Kennel Cough

[2sp_]

Our dog has caught kennel cough. Poor wee soul.

She's on antibiotics and the vet told Mr P that she is highly contagious as long as she is coughing.

He thinks (terrible memory) that she is still contagious for the week or fortnight after the cough clears.

Does anyone know if that is right? (I will phone the vet and ask if nobody knows.)

[rockyracoon]

My mutt had this a couple of weeks ago after spending a week in the kennels. Horrible hearing them cough isn't it.

Can't help with how contagious it is though, didn't matter to us as he's not allowed near other dogs.

[woofgang]

Yes she will still shed virus for around two weeks after she is better. Its important to keep her, and yourselves away from pups, and old or sick dogs, also when you do walk her again, take her to places that are as empty as possible. Its like similar infections in humans in that she needs plenty of rest and shouldn't be allowed to resume normal amounts of activity immediately the cough is gone.
If she will take it, a little clear honey with a little glycerine added (get it at the chemists, its very cheap) can be soothing.

[islasmum]

Has she been in kennels and come home with the cough?

[2sp_]

Thanks everyone.

We had kind of decided to err on the side of caution and keep her away from other dogs for the fortnight after the cough goes, so I'm glad to hear we're on the right track.

As for keeping her rested... easier said than done! Five month old springer spaniel = bouncing of the walls!

It was actually my mum's dog that caught in in boarding kennels, and then gave it to Ness on a visit here. Both dogs have been vaccinated against kennel cough, but our vet tells us that the vaccine covers only 90% of kennel coughs. Guess we were just unlucky to find that pesky 10%!

[lankeela]

This is why I never vaccinate my dogs against it, there are so many strains and the vaccine only lasts for six months. Don't vaccinate within two weeks before going to kennels either, as if they use the live vaccine you will end up giving it to all the other dogs. Most dogs will recover completely and even young or elderly will be fine if given antibiotics. Although called kennel cough they can catch it anywhere there are other dogs, as it is an airborne virus. Don't blame the kennels either, it will have been taken in by someone else's pet and if not coughing they would have no idea.

[lankeela]

Would add that the incubation period is usually around nine or ten days, so you may not know for a while if they've been in contact with it.

[2sp_]

We're not blaming the kennels at all lankeela, just one of those things, like catching a cold yourself.

We're 99% sure that Mum's dog did get it in boarding kennels though. He was in there for 10 days, and started coughing about 3 days after coming out. Figured with an incubation period of 10 days it had to have been caught there. My mum did call them, just to let them know, not to apportion blame in any way.

We've never given kennel cough vaccination to any of our dogs before, just that our new pup was quite expensive, and we know my mum and her dog are quite sociable with every dog in a 100 mile radius! We thought we would just get it this year, and maybe when she is at the other end of her life.

She's perky though. Apart from the hacking cough, you would never know she was ill.

[2sp_]

I've just re-read the bit I wrote about her being expensive, didn't come out quite how I meant! We're not taking better care of her because she cost a lot! We have always provided the best for all our pets regardless of how we came to have them.

I'm honestly not that much of a ***!

[Angiehowe]

The kennels we used here on the Isle of Wight would not take them unless they had been inoculated we felt it was worth it.

[2sp_]

Kennels here are the same, Angiehowe. Vet says that the vaccine only covers 90% of coughs, so my Mother's dog was just unlucky to catch one of the 10%. Our dog was vaccinated too.

Just luck of the draw.

Both dogs are doing fine now.