kennel Cough - Page 1

My 5 year old male contracted kennel cough. I have put him on a 7 day course of anti-biotics with an anti-allergic cetzine tablet morning and evening. Today he vomitted pale yellow sputum and in the evening vomiited brownish sputum Is my remedy correct?? This is as per my vet's advice Any other thing I can give him for the cough??

The vomiting MAY be related to his coughing. There are cough tablets your vet can give you to assist with loosing any mucous the dog may have in his lungs. The antibiotics are to prevent a secondary infection. I am sure your vet has told you this, but you should minimize his activity, keep him out of cold air, make sure he drinks a lot of water, feed normally, and watch for lethargy and fever. If you note him getting lethargic or having a fever, get him back to the vet ASAP. The obvious question is was he vaccinated for this? If it really is a bordetella infection, a vaccination might have prevented his becoming sick, or if he did get sick, minimize the severity of the infection. It would be prudent to try to figure out where he contracted this and keep him away from that situation. Good luck and I hope he recovers without further problems.

Hodie is right on the money, We see alot of dogs here at the shelter with Kennel Cough, Yes we vaccinate all dogs that walk through the door, problem is vaccine offers little to no protection for about 4 to 5 days and every animal that has been vaccinated "Sheds" the virus for up to 30 days... So it's hard to protect them as your exposing them if you will. KC is like a cold, a million variety's and it runs it's course typically, (unless a dog is compromised or stressed) with little or no lasting effects, However compromised or stressed dogs can develop secondary infections, hense the use of antibiotic. KC causes the wrenching cough which is likely causing the "vomit looking" Gag reflex "flem" that you are seeing, typically bright yellow, sometimes pure white, and sometimes clear. Most likely this is what you are seeing. Sounds like you need to get him on a cough suppressent your vet will reccomend something, there are a variety of cough suppressents used. They may even use as Hodie suggested use a Decongestant as well. Hope all goes well I would advise speaking with your vet TODAY. Best of luck hope the explanation makes sense.

The biggest problem with the kennel cough vaccine is that is often GIVES the dog the virus! Have seen this over and over. I think it is a useless vaccine and would never consider giving it. Just no point. It only covers 5 or so strains and there are over 80 out there. MOST dogs who come down with KC NEVER need to have any kind of treatment. In the ODD dog (just like people and colds going to phenmonia) a dog can get an infection and then it may require antibiotics. My one dogs litter mate got kennel cough from the vaccine and the owner assured me that he could not 'pass' it along to my pup when they got together to play. I just smiled....knowing that was not true but also not really concerned. Sure enough 10 days later my girl had it. However, she coughed once a day and only when she was very physically active. Lasted a week or so. Never went to any of my other dogs who are not vaccinated. It didn't affect her in any other way..... I also had it years ago with my rough collies. Came home with it from an obedience trial. Both dogs ended up with it. I had called the Veterinary College (lived in Saskatoon then) and they told me not to worry. Give people cough medicine if the cough got bad. If they didn't get over it in several wks. might get them checked out. Course, didn't have to do that. The reason KC is so rampant in boarding kennels/spca's etc is because the inoculate every dog that comes in with it.....then they get it and pass it around. THere have been studies done on it and it was found that that nosode for kennel cough is WAY more effective in preventing it (study was done on dogs that were exposed).

All good advice on this virus - Many years ago my dogs got KC from being at a Show. My Vet, an old guy at that time, advised Benaline Cough Medicine (expectorant type) and he used a large syringe with no needle of course - put into side of mouth and squeeze in - some dogs love it and others like myself retched - yuck. But did the trick, relieved the irritation and brought up the mucous. This virus is simialr to RSV (Respiratory Synctal Virus)in humans the one that makes you cough for about 6 to 8 weeks and makes you vomit with coughing. As said unless your dog has another chronic illness let it run its course. Have never used the Vaccine and never will.