A few days ago I was worried my cocker pup Bruce had got an olive stone he had been playing with, stuck.  I was about to take it off him, was distracted by the phone and then couldn't find it - next day I found it.  Pup spent an evening trying to clear his throat just like he had something stuck and I found several small blobs of froth on the floor.  Nothing too dramatic or demanding, he remained eating and drinking and showed no signs of distress.  He ran when out on his walk.  I was away the next day so asked the family to watch him closely for signs of distress/concern.  They said he had been fine and that seemed to be the end of that.

Yesterday, Springer dog made the same noise when on a lead on his way to a walk.  He is never briliant on the lead and I often choose to walk him to heel without so I wasn't unduly concerned by a few choking noises!  The road made a lead essential and it occured to me his throat clearing 'bark' type of noise was similar to the pup.  Today, he was fine on his walk, ate breakfast.  He was due to go beating but eldest son had his 3rd driving test this morning (and passed!) so he didn't go.  I've been out visiting and have just got back.  Springer dog was typically delighted he hadn't been abandoned for good and rushed around joyfully.  He coughed a few times and I noticed a frothy pile on the carpet.  This was followed by a return of the water he had just drunk from his bowl.  It wasn't vomit.  He's in the conservatory at the moment and gives the occasional 'cough'.

Could this be kennel cough?  Do I need to do anything?  All dogs are not 'unwell', eating and drinking normally and eager to be walked.

Any suggestions?

Certainly sounds like kennel cough to me, the coughing plus the white bile. It is highly infectious so you should take him to the vets just in case. He'll need medication if it is the dreaded cough.

Hi,
We heard at local dog training that kennel cough is going round in our area a few weeks ago, and sure enough my friend's dog got it last week.  It's really contagious, so the vet has told her not to walk the dog out anywhere until the coughing clears up - she was told to get some Benylin (the one that makes you drowsy) to help keep the dog quiet, and also given 5 days of Synulox.  Apparently one way you can tell it's kennel cough if you're not sure, is to wait until the dog is lying quietly, then press on his/her throat area - if it sets off coughing then it is kennel cough.  Anyway, mainly keep dogs quiet, as excitement and leaping around can set off a coughing fit which might cause irritation to get worse.
  Hilda

We have been cough free for about a week now thank goodness.  Brought it back from LKA and it went through my lot one after the other.

Its quite a virulent one, nobody really off colour, just miserable because their coughing. Eating playing sleeping etc. etc.  It seems to be at its worse for about two days and then gradually clears.

Sounds like you have it Jackyjat, too much of a coincidence for both pup and older dog to have same symptoms.

Hi Sounds Just like what happened to me, I thought my dog had got a bone stuck in his throat because he kept sounding like he was choking, I took him to the vet and he said it was kennel cough contracted at he the local park. I was really shocked.  After an injection he instantly stopped coughing. The cough before the treatment was much worse at night and excercise exacerbates it. We were given ati biotics and told not to give him strenuous excercise for several days. He was right as rain after about a week and a half.

Yes sounds like Kennel cough, please don't exercise them in a public place though, old and young and sick can die from kennel cough and it is VERY contagious.  They should be fine soon.
DAwn.

do you all vacinate against kennel cough ?i usually give my bitch a vacine when she goes into a kennel ( once a year ) its a 6 month vacine .although you can get the 12 months at some vets.
we dont really come into contact with many other dogs.
is their any controversy regarding the vacine ( like their is about yearly boosters )
can a dog get a mild dose of kennel cough if they are vacinated .i have heard people over here ( ireland ) complain about horses getting the cough which is very bad for stallions.

just curious ...

Does anyone have any handy hints for clearing the little puddles of foam from the carpet?  I left him inside last night rather than put him in the kennel with the others and this morning the carpet is liberally dotted!  I've started off with kitchen roll but they are very mucousy (yuk !!).

Definitely Kennel Cough.  I'll get him some cough mixture today.