My retriever was diagnosed with Kennel Cough on thursday, she went to the vets as soon as the cough started, as i suspected that was what it was. She has been given antibiotics for any secondary infections and some benylin and is now much better as long as she doesn't get too excited. My other two dogs were vaccinated that day, as apparently it will reduce the severity if they do get it. As yet neither has shown any signs at all. My question is, how do other peopel with multiple dogs cope? I have been told that ellie is going to be infectious for about 4 months, but i can't feasible keep her in for that amount of time. The vet said she should be ok to go out a few days after the symptoms stop, but how long do i have to keep her away from other dogs for? Am i supposed to be quarantining the others? I can't feasibly not walk all of them as they would be bouncing off the walls!!

As far as I know as soon as the symptoms go as if no cough and no nasel production then they are not infectious :)

I must admit I wouldn't have given her antibiotics as if she had just started then why give it if she didn't have a secondary infection ? :) So long as you treat the symptoms with cough mixture etc then it should be fine :)

My lot a few years ago got a very bad case whilst at some kennels. We were away for just over two week and the they left them without any medication (Benelyin etc) By the time I got them to the vets they both had a very nasty infection

It seems to be standard procedure to give abs straight away to treat any infections before they start, i'm not entirely sure why, i work there so i get everything on the cheap so i don't think it was a ploy to get more money!!
I hope you never used those kennels again!!!

Our vets gave us anit-bs both times we've had it, to prevent a secondary infection such as pnemonia developing...I just add bio yog to their food to make up for the fact they kill all bugs, even the good 'uns!
We have been lucky, Kayla had it about this time last year and Chloe never developed it, she hadn't been at the show where I suspect Kayla picked it up and every time Kay coughed, Chloe left the room :D Ido had it just a few weeks ago and again we were lucky that the other two didn't get it, maybe Kay has an immunity to it now, the vet did mention that at the time.
But it has been known to go through households of dogs and go on for months, I hope you are one of those :) KC is a pain, but I now see it as enevitable, something we will probably get once a year from going to shows, it just means staying in for 3 or so weeks but at this time of the year whats better than sitting in front of the fire all day with the dogs watching DVDs?!!

when  you lose a litter with kc at 4 weeks  and 4 adults with you just have to cope with it,

I spoke to someone else whose dogs had KC about a month ago, and her vet told her to carry on walking where she usually did as she had probably picked it up from there and the dogs had been walked ther when they were incubating the disease! I was quite amazed! How is KC actually contracted? Is it airborn or not?

I am very sorry for your loss briedog, but i find your post a little rude. I am dealing with it, i just want to know how long i need to deal with it (as i have been told differnt things) so that i don't put any dogs in the same position i, and a lot of others round here, have been put in.

It is transmitted through the air, in a similair way to human coughs and colds so when your dogs have KC or you suspect they have it then keep them away from other dogs for 14 days after you hear the last cough. Our vets don't seem as strict as this, I was the one who suggested I'd keep the dog in the car until we were called into the consultation room, they said you can arry on walking them but at 'quiet' times and keep on a lead. Well, as Briedog mentioned, very young puppies, and older dogs can be killed by KC so I have, and will, keep any dog with KC in the house until I'm sure they are over it, so that means no walks, no shows and no training. On lead walking isn't feasible as it only serves to wind up our lots and any pressure on the neck can set off the coughing..not good outside!
We can play our small part in stopping someone elses dog(s) getting it, I see it as a responsibility of owning a dog.
Hope yours get over it soon lucyandmeg :)

My vets have a notice on their front door
'If you suspect your dog has kennel cough please keep
your dog in the car'

I too also keep my dogs confined to their own garden if they
have KC (or are inseason). I just try to keep them quiet and warm.
Afterall you know how dreadful you feel yourself if you've been up
coughing all night etc.
I also don't go to any doggy activities if I think they have any
'health' issues.

I've had an unfortunate experience (I show my dogs) where some
'kindly' soul had taken a dog to the show who was house mate to
an infectious dog who had a gastric bug..(I found out after the event )
Within 24 hours I had a very poorly dog who was in the vet on a drip, she passed
pure blood for days. As I was temping at the time I also lost a weeks wages along
with the vet's bill all because of someone's selfishness wanting to win a rosette.

So that's another reason why I confine my crew to barracks even if only one is
showing signs of infectious illness.

do they treat the dog in your car or do they make you bring it to a certain area in the vets after they have assesed the situation with my vet in aus you have to bring the dog around the backway into a sectioned of part and then they treat it there

I don't know if it's the same for dogs as humans but every time you take antibiotics you are building a resistance to them.  If you take antibiotics "just in case" then when you get a really nasty infection the normal dosage of antibiotics might not work and they have to be increased.  I was very cautious about antibiotics when my children were young but one was susceptible to Tonsilitis and had to have them now and then. These days she finds if she has to take them she ends up having to go back to get another lot because the Tonsilitis comes back.

I don't know if it's the same for dogs as humans but every time you take antibiotics you are building a resistance to them

This isn't actually true. If an antibiotics is over-used in the community then strains of bacteria resistant to that antibiotic develop. But it's not an individual thing where taking one dose of antibiotics makes you more resistant to the next course.

We are just getting over Kennel Cough - I have four dogs and so far three have had it.  Currently my 20m gordon setter is still suffering and of the three that had it he was affected the most and has been very poorly.  Two hardly had any problems with it - just coughing but otherwise fine.

We have not been walking where other dogs go - it's been very lonely!!  Max has also had rest as he has been feeling so ill with it.

When going to the vets (as Max also has a tail injury - feeling well sorry for himself) I checked to make sure no animals were in the vets (appointments arranged for quiet period).

I still think we will have to avoid everyone and everywhere for another 10 days at least.

We have missed ringcraft and certainly wouldn't go to a show with it - and not until I'm sure we are clear.

I keeping my fingers crossed my old Irish gal avoids it - so far not a sign and I'm not sure how long until all symptons have left the others we are clear will have to ask my vet!

It has been a pain but I guess I'm lucky that we have a field nearby that noone tends to use.

Hope yours feel much better soon.

Thanks very much. Ellie is mcuh better now and barely coughs at all now. Luckily the others didn't get it, but murphy has just spent the day at the vets as hes got a stomach bug thats also going around. Because hes a scavenger they couldn't rule out an obstruction so he spent the day (in isolation because of the KC) having x rays and a barium. Hes much better now though. It turns out that half of ellies training class has gone down with it, so someone brought it into the class. Luckily we've broken up for christmas so that should die down now.
At my vets we ask them to wait in the car, but some vets will see them in the car, others will take them into a different room and change jackets afterwards. My only thought though, is that if its airborn, are they likely to pass it to the dogs next door, as there is only a fence seperating them?

Glad Ellie is feeling better and sorry Murphy had to have x-rays but glad nothing serious.

I know what you mean about being airborn - guess not alot you can do?  I did tell my neighbour but they aren't really next door - more next door but one!  Just so she was aware if anything did crop and she could deal with it.  I think the problem is that they are contagious before the cough comes out - and if they are well in themselves you don't know you have it.  Although there are some people who aren't always considerate to others even when they do know the symptons.

I'm glad my Max is better but he too was at the vets in isolation as he had part of his tail amputated due to an injury that go infected and just would not heal - been trying for 6 weeks (the kennel cough really did help him at all on this one!)

I wish I had  been brave enough to get the tip amputated sooner as maybe he wouldn't have had to have so much off.

Wishing all you doggies a speedy get better and merry Xmas.  Tell Murphy not to eat any chocolates or mince pies - they will not do his tummy any good!  (He sounds like he is the sort to have a go like my Charlie and Hamish - couple of piglets really!)

Ha! Murphy would eat and entire turkey, including any wrapping given half the chance! He is the greediest dog i know and will happily nick the toilet roll and go off and eat it quietly, you always have to check the papers there before you sit down!! I'm surprised he hasn't had problems before. Sorry to here about max, sounds like hes having a bad time of it too. I hope hes feeling better now. Regarding my neighbours, i've got dogs either side of me. One side has gundogs kept in a kennel next to our fence. He has a really old lab that has been at deaths door for months, but the owner doesn't seem to worry. He sits and screams alot of the time, its heartbreaking. I'm scared that he will catch it and that will finish him off, poor thing. :-(