One of my bitches contracted kennel cough last weekend, and now my other two adults have it, one quite badly.  My concern is my 8 week old pup, who as yet has no symptoms (although his mother has it).  Can anyone suggest anything I can do to boost his protection?  He has been on Synulox since my first one showed signs, and apparently it is too late to give the KC vaccine.  I am giving them all echinacea, and Benylin to the ones who need it.  If anyone has any tips please let me know.  Thanks very much.

Hi Jan i think you are doing everything you can by the sounds of it the only advice i could of give you is to use baby benylin but you are already using it.  I hope your dogs are okay.

Good luck Susan

Sorry to hear you've been affected by KC, one of our had it at the end of last year and its not something i wish to go through again soon, she couldn't even move in her bed without having a coughing fit :( Thankfully our other one didn't get it and we hadn't brought our pup home yet at that point but it did mean I couldn't go and see the litter for 3 weeks.

Anyway, I did as you are doing with the benylin and she was also on antibiotics from the vet and I also gave her a cup of chamomile tea with honey in it once a day, cooled of course, which she loved. Not sure if it helped but it meade me feel better for doing something else to help her! I also tried to keep her calm and quiet, she was falrly sedate for the first 4 or 5 days anyway and just wanted to sleep.

We kept her away from public places(so no walks or shows :( ) for about 3 weeks, she was allowed in the garden but on a lead as any barking or jumping about just set off the coughing, and the sound was really horrendous, bless her!

Hope this helps, and that your lot get better soon :)

Emily

Thanks Emily and Susan for your replies.  My adults seem to be getting over the KC well, and so far the pup isn't coughing - just a waiting game now I suppose.

Drosera, available from Ainsworths is something to keep in for KC, it stops the coughing almost instantly.  I would only give AntiB's if it developed into an infection on their chest as being a virus, Antib's can't otherwise help KC.  Benolyn & honey to be given regularly to help with the sore throat.

Hope your dogs feeling better soon.

Hi Jan,
if you contact Ainsworths homeopathic treatments you can actually get a nosode (tablet) which you can give to all your dogs for kennel cough including the puppy. We only use homeopathic treatments we don't vacinate at all and all our dogs are fit and healthy. We are sensible in their diets and where we allow them to go so the nosodes work for us.
Good Luck.