Kennel Cough and AB's?

[MrsElle]

Poppy has had a cough for three days now so we took her to the vets earlier. We weren't overly concerned as she is her normal self, running about like a lunatic and eating, drinking, poo-ing, wee-ing as usual.

Vet said kennel cough, which I always thought was a contagious disease and she hasn't been in contact with any other dogs but our others. But anyway, she hasn't got anything stuck in her throat, her chest is clear and her heart is fine, she just has a cough.

She was given an anti inflamitory injection and a weeks supply of anti-biotics. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but AB's don't work on viral infections anyway, and when I was asking what to do if our other dogs catch it, the vet said they will just get better but to give them Benylin to soothe if necessary. So, why have I just forked my hard earned money out on an injection and anti biotics if it goes of its own accord anyway?

I only put two and two together while driving home and realised that I have probably been diddled!

The vet also questioned us regarding her demeaner, asking if we were sure she was her normal self as she was very quiet for a Staffy. She is a normal dog, she walked to heel when we went into the consulting room, sat while we talked to the vet and stood still and quietly when told so the vet could listen to her heart and lungs. Not sure what sort of Staffies he normally sees, but ours is evidently not normal!!!!

Oh..... getting back on track, have I been diddled?

 

[Broodle]

I went through the same thought process a month or two ago when my two had kennel cough! Did query it with the vet, who said that the ABs were precautionary in that they are purely to prevent the nasty possible side effects of kennel cough. So, they apparently do have a purpose... but I'm still not convinced that it isn't fundamentally a money-making exercise...

 

[Aru]

Kennel cough is a combination of a number of different pathogens the most common being Bordetella bronchisepta(a bacteria) and then two virus's -canine parainfluenza 3 and canine adenovirus.

The antibiotics were most likely given to control the bacterial side of things and prevent further secondary bacterial infections.The anti-inflammatory injection will ease up her lungs and make her less painful.

Not diddled im afraid theres good reasoning behind it.
Many kennel coughs will run their course without serious issues.A dog might cough a little for a few days but it will self limit and be fine.
However dogs that are presented to a vet usually have not being able to shake it off themselves and so secondary infections are more of a consideration.And as usual its more of a concern in the young(puppies can get terrible kennel cough ) the old and the immunosuppressed.

Edited to add...a quiet well behaved staffie! yours is unusual they are often bouncy happy little lunatics

 

[MiCsarah]

My friends dog has kennel cough at the moment. She doesn't look ill at all. I've kept my dogs well clear as didn't want my 18 week old pup to catch anything. How long are dogs contagous for? She's stopped coughing now but still worried

 

[Kellys Heroes]

As Aru says, there are different factors behind kennel cough and the ABs are probably to prevent secondary infections from setting in (can make the kennel cough very difficult to shake) and to help with the B.bronchiseptica.

Dogs can apparently transmit kennel cough upto weeks after they seemingly recover, so it could have been anywhere, environment wise, from a previously infected dog.
I hope your dog recovers quickly!
K x