Dog won't stop coughing

[NellRosk]

Last Friday when I got in from the horses/ walking the dogs I noticed my mum's dog (I had him for the weekend as she was away) was coughing a lot like he was choking. He'd cough like he was being sick then cough up a little bit of spit. He's been doing it since then, doesn't cough on walks but in the house he just constantly walks about coughing and choking. My mum was back on Monday and took him to the vets, they had a look down his throat and couldn't see any and gave him a shot of antib's in case he'd scratched it on something and it was infected. He is also on tramadol to act as an anti-inflam they said but it's not making any difference. He looks really miserable, has such a hang dog look Does anyone have any ideas? He pulls on the lead a lot and as we've not had him long are working on this, he wears a harness for long walks but on Friday night he was on his lead for a few mins whilst I got from car to the track I was walking down before I let him off. He was straining and pulling on the lead then but as I say it was only for a few minutes.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Did they look for signs of lungworm?

 

[dappyness]

Have a look on You tube and listen to what kennel cough sounds like. If it is kennel couch the dogs cough and then hack up - it sounds like they have something stuck in their throats. Kennel cough is very contagious and will continue to be for 3 weeks after the symptoms stop.

Just to add, even if your dog has been vaccinated against kennel cough they can still get it. KC is a virus and just like the flu it can mutate. Antibiotics wont work against it but anti-infalms can make them slightly more comfortable.

 

[NellRosk]

Did they look for signs of lungworm?

No I don't think so, but I'll ask my mum when I get home.

Have a look on You tube and listen to what kennel cough sounds like. If it is kennel couch the dogs cough and then hack up - it sounds like they have something stuck in their throats. Kennel cough is very contagious and will continue to be for 3 weeks after the symptoms stop.

Just to add, even if your dog has been vaccinated against kennel cough they can still get it. KC is a virus and just like the flu it can mutate. Antibiotics wont work against it but anti-infalms can make them slightly more comfortable.

Yes that's what he does! He will stand with his back legs splayed and his head down, then cough up a little bit of spit. I'm fairly sure the vet made no mention of kennel cough (my mum would be panicking if he did) but I'll youtube it when I get home from work. If it was so contagious wouldn't my dog have got it though? She is showing no signs of coughing

 

[dappyness]

All the information states that it is very contagious and depending on the strain of it depends on how quickly the symptoms show. Both of mine had it a few weeks ago, annoyingly, as they are both vaccinated for it and haven't been anywhere near kennels or played with other dogs for any period of time but still got it.

Tortoise first showed symptoms on a Wednesday, took him to the vets on Friday eve and the vet was stumped as Alfie was still fine. We treated it as KC just as a precautionary. It wasnt until the Sunday that Alfie started to cough. They both had a cough for about 7 days and I later found out that the virus can incubate for up to 10 days - hence the delay for Alfie. We were lucky enough that they didnt suffer from it badly. They wern't bothered by the coughing it was the reverse sneezing that they hated.

They are still being kept well away from other dogs and lead walked with harness so that it doesnt irritate their throats for another week. Cant wait to let them off lead again... blinking whippets!

 

[NellRosk]

All the information states that it is very contagious and depending on the strain of it depends on how quickly the symptoms show. Both of mine had it a few weeks ago, annoyingly, as they are both vaccinated for it and haven't been anywhere near kennels or played with other dogs for any period of time but still got it.

Tortoise first showed symptoms on a Wednesday, took him to the vets on Friday eve and the vet was stumped as Alfie was still fine. We treated it as KC just as a precautionary. It wasnt until the Sunday that Alfie started to cough. They both had a cough for about 7 days and I later found out that the virus can incubate for up to 10 days - hence the delay for Alfie. We were lucky enough that they didnt suffer from it badly. They wern't bothered by the coughing it was the reverse sneezing that they hated.

They are still being kept well away from other dogs and lead walked with harness so that it doesnt irritate their throats for another week. Cant wait to let them off lead again... blinking whippets!

Ah okay, so Ruby may still get it. Dougal has another vets appointment booked for Friday, however if it is kennel cough should he be kept away in case he infects others?

And yes he's doing the reverse sneezing too! My other dog does that anyway because she is half pug and apparently it is a common trait in them, so I was a little surprised to see Doogs doing the same. Thanks dappyness, very helpful.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

All the information states that it is very contagious and depending on the strain of it depends on how quickly the symptoms show. Both of mine had it a few weeks ago, annoyingly, as they are both vaccinated for it and haven't been anywhere near kennels or played with other dogs for any period of time but still got it.
...

According to what I've read about kennel cough, a dog does not need to actually meet a dog that has kennel cough, to catch kennel cough. Besides that it is transmitted by that your dog meets a dog with kennel cough, it can sometimes also be transmitted by that your dog e.g. drinks from the same puddle out on a walk from where a dog with kennel cough have drank recently, sniffs on a lamp post which a dog with kennel cough have recently sniffed on, or if they sniff/licks the hands on a person who has recently had contact with a dog with kennel cough.