Possible Kennel Cough in puppy

[Benjamin]

I think Gunnar has got kennel cough. I didn't think it still existed!

We are off to the vets when I get home, but what is the treatment these days? And should the affected be isolated from others?

Poor little sausage is honking and bringing up the foam. Are there any long term effects from this?

Worried from Essex

P x

 

[BigRed]

Oh yes Kennel cough definately still exists. Two of my dogs got it, after spending the day at a specialist vet's getting x-rays !

At the time, the vet said to give them human cough medicine and said if they got really bad they could have antibiotics.

Thankfully they got over it fairly quickly. Best not to take chances with a puppy. I hope he gets better soon.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

There's is different sorts of Kennel Cough, and the vaccine doesn't cover all of them. So even vaccinated dogs can definitely get Kennel Cough, and as I understand it they might even be able to get the sort they're vaccinated against, but the vaccination prevents them from developing the bad symptoms.

Usually the dog is well again after 7 to 10 days, but it can take up to 3 weeks. Treatment in Sweden = Rest, good quality food and more rest. If he gets fever or if it's affecting his general condition, more than normal for a sick puppy ( don't ask me how you're supposed to be able to determind that ), then he needs to be taken to the vet.
Some sort of Kennel Cough can lead to pneumonia, or cause bacterias to grow in the lungs, BUT others don't. If it gets to their lungs, that's when they need antibiotics.

As far as I know, once they're cured, they're cured for this time. But Kennel Cough can be compared to the sort of cold that older humans are told they should go and get themselves vaccinated against each autumn, in the way that it comes to an area, some dogs get it, some dogs don't, then it goes away, and then next year, or a few years later, the same or another sort of Kennel Cough might come back. And if it does, your dog might or might not get it again.

It's highly contagious, so avoid other dogs, but if you've more dogs than Gunnar, I don't really know if it's any point trying to keep them apart.
Though we had Kennel Cough in my area last year, and it's a densely dog-populated area, and neither of my two dogs I had then, got it.

Hope poor little Gunnar gets well soon, from Sweden.

 

[Scranny_Ann]

...what finnishlapphund said !!

My dog has it at the min

she's quite poorly bless her

. If you've got other dogs there's not much point isolating the puppy now as its highly likely the vuris has spread

Mine is on Benolyn to sooth her cough and thats it at the min, if she's no better tomorrow morn i think i'll drop her up the vets and get some anti-biotics. She has the vaccination yesterday (bit late tho ~ should have been done last week but .... long story

)

Coughin can last up to 2 weeks but the dog can still be contagious for up to three months after the coughing has stopped.

Your puppy will be feeling quite rubbish, it's the same as a human having the flu... not nice .... lots of love and cuddles

Let me know how the puppy goes ... hugs to Gunnar and Kensa (((hugs))) xx

 

[Benjamin]

QR -
Thank you all for your replies. We took him to the vet last night and his lungs sound clear and his temp is normal, so they just sent us on our way. He does have a snotty nose and is just generally poorly, but we are going to keep an eye on him. The thing that worries me is that the coughing is causing him to be sick, so he is not eating (or getting as much food in his system) as normal.

Does anyone have any ideas to help soothe his cough and throat?
I gave him a spoonful of syrup last night, that seemed to help, but can't carry on with that!!
Any ideas much appreciated. His poor little face last night

P x

 

[FinnishLapphund]

All I know is that my vet recommended canned Royal Canin Veterinary Diet for canine Intestinal, for dogs/puppies when their stomach or bowel is irritated.
But if it also would work when he coughs until he's sick, I don't know.



Summary of advices from a very good book that I have :
Human cough medicine, to dogs below 5 kg. a ½ teaspoon, to dogs about 10 kg. 1 teaspoon.

A little extra C-vitamines can help the immunesystem, but in large doses it can cause diarrhoea, so if he does keep his food down, you shouldn't give him a full daily dose of C-vitamine in the shape of supplement. Daily dose for a small dog is 100 milligramme, medium size dog 250 milligramme.

Heat up the food a little bit before Gunnar gets it, and/or blend it with meat broth.

Hoover and dust your home an extra time, so that there will be less particles for Gunnar to be able to inhale.

Use a harness or a Halti and not a collar, to avoid putting the extra pressure on the throat from the outside.



By the way, sorry I assumed that it was the breeder that gave him his name. The suggestion recently to a breeder on another thread to name her/his? Afghan Hound puppies after citys in Afghanistan, made my brain think nordic breed + nordic name = breeder gave the puppies nordic names.

My sympathy to you for having to see him ill, for me it's hard enough when an adult dog is ill, but when I've had a puppy not being well, it just tugs a little extra in my "It's a baby, Protect it!"-instinct.

Hope something helps, from Sweden.