Kennel Cough

[dunnwarren]

I have a few questions about kennel cough. Our sheltie seems to have come down with it since being at the vet Christmas Eve with a grass seed up his nostril. How long does it take for the dog to start coughing after coming into contact with it? I have a litter of 2 week old puppies here and although the sheltie hasnt actually come into contact with them he does walk past them (about 3feet away) I have given him cough medicine until I can get him to the vet tomorrow and he will be isolated as much as I can, but he is inside with my border collie and papillon. I have nowhere else to put him, dont want to put him up the kennels incase all the silkys get it as well. What are my chances of the pups not getting it?

[Dogsfevr]

did the vets have cases of KC at that time or has it been around or could it be a reaction to the grass seed??

[dunnwarren]

Not sure if there had been cases of KC there but will ask all the questions tomorrow when I ring, I was mainly concerned about the 2 week old puppies. Iv'e never had a case of KC here and was just wondering how long before they start coughing after they come into contact with it.

[puggy_puggy]

It can take anywhere from a few days to over a week for a dog to display signs of KC. Some will get really nasty cases of it with the snotty noses and awful coughing, others will get only a snotty nose and then others will get nothing.

Vet really can't do anything for your dog unless he develops a secondary infection when they will give antibiotics. If it's just KC then you just have to ride it out.

Are all of your dogs vaccinated?

I would keep your sheltie, border collie and papillon as isolated from the puppies and obviously your kennels as possible.

[dunnwarren]

We talked to the vet today, there were no cases of KC at the practise so he thinks (hopes) it may be a secondary infection from the grass seed operation. The sheltie is now on antibiotics and cough medicine which seems to be helping, the cough is nowhere near as bad as it was. The sheltie is vaccinated for KC and the border collie and papillon are going nowhere near the puppies now. The vet said it usually takes about 10 days for the cough to start so will keep my fingers crossed. There are no shows till February for us anyway so we wont be missing any.