Kennel Cough

[Nik_B 3,790]

My Lab sounded like he was choaking on something, hacking cough and vomitting his food up. Seemed happy enough appart from that though. The next day he was a bit subdued and I booked him in to the vets for the next day. That night he had green snot streeming out of his nose (I never imagined dogs got colds). I was in two minds whether to cancel the appointment as with humans there isn't anything you can do to cure a cold. I took him to the vets anyway and they said he has Kennel cough and that there is an epidemic of it going round.

 

As always I left with a load of antibiotics which I doubt will do anything appart from line the pockets of the vets...funny how you never leave there empty handed.

 

Anyway I was a bit supprised as I've never heard of kennel cough before, he must have caught it from another dog at the park. Today he's better but we're keeping him in and not taking him out of the house for a few days for the sake of the other dogs.

[Richie10 345]

Is this your first dog? Kennel cough is offered to be vacinated against from a pup.

Very common and also well known. Can if left damage the lungs.

[scent 509]

get some benylin chesty cough and give the dog a few squirts each day .Also honey works on soothing the throat

[Nik_B 3,790]

Cheers, He seems much better does anyone think the antibiotics work though? If you or I get a cough the doctors wont precribe antibiotics because they don't work on virus's.

 

I will look in to getting him vaccinated when he is better. I'm supprised the vets didn't suggest this when I got his other vaccines though.

 

Oh and yes he is my first dog

[borntoshoot 1]

The anti biotics do generally work for kennel cough but i think its more to sooth the symptoms rather than get rid of the virus. the vaccination i think is either put up their nose or in their mouth when they are a pup. its not an injection like other vaccinations. If you ever want to put him in boarding kennels he will have to be vaccinated against it or they wont take him.

[Tiff 36]

we used to see it loads when I did rescue and sporting dog competitions, it got to be where we were using an intranasal vaccination every 3 months, that was the only thing that kept our dogs from getting it. Haven't vaccinated for it in 5 years now that our dogs are rarely around a bunch of other dogs and we never board. The intranasal vac. was called "Intratrac" and came in a vial like regular vac, mix the two solutions and squirt the stuff up the dogs nose. The jab type just never seemed to keep it from infecting a few of the dogs which is why we prefer the nasal.

 

We never saw any quicker improvement or recovery with antibiotics, but do what your comfortable with. Most vets just go through the "protocol" and don't really care, they just want your money.

 

ps most vets are money grabbing jerks but some are ok.

[poacher3161 1,766]

I am afraid its a virus that just has to run its course and theirs nothing much realy a vet can do i agree with scents method a bit of benlyn seemed to ease the coughing [bANNED TEXT] mine had it.

[Guest blitz]

I am afraid its a virus that just has to run its course and theirs nothing much realy a vet can do i agree with scents method a bit of benlyn seemed to ease the coughing [bANNED TEXT] mine had it.

kennel cough is highly contaiges as well but benlyn tixylix are best med for job.

[GooseyLucy 2]

They tend to give antiB's to err on the side of caution just in case the dog picks up a secondary infection in the lungs (like a person starting with a cold and getting a chest infection).

 

Must admit mine have had cough twice now - 2years ago the then four I owned caught it, I used Ecchinacea, devil's claw, honey and warm water 2-3 times a day, kept them warm in the house. Earlier this year one of the youngsters got it (under 2 years of age) and the other young bitch caught it, sods law I had 4 week old pups, I treated them all in the same way though the pups never caught it and neither did the ones that had it 2yrs ago, I think the pups must have taken anti-bodies from the mother's milk.

 

I was told the cough suppressant can make the gunge lay in their lungs rather than them coughing it up so I don't use it, honey seems to soothe at just the same. So long as you stop him getting too giddy and make sure he stays out of cold/draughty areas he should be just fine.

[Ashover rabbit dogs 76]

They tend to give antiB's to err on the side of caution just in case the dog picks up a secondary infection in the lungs (like a person starting with a cold and getting a chest infection).

 

Must admit mine have had cough twice now - 2years ago the then four I owned caught it, I used Ecchinacea, devil's claw, honey and warm water 2-3 times a day, kept them warm in the house. Earlier this year one of the youngsters got it (under 2 years of age) and the other young bitch caught it, sods law I had 4 week old pups, I treated them all in the same way though the pups never caught it and neither did the ones that had it 2yrs ago, I think the pups must have taken anti-bodies from the mother's milk.

 

I was told the cough suppressant can make the gunge lay in their lungs rather than them coughing it up so I don't use it, honey seems to soothe at just the same. So long as you stop him getting too giddy and make sure he stays out of cold/draughty areas he should be just fine.

 

the anti-biotics are to prevent secondary infection and if you use a cough med it should be an expectorant to help loosen the phlem makeing it easyer for them to cough the crap off there chests. atb mrs A.R.D