Kennel cough - would you, have you vacinated against it?

[Herbie31]

Following on from the other KC posts I was wondering what to do about my dog.

We live in a very rural location so day to day there is very little risk of him contracting it. However we are going on a cruise in a few weeks and ogg pog has been booked into a local kennels for the first time.

The owner of the kennels (an old friend of mine) does not insist on the KC vacination (although obviously insists booster up to date) - she does not even have her own dogs vacinated against KC.

They had a case of KC at the kennels 4 yrs ago but nothing since. The opinion being that young healthy dogs are not that affected by it and recover (I think) without the need of antibiotics. I am a bit hazy on this though.

I know that the vacination is given up the dogs nose and is not very pleasant for them, so would like to avoid this if possible - but at the same time don't want to risk my dog getting it.

I know ultimately the decision is down to me but I don't feel very informed to be able to make that decision - have not rang the vets as I would like unbiased opinions first.

So what is your experience of KC? What would you do in my position? Is KC prevalent at the moment?
Thanks

P.S He is a rising 3yr very healthy / active BC

 

[prosefullstop]

My dog contracted kennel cough a few years ago (she was vaccinated) and it's not pleasant. She was two at the time, in a boarding kennel situation, and the infection dragged on for three weeks; I literally had to be around 24/7 to wipe her snotty nose.

My understanding is that the vaccine will not stop a dog from getting kc, but it will lessen the impact. This bout of kennel cough was a particularly virulent strain that ended up killing a number of dogs in and around the NYC area.

My dog is six, and owing to a reaction she had to last year's vaccines, we now only titer test her.

 

[ridebumble]

we have used it for one of the dogs that is shown a lot (he coughed for a week a little and that was it), but touch wood on the couple of occasions we have got KC from shows on non vaccinated dogs it has never been a problem, just a bit of coughing and sneezing, dogs never seemed to be down or too bothered, guess like flu different strains are worse than others (we have GSD's)

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

I know some people who only give the dogs the vacc to go into kennels.

If you dog is not likely to contract it where you live, then going into kennels where he will come into contact with lots of other dogs, and their exhaled gases and particles, Id say vaccinate! even if he ends up catching it, the chance of this is now seriously reduced and as stated above, if he contracts it the impact on him will be seriosuly reduced making a better prognosis for him!

Beau was vaccinated as a pup though, but thats just my personal opinion on it!

 

[ladyearl]

I do as I'm a dog walker and my dog comes into contact with lots of other dogs. She's a healthy and active 12 yr old BC.

It is not pleasant for the dog but only momentarily.

It does vac against the curent most nasty strain. Obviously it's not a garauntee but at least it could help. If your dog doesn't regularly come into contact with other dogs then it probably won't have built up anti bodies so is more likely to catch it.

 

[Herbie31]

QR

Thanks for all the advice, very much appreciated

Have taken it all on board and have booked ogg pog in for his vacination this afternoon - hope he does not hate me for it though

but rather be safe then sorry

Thanks again