Is It Kennel Cough?

[StaffordsYo!]

Hey there Dolers!

How's it going? I just wanted to ask for your help in identifying what's happening to my dog, please help!!!

Jake, my staffy has been doing this crazy, HARHHHH, HARHHH like hacking noise pretty regularly over the last 2 days. He could be sleeping, playing, or just sitting around and suddenly he'll get a bout of these hacking fits that looks like he's trying to bring something up and it usually ends up with him gagging - generally nothing comes up, but yesterday some white bubbbly fluid that looked like saliva and the remains of one lone biscuit got brought up, and I'm guessing he might have brought something up last night too as I found him on the outside bed this morning - the OH must have put him there! I've checked his mouth /throat and he isn't actually gagging on something stuck, so I'm starting to get a little panicky.

Prior to this, due to 40degree days and nights in the high 30s, Jake and our other staffy slept in an air-conditioned room with us and ended up with runny noses and Bodhi sneezing often! We thought they might just have had a cold that would resolve itself but then Jake's developed this other condition that I'm a little more worried about.

I've just had a quick look on the net and it seems the culprit might be kennel cough though I'm not sure which is why I was hoping someone could help me out!

If it was kennel cough - should I take him to the vet for antibiotics? There seems to be conflicting opinions on that too.... any home remedies that I could possibly give Jake to ease his coughing?

Any advice that could be given would be much appreciated!!!!! I just don't want Jake to suffer and am willing to try anything to help him!

Thanks in advance

StaffordYO!

[Caesars mum]

yes this sounds just like KC, we have just been through it with caesar.

we tried to give him Benadryl dry cough mix but I wore more then he took. It did help a little though.

it is much like a human cold and Caesar has recovered fine. As long as the dog is not a puppy or older dog, I would just keep and eye on them for temp or if they beginto get worse then straight to the vet.

the vet may want to come out to you as KC is very contagious.

honey from the health food store cant remember its name starts with an M may also help sooth the throat

it takes a week or two to fully get rid of the cough

[Cockerlover]

it sounds like kc to me you can give him honey i warm water to ease it a bit also let him sit in a seamy room EG bathroom next time ou take a shower that sometimes helps a bit ;

[StaffordsYo!]

Hey guys!

Thanks for all the replies and advice, I really appreciate it! Since I wrote, I've given Jake and Bodhi some jarrah honey, reportedly having similar therapeutic benefits as manuka honey ( we just can't get manuka honey here in Perth!).... it's helped a little but Jake is still hacking at times. He is also bringing up a clear, stickey fluid at times and also a white, frothy, sticky fluid at other times. Is that we would be calling doggy phlegm?

I will also be ringing to vet tomorrow to see what else I can do.

Here's a question though - if both my dogs have been vaccinated with C5 for the year, how is it that they have become infected with kennel cough? I thought once they were immunised they were safe?

Anyway, caesarsmum, is there anything else you did for Caesar other than give him honey and cough syrup? WAs there anything else that you did for Caesar that might have helped? Would love to know so I can help my two as well!!

Thanks so much for your help Caesarsmum and Cockerlover, appreciate it!

Cheers

StaffordsYO!

[Poodle wrangler]

Vaccination for KC doesn't cover every strain of the virus i.e. is only partial protection. Much like the vacc for human flu.

I've had a dog up to date with C5 get KC, too .

You still need C5 if you ever need to kennel. Obedience clubs vary in their requirements (C3, C5, titres)

KC is a virus, so antibiotics don't help.

Sometimes dogs deteriorate so vet will give antibiotics in case there's a bacterial infection on top of the KC.

Kind of like how a human flu/ cold could develop into a pneumonia.

[Cockerlover]

it affects the very young & older dogs more ;I think it is worse for us as owners than it is for the dog cause it sounds so awfull & to my knowledge there is not much we as humans can do as said in previous post antibiotics are only prescribed for complications; rest easy ;dogs will be fine in a few days we trust