I took Fagan to the vets a couple of weeks ago because he was coughing a bit (usually after excercise or when pulling on the lead), doing alot of reverse sneezing and occasionally retching as if trying to bring something up.  The vet checked him over, pushed his trachea a bit which made him cough and diagnosed kennel cough and gave me some anti-biotics.  The anti-biotics seem to have done the trick with Fagan (although he still does the reverse sneezing thing) but now Alfie has started coughing a bit, the vet did say if Alfie got it then she would prescribe anti-biotics without me going in.  Now my question is (after all that ;) ) is this really kennel cough ?  I remember the dogs having it as a kid and the coughing was awful, really loud and retching, but mine just have a gentle cough and the occsional retch.  could this just be like  a cold and not kennel cough at all ? or just mild kennel cough ?

Your opinions would be appreciated because I dont want to keep throwing anti biotics down the dogs throats if this isnt what it is

Claire :)

When my puppies got KC I was told by my vet it covers quite a lot basically it is a dog that coughs ?!?!?! When my litter of puppies had it the vet never prescribed any anti biotics and they all recovered very quickly within about 10 days and one or two had it quite bad.

sounds like KC to me! :)

What the vet didnt tell me was about where I should and shouldnt be taking them, like walks etc.  Alfie went to ringcraft last night because I thought he was ok :(  Fagan seems ok now, so is it ok for him to go to training tonight, or will he still be likely to pass it on because Alfie has it ?

Please do not take either of your dogs to Training classes or any public place until you have not heard either of them cough for at least 7-10 days.

What can be a very mild vrius infection for an adult or older puppy could well be fatal for young puppies or elderly dogs.

I witnessed a friend of mine lose 6 out of a litter of 7 2 week old puppies, because someone decided that although they had coughing dogs at home, they could take one that was not coughing to ringcraft.  It was the most heartbreaking thing I have seen, in the end she couldn't take the pups in to be pts and I had to step in, broke my heart to do it but someone had to be with them at the end.

I have a litter at the moment and am due to have my bitch's stitches removed tomorrow, but I will not take her into the surgery, the vet will come out to my car.  I am not prepared to take the risk.

KC is an air born disease so everytime your dog coughs or sneezes micro particles of the disease are shooting everywhere. You can also carry it on your own clothing if you're out without the dogs but haven't changed since being with them :(   As you didn't know any better, you can't really beat yourself up about taking your boy to ring craft but even if you have dogs at home which appear unaffected they should NOT be taken either to where they will meet other dogs.  I'd also contact the training club and let them know what's happened.
So sorry if this sounds harsh - it's genuinely unfair on you because your vet was very wrong not to have advised of the possible implications to other dogs which yours came into contact with. Dogs with KC should really be on very limited exercise for their own sake never mind other dogs they meet on their walks.   Some dogs shrug off KC quite easily and need no or very little meds (it's viral so antibiotics don't work except to stave off/cure secondary infections) but other dogs often need very careful nursing over several weeks.

Hope your own cope well.
Chin up, Teri :)

Thats really worrying, as Fagan hasnt coughed for about 5 days I thought Alfie had got away with it.  Luckily (or not so lucky) Alfie has had a bad leg whilst Fagan had kennel cough so neither had been to training for a couple of weeks.  We dont see any dogs where we walk which is an added bonus.  To be honest I didnt realise Kennel Cough was that contagious or that serious, I suppose its because it hasnt really affected my boys.

Hi,
I really think you should not bring either to training classes, firstly because Kennel cough is transmitted via respiratory secretions either by direct contact or by aerosol, and also by mechanical transfer via footwear of clothing.
The second reason is that dogs who have KC (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) should rest for at least 7 days specifically avoiding excercise and excitement, as to minimize the continual irritation of the airways caused by excessive coughing.
KC is caused by a variety of things, including the most common, which is a microbe called  Bordetella bronchiseptica. In general dogs start to show clinical signs within 3-4 days of exposure, and without complications, it can persist for up to 14 days.
I hope this helps a bit but please remember that I am only still a vet student and only have the basic facts!
Carol XXX

Thanks for your advice Carol, it was better than the advice my vet gave me :rolleyes: I now have Alfie on anit biotics and they are both having a spoonful of honey to soothe their coughing ;)

Aww, I'm sure they will enjoy the honey!!! Hope they both get well soon, the antibiotics should kick in soon enough, but the coughing can persist for a while if they have a raw throat from the cough, its a real pain!
There is a now a vaccine out called Nobivak KC that now lasts a whole year long! Maybe you could ask your vet about it once they are fully recovered!
Carol XXX

My breeder seems to thing a kennel cough vaccine is included with all vaccines now, I didnt think this was right.  Am I right in thinking it is a separate one which goes up the nose ?

Unfortunatly dogs can get KC from  a variety of agents.
The three most common pathogens are Canine adenovisrus 2 (CAV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), and Bordetella bronchiseptica.
You can also have other organisms involved as secondary pathogens.
I know that injectable modified-live virus vaccines against CAV2 and PIV are included in most combination distemper vaccines.
This is adequate for most pet dogs, but when a dog is boarding alot or in contact with other dogs alot, the risk of contracting KC can be elevated and  the dog may benefit from a vaccine incorporating Bordetella bronchoseptica. Vaccines for Bordetella are available for parenteral or intranasal administration.
Hope this help, please consult your vet as regards the specific vaccines you are using as this is only general information!
Carol :)

My lad had just had KC, in fact the week before he had his booster for it, then a week later there it was. I went to my vet she gave him an anti-inflammatory, and a course of antbiotics.She told me that without the KC booster a dog can have KC for up to 6 weeks but if they have the booster it goes within a week. He is fine now, after a week.

Any ideas anyone on this???

Hi Hairydog,

It's news to me however, that is not to say that there has not been an improvement in the vaccine against KC since I last spoke to my vet about it.   My own feeling would still be to exercise caution (and not dogs :P ) following exposure to kennel cough.

Regards, Teri :)