Hi all. I have a 7.5 month old rough coat jack russell pup. He has a dry cough, sneezes, ate breakfast, but refused dinner, and yesterday evening brought back everything he'd eaten that day. After he'd slept for a couple of hours after being sick, he seemed fine, apart from the dreaded dry hack and the sneezes. Today is his third day of coughing and sneezing. I hate running to the vet every five minutes for a cough or a sneeze, but combined with the sick - should I be overly worried? Or should I give him a little dose of children's Benylin? I've never had small dogs before - always had Akitas - which are large, and generally quite robust - so a little worried about my poor little fellow! Advice appreciated!

Sounds like kennel cough to me. A trip to the vet would be a good idea but tell them first his symptoms and do not take him into the waiting room it is very very contagous. Keep him away from other dogs altogether untill you know what he has got. NO walks with other dogs and keep out of the parks etc.. Kennel cough is something that spreads like wildfire and can kill dogs who are compromised by age, fitness etc.
Hope he is better soon.
Aileen

Hope your little guy feels better soon, that definitely sounds like kennel cough to me. If he isn't able to eat without bringing his dinner back up I'd take him to the vet right away, but as Merlot says, let them know so they can take you in without sitting in the waiting room with all the other dogs.

Thanks for the opinion guys - I was thinking Kennel Cough also - just hoping the vaccine had protected him well enough. Of all the dogs we've ever had, apart from this new pup it seems, we've only ever had one bout of kc. Been very lucky I guess. He's kept his breakfast down do far (keeping my fingers crossed), and he is as manic as always. Think I'll offer a little honey later, try and soothe the cough a little, and see how we go. Otherwise it may well be a trip to the vets tomorrow :(. Only two weeks age we were there because of a partial bowel obstruction - apparently he'd been eating lots of sand or grit - no idea where from.

Raw honey is good, I got so little from our bees this year I am treating it like gold, but the dogs get most of it...what's new :-)?

Kennel cough vaccine only protects against some of the various types.In our boarding kennels the vet supported our decision  not to require it .