Kennel Cough vaccination - do you or don't you?

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silverbreeze

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I have read a bit about the kc vaccination and there is differing opinions all over the place (not this forum). All those that don't seem to base it on the fact that the bacteria mutates like the human flu bacteria and therefor the vaccination is pointless and can be a little traumatic for the dog.

Thoughts please?
 
I find this a hard one... I don't want to unescessarily vaccinate my dog... so on various bits of advice from behaviourist/ reading etc. I didn't vaccinate him.

My reasoning being that I had read that it mutates like cold/flu virus - so vaccines rarely likely to be 100% effective and that the vaccine is only effective against one strain anyway.

So then Loki got KC from a dog in the park - owner told me her dog had 'allergies' and was sneezing... but soon became clear was actually KC and coughing..

Had horrible 3 weeks of not being able to take him out etc. Also obviously no treatment as was not bacterial form - so anti-bi's no use.

This year - they offered us the vaccine - i took it - no other dog in the park got KC like mine did from that dog (I walk in a regular group) - and the others were all vaccinated...

The vaccination is only a little squirt up the nose - mine didn't seem to mind it much - and didn't seem ill after it. I'd rather he has the vac at least once in his life if it stops him getting KC or at least getting it so badly.
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I've seen it used in a big number of dogs. Only the show ones were given the vaccine.

They carried it back! The lot of them got KC even the ones vaccinated! In fact it linguered the most in the ones that had been vaccinaited.

So it is a no no for me.

I liken it to the strangles vaccine.
 
Mine had it a few weeks ago as they couldn't be kenneled without it. That is probably the only instance in which we would have it done as they are only really mixing with other dogs once a week, most of whom have had their own vaccinations for showing/working trials/quarantine situations.

Apart from anything else it was hilarious to watch.
 
AS I understand it, the vaccine is a bit like the human flu vaccine in that it targets the current most virulent and worst mutations but it can not garuntee the dog will not get KC. As my dog is older and comes into close contact with a reasonable amount of other dogs I do get her done. It's not nice though as it's blown up the nose!!
 
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