Hi

I have heard all about kennel cough being very serious etc but I can't seem to find any information on the symptoms and treatments and how serious it is.

My dogs were in kennels this weekend, we collected them yesterday lunchtime, now one of them - a three year old cocker cross - has been coughing a little bit - like he wheezes a little and coughs for about 30 seconds, he's done it twice yesterday and once today just now. Apart from that he is fine, very active and happy, eating well, etc. Other dog fine.

Could this be the start of kennel cough? What other symptoms should I look out for, or should I take him straight to the vets? What will they be able to do for him?

Help, I am really worried :-(

I was going to take him to the beach today but I think I will just exercise him in the garden as we don't want to meet any other dogs, just in case.

Thanks for any advice you can all give

Alex

Alex,

It sounds like the beginnings of kennel cough, is his nose runny?
The vet may proscribe antibiotics, but before you take him to the vet, call them and tell them your dog may have kc and they will probably see you in the car, rather than bring the virus into the surgery.

Benylin for dry coughs is very good to help with the cough also.
Kennel cough to my knowledge is a viral infection there are loads of strains of it and it is airborne.
If you suspect your dog has kc then please do not allow him to have contact with other dogs as he may infect them

HTH

THeresa

Hi, if you go to Google and put in Kennel Cough Symptoms, you'll find a whole host of sites. The first one I came to was this.
If it was only this weekend your dogs were in kennels, and they have kc, then they most likely picked it up before they went in. If the vet confirms it, I'd advise the kennels so they can advise the owners of the other dogs there to be on the look-out for it.
I hope it isn't, but better to err on the side of caution and keep the dogs in until you're sure.
LynnT

Thanks Theresa and Lynn

He hasnt coughed since I posted, but I will keep a close eye. I have made his bed up with extra bedding and am keeping the room nice and warm for him, I will also make sure he doesnt meet any other dogs until the symptoms have cleared up.

That link was great thanks Lynn, I will try the Google search too.

As he is generally a healthy dog, it sounds like it's not too serious for him, (I guess it's worse for ups and oldies) but I will probably take him to the vets tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

Cheers
Alex

Thistle's just had kennel cough. She sounded like she had a bone stuck in her throat when she coughed. She didn't have a serious bout of it and she is young and healthy. I didn't take her to the vet as I don't believe in giving dogs (or kids) antibiotics just for the sake of it. If your dog has had its vaccinations it shouldn't get full blown kennel cough as it is made up of various infections one of which is protected against in the vaccination.
To be honest I don't think your dog has kennel cough for 2 reasons. First of all he's got it too soon for him to have got it from the kennels (although of course he could have got it elsewhere) and secondly it doesn't sound like the right sort of cough. Anyway I hope he's fine.
Jane

Hi Jane, my dogs who had all been vaccinated at the time ,have had kennel cough several times. Being vaccinated against it doesn`t mean they won`t catch.They also had it in varying degrees from very mild with a slight cough, to one of them with pneumonia. The vaccines for KC are like the human flu ones, it depends which one is doing the rounds.
Christine, Spain.

I've got dogs and a cough - think I must have it as well :-(

Christine

You may need putting down then, Christine;)
Lynn x:)

That's because the vaccination only protects against i strain of kennel cough :( i got my old dog vaccinated before he went into kennels and he STILL caught it there!! Speed, one of my current dogs came from the rescue with kennel cough and all the dogs there got a Bordatella vaccine the day they come in.
i've always thought it a little pointless to make the Bordatella vaccine a necessity for a dog going to board because of this...

Annette

Intrac is the vaccine that you are on about, that is squirted up the nose, it does not prevent the dog from getting kennel cough but does stop it from being a bad bout of it, i have seen some nasty strains of kennel cough where you can just have the dog coughing or they are really down with green mucose coming from the nose and coughing so badley that you think they are going to die, i used to work with gsds, labs, springers and cockers and the gundog breeds seem to be the worst sufferers, having kennel cough for up to 3 months some times always on varying medication until it was sorted out, all of my dogs have had it, and now if they come into contact with dogs that are carrying it, they either do not get it or they get it very mildly, but it is a pain because it does spread so easily being airbourne and it is always the last thing that you would want your dog to contract especially young puppies and the older dog.

Hi MP, it also says on the contra-indication for the intra nasal vacc, that dogs having this vacc should be kept away from any other dogs for 14 days but I dont think owners are made aware of this.Thats the first time I`ve heard about the Labs & the others you mention being the worst sufferers of it, is it your theory or do you have anything on it I could read please, be very interested if you have.
Christine, Spain.

No, With the vaccination it basically gives them kennel cough so that they can build up an immunity to it, just like any other vaccine that you would give so the animal doesnt get it as bad, although i have not heard of the animal being kept away from others after being given this, none of ours were! Its just my experiance, you may get others come on that say something different, i have to say the labs out of the breeds i mentioned, did suffer the worst, i dont know why it took them a lot longer to get over it, and we even had some that would still cough when put on a lead even though they were over the kennel cough, i have a friend that works for one of the biggest rescue kennels around the m25 ( not mentioning any names ) and they have the worst strain of kennel cough you will ever see, sorry i dont have anything for you to read, its just my own experiances, Diane

Hi MP, the keeping them isolated from other dogs is on the manufactures insert which the vet gets, but don`t think they let it be known much. The dogs I`ve seen with bad cases of KC, & thats not many cos most get a mild dose, where also the gundogs breed, Labs, Retr, & Cockers as well.
But if I read you right you are saying the vacc gives them the disease? I have to tell you that no, vacc are not supposed to do that & thats what the manufacters tell you, not me! Vacc are supposed to prime the immune system to produce antibodies to fight the disease off & once the antibodies are there, then they will come to the fore, if the animal is ever challenged with the disease again & fight it off. Thats a very simplified explanation. But I have my own theory & it doesn`t agree with the manufacturers :) If I have read you right, I agree with you Diane!
Christine, Spain.

Thats what i meant, you just put it better:D

Oooo MP, so glad somebody understands me :) I spend half the time deleting my posts & starting again cos I don`t make sense even to myself!! :)
Christine, Spain.

No it wasn't squirted up his nose, it was an injection. Don't know if it was called Intrac or not, but it only protects against the bordatella bronchiseptica bacteria. There are many other bacterias that cause kennel cough, and the vaccine only protects against this one..
My old dog did have a VERY bad bout of it, poor baby :( That's why i'm pretty convinced its pointless!!

Annette

There is the vaccine that is part of the yearly booster which you are talking about, and then there is the intrac one, which can be given at 6months or yearly intervals depending on how much you use kennels.

Hi Annete, thats right. In fact all the dogs who I know that have had kennel cough have also been vacc. against it. I don`t know of one dog that has had kennel cough who hasn`t been vacc, makes you wonder.
Christine, Spain.

There have been dogs that have had kennel cough who havent been vaccinated against it, and they have had it quite badly, if you give the vaccination they still get it but not as bad, a much milder bout of it.