topic Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough? in Pet Lovers

Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Scooby Doo — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:33:12 GMT

I adopted a tiny pom from the shelter 2 weeks ago. She became ill the next day and there's been no improvement. She coughs and hacks constantly and keeps me awake at night. I feel so bad for her, but I don't know what else to do and her medication doesn't seem to work. The vet gave her a shot and some cough medicine the first week. I took her back to the shelter the second week and was given doxycyclene. Nothing is working and she's not improving. From what I've read, this can last from 2 weeks to a month. Have any of you had a case that lasted for a long time?

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Mary Bailey — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:38:28 GMT

When we got our Basset Hound 12 years ago, she had kennel cough. The pet store paid for the treatment. If I remember correctly it was three or four months of meds. I don't remember what the meds were though.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

JeanLouiseFinch — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 23:43:37 GMT

Sorry, I don't have any experience with it, but I hope your poochy recovers soon. Once she's better, be sure to get her a Bordetella vaccine and always keep up with it on schedule. If you ever have to board her, make sure the kennel requires all "guests" to be up to date on their Bordetella vaccine too.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Carmie — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:10:50 GMT

Years ago we had a Samoyed that was kenneled at the vet's place while we went on vacation. When I came back to pick him up 2 weeks later and took him home, I noticed that he was coughing so much that he couldn't eat. I called the vet's office and asked them why my dog was so sick.

They said he had been coughing for about a week and they had an outbreak of kennel cough in their kennels. I was mad as Hello. My dog was up to date on all of his immunizations and he got it anyway and the vet did nothing to help my dog while he was in their care. They never even called me. They just sent him home sick.

The vet prescribed medication and in a few days there was an improvement. In about a week, my dog was almost back to normal.

I have never used that vet again and I will never kennel any dog anywhere with anyone. My dogs always go on vacation with me, or I have a family member stay at my house while I am gone.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

icezeus — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:14:25 GMT

It was years ago, but all that I remember was that my Lab/Pit who is no longer with us was given antibiotics, and over the counter cough medicine. One of the Robitussin ones. I can't remember which one. It lasted about two weeks as I remember. It was awful sounding.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Kachina624 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:32:30 GMT

Usually dogs are not routinely given the Bordetella immunization; you have to ask for it. If your dog is going to be around other dogs anywhere, it should have the shot.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Tissyanne — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:32:52 GMT

Years ago our two dogs got out of the yard and wound up at the animal shelter. When we brought them home they began to hack and cough. I took them to the vet, and he explained it was kennel cough. We were given two different kinds of pills, and we had to get a second set of pills before it cleared. It left almost as suddenly as it began.

Especially since this is a tiny dog, let your vet prescribe treatment. I would not give additional meds from anywhere else. Contact your vet and ask if your dog should be improved by now. As best I remember our dogs were sick about 3 weeks.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Scooby Doo — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 01:41:03 GMT

The shelter had given her the first set of vaccinations which included bordetella. I'm wondering if that's what helped to make her sick, along with being in a shelter. Kennel cough runs rampant and is highly contagious. She's supposed to go back tomorrow and get her second set of shots along with rabies, but I'm waiting until she's feeling better.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Psalm23 — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 02:21:31 GMT

Hi Scooby - Congrats on your new family member! I had my pom for 15 years and from the time I brought him home he had a hacking cough. Originally, they thought he had kennel cough, but further testing revealed he had a collapsing trachea (which the vet said is very common with this breed, although none of my prior Poms had this issue). Follow your vets instructions, but you may want to inquire if this could be the issue. Initially, I had to give him childrens benadryl when he would cough but as he got older the cough got worse. Nothing worked (including breathing treatments) and he ended up on RX cough syrup. Fortunately, he liked it and would take it right from the spoon. Hope your little fur baby gets better soon and y'all have a lifetime of joy. Poms are wonderful!

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

feline groovy — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:24:18 GMT

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* Forti-Flora (a pre/probiotic blend that also helps her G.I. system)

* Pet Naturals of Vermont Immune Support

* Missing Link Well Blend

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Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Scooby Doo — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 14:15:12 GMT

@Psalm23 wrote:
Hi Scooby - Congrats on your new family member! I had my pom for 15 years and from the time I brought him home he had a hacking cough. Originally, they thought he had kennel cough, but further testing revealed he had a collapsing trachea (which the vet said is very common with this breed, although none of my prior Poms had this issue). Follow your vets instructions, but you may want to inquire if this could be the issue. Initially, I had to give him childrens benadryl when he would cough but as he got older the cough got worse. Nothing worked (including breathing treatments) and he ended up on RX cough syrup. Fortunately, he liked it and would take it right from the spoon. Hope your little fur baby gets better soon and y'all have a lifetime of joy. Poms are wonderful!

The trachea has also been a concern of mine because she was "debarked". I don't know if the trachea has been weakened due to her vocal cords being cut. But she also sneezes and has a little goop in her eye.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Tissyanne — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 18:51:24 GMT

Your vet should be able to diagnose Kennel Cough. I remember another poster that had adopted from an animal shelter and it took a while to get Kennel Cough under control.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

HappyDaze — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:19:52 GMT

Yes! I had a dog that was at the vets and contracted it from the vet hospital. I did not board my dog there either- he was there having surgery. He got so sick and got my other dog sick as well. The vet hospital paid for the treatment for both dogs fortunately. They can really get sick from it and need to be treated with antibiotics. Your vet should be able to quickly diagnose it and give the appropriate treatment. I have never heard of it going away on its' own, honestly.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Psalm23 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:29:28 GMT

Oh My, Can't believe they debarked her. In my opinion, that is just so wrong. She is a very lucky little lady that she has a good mom now. In the beginning, I could massage my little one's throat (trach area) and he would kinda give a big hack and then settle down. finding the sweet spot for that took a little time. One thing I found with him is that if he got excited then drank his water, it made it worse. It scared me to death - he would just hack and cough for no reason. I was afraid he would quit breathing or break a rib or something. One night he went off and on for hours. I had him at the vet at first light (and they opened at 7 am) and they gave him a very mild muscle relaxer and that did the trick. I know it is worrisome but you are doing all the right things. Curious - Has the vet taken an xray just to be sure there is not something else going on with your little one? Hopefully, the medicine will soon start working and she will have a quick recovery.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

drizzellla — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:44:57 GMT

Hi Scooby

That is our rescued collie's name AND a good name too!

Back to Kennel Cough

My brothers dog had been taken to a high kill shelter - a story for another day. The dog was there about 32 hours. And we babysat the dog right after that "incident". The poor dog had come out of that shelter with kennel cough. We took him to the Vet and got antibiotics. It did take awhile but the dog eventually stopped coughing and throwing up and was one happy dog. But it seemed to take FOREVER for him to get to 100%.

Hope things work out well for you and your new fellow. Sounds like his past hasn't been the best but the two of you will become two happy buddies.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Lovemyboots — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:29:52 GMT

Ok this is my experience with Kennel Cough. We adopted a little dog from a rescue & he seemed ok. They had him vet checked all vac's & bordella. And neutered. But when we took him home, on the way he started acting sick so we took him to our vet right away. She said he had KC. I have never had a dog with it before & she told us we had to quarentine him from our other dogs. Both other ones had been always given Bordella but she said to be safe. Both other dogs were old. We had to take turns going out & being with him since he was only a few months old and we didn't want him by himsself, & we loved him so. Anyway we went thru weeks or antibiotics but still every morning we got up & the coughing would start & go on all day, all night. I really worried about all the meds he was on & none seemed to be helping at all. So next is just me & I am sure I will be slammed. But it did work for us. I kept looking on line at natural stuff that might help. It had been 6 wks. Little guy could not come in the house with us or other dogs. We had him quarentined in laundry room. One night I read that garlic oil capsules would help some coughs. I had some, so next morning I got up, gave him one capsule, next day one capsule, still coughing, 3rd day, one capsule. 4th day got up went in to get him up...first time since we picked him up...no cough! Took him outside, he did his business & started wanting to play! I was thrilled but thought it was just a fluke. We watched him closely. NEVER coughed again! I swear that is the truth! Now just might have been a coincedence that it stopped after 3 days & maybe it was going to anyway, but that was over 2 1/2 yrs ago. He has never been sick since!

I just know we weren't getting anywhere with the other meds. He is a happy healthy big boy! After his bout with KC he started putting on weight, his hair got so soft & silky. He loves to run & play! He is laying here with me right now asleep!

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

drizzellla — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 00:03:06 GMT

Lovemyboots - do you still give him garlic oil?

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Lovemyboots — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 16:52:16 GMT

No just that one time when he had KC. He is just fine now.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

CrazyDaisy — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:03:42 GMT

Kennel Cough is the dog version of a cold. It is easily spread when dogs are in close proximity to each other. It is often compared to a cold in a nursery school. Dogs are often stressed or in poor health when in kennels and shelters which suppresses the immune system and leaves them more susceptible to getting sick.

As with people, some dogs may get a mild case while others have that nagging cold you just cannot shake. While in rare cases it can progress to pneumonia, it usually clears up on its own in a week or so. Vets may prescribe a cough suppressant or an over the counter cough syrup, more and more are getting away for the antibiotics unless the overall condition of the dog requires them.

As far as the boredella vaccine....well it is hit and miss as to if it covers the virus going around. I have heard it may 50/50 if it is doing any good, but I guess it is better then nothing. The best prevention is to try and build a stong immune system and have a heathy diet. Same thing they tell you to do to prevent a cold.

To the OP, because your new pup came from a shelter it is very likely that it will take some time to shake this thing. Follow the vets instructions and give him lots of TLC and remember this will pass and yo will have a great new friend.

Re: Anyone Have Experience with Kennel Cough?

Kalli — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 23:50:05 GMT

I hope your new little pup is on the mend quickly. So nice of you to adopt a shelter dog! The garlic pills mentioned in a previous post might be worth a try.