It is not probably what you want to hear but I lost an ESS to pnuemonia that developed from kennel cough and she had to be pts, now I must admit I have never heard before or since of this happening. She started off listless and unwell and she wouldnt eat and then it was downhill from there, she eventually became incontinent because she was so weak (at the time we were at the vets every other day for injected antibiotics). If I ever hear one of my dogs coughing it now sends me into a panic. I hope he is well soon.

Nikki

Think you are right Nikki, that is not what anyone with a sick dog wants to hear. CG has been to the vet who was happy with the dog and I guess she was hoping to get some sleep tonight.

O.K hand well and truly slapped. Profuse apologies for what in hindsight does seem a panic inspiring post. I have only ever replied to a few posts because I felt I didnt have as much experience as other posters having only ever owned 4 dogs, all pets and also because you can have your head bitten off. Well thats been proved correct back to just reading.

Issy your point is valid, but think how CG must be feeling. Please continue posting but make your suggestions a little looser and not so panic making. However experienced we are when you have a sick dog it is easy to loose all sense of the probable in favour of the possible.  And I am sorry my post was more sarcastic than you deserved, sorry to hear about your dog, KC can be serious, but it is usually only the very young or the very old who are in danger.

Continue to post, we all pitch it wrong sometime and I am really good in the foot in mouth department.

Thanks Nikki, the only reason I was so worried was that this incidence is totally unlike the incidence before.  However, he was at the vets and she was very thorough and didn't seem concerned at all.  Although she did keep stressing this viral strain thing, which it seems can't be treated.  I'm keeping a sharp eye on Copper, he has been eating and drinking OK so far but he seems more unwell than he was this morning but that could be the tablets quietening him.  Or of course it could be the promise of chicken for tea and me holding his paws and giving him lots of attention!  Seriously though I take your point on board and I will take him back to the vets if he doesn't improve.

CG

When mine had it years ago, the vet suggested Benylin cough mixture.  I always used the childrens dosage.  From what I remember it did help with the cough.  Touch wood I haven't had it for a few years.  He also said that if it is KC then antibiotics would not work.

Sandra

I know its one of those "different advice things", however, he's had his tablets and he just seems to be very poorly at the moment.  He's breathing OK though and I just saw the nose go up when I walked past with the chicken.  I'm sure he'll be fine or at least much better tomorrow.  Thank you all for your help.

CG

CG, I am sure he will too, you are going to give him as much of that chicken as he want's, aren't you.

Ahem I think that he's had all that there is!!  Can't be that ill as he's scoffing for Scotland.  He's still barking like a seal though.  Can dogs pull fast ones????  Och, he's still not himself but he has improved I think since I started this post :0)  It does help to talk about it doesn't it?

CG

Once had a vet who said "never disregard the owner that says, there is something wrong, I don't know what but he is not right" and added she would rather see a dog 2 weeks before he was taken ill that 2 weeks after.

Well I can't disagree with that!  The only reason I know my boy is really really not well is that he isn't interested in going for a walk.  Usually he is beside himself with joy at the sight of the lead but not today.  Not even a wag.  I guess we see them 24/7, the vet sees them as and when so we should know.  I suppose I err on the side of caution but I'd rather have a wasted journey than a midnight dash.

CG

Sure he will be OK CG, if he is eating and alert for food then he is on the mend. Have an early night the two of you and I bet you both feel better tomorrow.

How is he this morning ?

Min my oldie has just got over a bad dose of coughing. She had a course of antibiotics and also a powder which helpsmake the cough more productive which I think is callled Bisolvon. It really helped her produce the Phlem which is good as it is an aid to try and prevent Pheumonia as she was quite likely to get it at her age, 13yrs old !

Might be worth trying it if he is still quite bad.

HTH

Lucy
xx

Hi Lucy

Actually, I expected him to be a lot better today, but he's not really.  Still really bad coughing despite the cough suppressants and antibiotics.  He is eating though and he's wagging his tail so I'm not desperately concerned.  I think all that effort into coughing has just exhausted him and made him weak.  He's not coughing anything up at all, just retching.  I've tried the honey and lemon drink that was suggested, but how the heck do you get him to drink it??  He just ran away and hid!  If he doesn't improve by the weekend I'll go back to the vets.

CG

Found mine were happy to lick Benalyn out of a spoon, so try that. Benalyn I mean.

if you are taking  him back to the vet donot wait in the waiting room.wait in the car untill your appointment so the other dogs in the room do not catch it,you just do not know how ill they are and kc could kill them if they get a secondarly infection,like my puppies last year.

i know i keep on about my litter last year on the site under kc, but if you went though it you know what i been.

Try the honey on it`s own, he`ll like it better I`m sure :) & give him buffered VitC, start off at 500gr twice a day. If he gets a touch of the runs don`t worry & cut back to 1 a day. If he doesn`t, increase them to 3 a day spread from morn to night. Make a good chicken broth with a couple of cloves of garlic for him to drink as well. Or give him good quality garlic & fenugreek tablets.
The last time Bonnie had it a few yrs back she was in a bad way & it was her 3rd time, she made a slow but full recovery :) Can you get one of those machines that asthmatics use? I can`t think of the name, its on the tip of my tongue!!!! I couldn`t get one but was told they are very good for things like this.
Try not to let him exert himself & keep him quiet as possible.
Hope he`s better soon :)

Christine, Spain.

Unfortunately we are back at the vets tonight as Min has not got rid of the cough despite finishing the antibiotics. :(

I am just hoping she needs another course of tablets and it isn't something more sinister like the beginnings of heart failure .

Lucy
xx

kc can last up to 4 weeks,just get hr check anyway to rule out a secondarly infection,i should not thing it her heart if she didnt have a problem before.

good luck.

i know what you are going through with kc,hopfully the cold weather will kill off some of these gems

It is just that she is 13 and it is always a worry when they are old and ill :(

She is eating and is still bright and look it tip top condition so I am hoping she is just finding it abit difficult to ward off !

She has got to be well as she is staring in a video on the 30th and has got to look her best :)

Heart failure!  Don't say that lol, I've got it myself!!  Hopefully its not catching ;0).  Seriously though, he's a lot better today, we've even been to the field (although I checked no one else was there first).  I have the sneakiest suspicion he might be doing the dying swan act when he's not getting enough attention - well he's a male after all!!  But it seems to be clearing, he's perfectly fine in himself but still got the cough.  Hopefully that should clear over the weekend.

Many thanks to all for your suggestions and support.

CG

Min is just on her way to the vets so hopefully we will have some good news that she just needs some more antibiotics.

Hope it all clears up for him over the weekend !

Lucy
xx

So whats the news on Min then Lucy? :)

Christine, Spain.

Well she was seen by Jo Inglis of vets in Practice fame  {{{{swoon}}}}} ( I didn't go but Mike said there were a few women in the waiting room all doled up but no pets !! :) )

Anyway she has been put on another course of antibiotics (Noroclav) and we will see how it goes. The good news is her heart and lungs are A1 so if it is an infection, it is in her throat. If however the antibiotics fail to work then he thinks it maybe paralysis of the trachea which is common in oldies and nothing that can be done.

At least her ticker and lungs are OK.

Just hope when she has the photo shoot that she is ok and like her normal Min self ! :)

Lucy
xx

Hi Luc,
*Anyway she has been put on another course of antibiotics (Noroclav) and we will see how it goes. The good news is her heart and lungs are A1 *so if* it is an infection, it is in her throat*.....If however the antibiotics fail to work then he thinks it maybe paralysis of the trachea.....*
Lucy why hasn`t he taken some throat swabs tests to see if it is an infection, & also the cause of it? If the antibiotics fail it could also be due to the fact that there was no infection there anyway & its being caused by something else, or the antibiotics given are the wrong ones to get rid of the type of infection Min has. I think I`d have a swab done to determine the germs causing the prob & the appropriate A/B`s to combat it.
Tests for infections these day are quick & definitive most of the time. :)

Christine Spain.

Hi Christine

The first lot of antibiotics did start to show a bit of improvement so that is why a second lot have been given.

I think if it doesn't shift the cough I will ask that they do a swab.

Lucy

Hope they work Lucy :)
One of mine had a cough couple of yrs ago but it would come back after the ab`s finished, it was only after they took some mucous from her lungs/throat that the right ab`s were given & it cleared up.

Christine, Spain.

As someone else said dogs can die of Kennel Cough, not worrying you, just wanting to support the person who mentioned it.  It's very rare but it can happen and I feel that people need to know this.

I've been lucky having never had Kennel Cough although I do show etc.  My friends dogs had a bad strain of it, one of her dogs had it for over a month but they were all OK in the end.

It's better that your dog is quieter than usual as you don't really want them to do too much whilst they have kennel cough.  I'm sure that it will be up and about in no time!!  Give it a big hug from me :d

My dog had kennel cough and it lasted for about a month.  It was really embarassing taking him for a walk as quite a few people were giving me funny looks as he was coughing very bad.  Someone even shouted at me that i was not using a proper collar and lead.  I was using a half choker as I was lead training him.  I then had to explain that he had kennel cough.  My vet put him on a course of antibiotics and as son as he finished that course he had it back.  It took three attempts with antibiotics and then it eventually cleared up.

Fortuntely no problems with Tammy and no reoccurance with Jasper.

I do hope your post was a wind up Naomi?  Kennel Cough is highly contagous and no vet would ok you to carry on taking your dog out with it. Usually they won't even let you in the waiting room :rolleyes:  You may well have been responsible for the deaths of elderly dogs or puppies by your foolish actions :-(  You also endangered your own dog as it is a viral illness that can cause lasting damage if exercise is undertaken with it.  This would be why it kept recurring

No it was not a wind up.  I took my dog out for regular exercise as recommended by my vet (only around the block-5mins max) .  I did everything that my vet said and when we went into the surgery we were called straight through.  My actions were based upon the recommendations of the vet, so maybe he was the foolish one, I don't know.

He is okay, no lasting health problems.  He is having his annual booster when required.  I'll take note of your advice if any of my dogs get Kennel cough in the future as I would hate to be responsible for the death of any persons pet even though it would have been accidental.

Thanks for that Sarah

i  cannot belive what you and the recommendation of vet that you went out for walks and went into surgery.it case like that, that the spead of the kc which help KILLED MY LITTER OF FLATCOATED RETRIEVERS LAST YEAR, owner and  vets should BEWEAR of wHAT kc again cause,

IF ANYONE ELIS LOST A DOG OR A LITTER TO KC,YOU KNOW WHAT I WENT THROUGH. I WOULD NOT WANT ANYONE ELIS TO GO THROUGH IT,EVEN PULLING PTS PUPPIES AT 4 WEEKS OLD AND ONE AT 8 WEEKS OLD. TO LOSE ONE DOG OR ONE PUPPY OUT OF A LITTER IS UPSETTING BUT TO LOST 6.THE FRIENDS AND OWNERS FOR MY BREED WATCH ME GO TO HELL AND BACK.

STEVE DEAN WROTE ABOUT THE PUPPIES AND WHAT KC AND DO IN THE DOG PAPER LAST YEAR AND IN OCT THIS YEAR FOR OWNER AND BREEDER TO BE AWEAR.

Hi Naomi

Glad you boy is OK, you really were lucky as Kennel Cough can be very dibilitating.  I do worry about your Vet though :-(   You probably won't get KC again, as dogs do build a certain immunity to it, but if you do, keeping them housebound and a quiet as possible is the best cure :-)

Have a nice Christmas with your furry ones :-)

That must have been awful  Briedog. I too could have been in this position,  thanks to a Vet.
I phoned my vet because my bitch surprised us with a stillborn pup at 1 a.m, many hours after we thought she was finished, the vet advised that we took her to the surgery immediately as she would be there with 'another emergency'  We got there before the vet and we waited outside with the 'other emergency' only to discover that he was  an elderly dog with KC   
We were very lucky, she did not get it but you know how I felt for 2wks watching her and my pups and I had to pay the vet £150 for the privilidge, the worst of it was she told us to come back the following day for an ultrasound as the x-ray was not conclusive

I am so sorry for anyone who has to endure what Briedog has had to go through.  I try to avoid seeing this particular vet if I can help it as I don't like him very much.  He seems to be one of those who tells you that you need this and that and is just out to line his pockets.

Briedog, I hope you never, ever have to go through that again and I will be especially vigillant should my dog or bitch ever get kc again.

 

Hi Naomi

I can vouch for Briedog that it was a terrible year for her last year not only with this litter.  The vet saying that they should have plenty of exercise is wrong too, exercise should be limited!   Glad to hear that you dog is fine now.

Take care.
Diane

I'm so sorry for what you went through, I agree with you KC is serious.  Can I just say, as I started this post, that my vet allowed me to wait in the waiting room (although I said I would wait in the taxi and I was surprised at that).  The vet didn't say I shouldn't walk him although I kept him in the garden until he was much much better and then when I walked him I drove him to remote places where I thought there would be no dogs.  If you are inexperienced with dogs, you tend to trust your vet's advice although I knew from research that dogs should be isolated when they have this.  This is the third time my dog has had this cough (each time after being in kennels) and each time it has been a worse dose.  He still coughs now in the morning, although mildly, and I wouldn't underestimate the seriousness of it - at one point my dog was really ill.  But what to do when he needs to go to kennels?  Even the vet admitted the vaccine doesn't always work. 

CG

hi, i am going through a similar situation with my 2 month old puppy.  I just adopted her from the Humane Society and she seem quite calm and very gentle for a puppy her age.  We brought her home that night she began gagging as if she had something in her throat.  I got nervous and took her to the emergency centre and was told she had kennel cough. The next day she was very removed and would not leave her crate. Also began to have mucuosy stools with some fresh blood in it. I took her back to vet and was giving worm medication panacur.  Its been 5 days now and she seems to no longer have loose bowel movements and her cough has gotten better except at night. She does respond more to us now as well, especially outside playing. I was told not to have her run around but thats the only time she seems to respond to her new family. Today she did develop a runny nose. Does anyone have any advice? She i have her rest and not pla outside? HELP!