HACKING COUGH

[herbie]

My spanish water dog has been on is holiday and has been swimming in the sea we noticed 2 nights ago that he had a hacking cough and kept retching like he was going to be sick but wasent, i thought maybe he had swallowed sand he is eating,drinking,pooing normally and not coughing as much but after sleeping he coughs,hes running around chasing balls as normal.My freind says give him benilyn for chesty coughs untill we get home tomorrow do you think thats alright am a bit worried he might have kennel cough we are staying on a not very nice campsite and think previous occupants dog might have had something nasty.He is 2 and half years old and never been ill before, any ideas obviously i will go vets when i get home just dont like to see him like this.Thanks in advance

[echokilo]

Is he vaccinated for kennel cough? Is he lethargic? Is his breathing normal apart from the coughing? It's possible he may have managed to get some fluid on his lungs (small amount) - as in secondary, or dry, drowing ....... get him checked at the vets asap to get him all checked out - hope he will be OK x

[barb1314]

It does sound like KC.Is there any white froth when he coughs? The problem is it is extremely contagious.It's an airborne disease and he could very easily have caught it. The vaccine doesn't cover all strains. Most dogs are fine with it (like a cold) but it can be very dangerous to old dogs and puppies. He should be kept away from other dogs and if you take him to a vet,leave him in the car and the vet will come out to him. Benilyn is fine or some honey in warm water will soothe his throat.One of my clients dogs had it last year very badly and had to be kept home for 3 weeks. Hope he is ok.

[herbie]

Thanks for rapid response he sleeping at moment he dosent have any white froth but no dought he will be coughing when he wakes will give him some benilin mr herbie just gone for some,will take him vets when i get home,i dont think he is vaccinated for kennel cough hes just had puppy jabs afirst year booster.

[wolf63]

My cat has asthma and his only real symptom is a cough - it sounds like he is about to barf up a hair ball. As echokila has said - it is possible that some water has gone down the wrong way.

I hope that he is enjoying his holiday - surely a water dog would know not to inhale the water. :-)

[riptide]

It is kennel cough, extremely contagious to other dogs, so please make sure he does not pass it on. There is not much the vets can do, it will probably take a couple of weeks to clear up. It can only be caught by coming into contact with another dog, so someone you have seen has a dog with it. Hope he get well very soon, not very pleasant for him.

[lankeela]

Sounds like kennel cough which is airborne and highly contagious. It is usually easily treated with antibiotics, and only a problem with very young or very old dogs. Don't allow him to be in contact with any other dogs till you have seen a vet. Warn any dog owners he has been in contact with for the past two weeks as it has a ten day incubation period and he will have been contagious all that time. Benylin (children's dose) will soothe, but vet visit is crucial as soon as possible.