Kennel Cough

[Tilly]

Friend's of mine adopted a rescue dog about a week ago. Yesterday they rang me to say the dog was sick - given their description I thought it might have been kennel cough.

Anyway the dog was taken to the vet today (to have his stitches removed) and was diagnosed with kennel cough (thankfully mild at this stage - his chest is clear).

The friends have visited my house and my dog (a number of times in the last week) and I have visited their house (to help with some dog training) ...

Should I worry about my GSD getting sick? We are getting a pup at the end of this month (in 24 days) - do I need to worry about him?

[Teebs]

dogs can have it and now show signs of it for a while..

I can see PF is typing, so i agree with whatever she says

Edited May 5, 2009 by Teebs

[poodlefan]

It is highly contagious and far more serious for a pup than an older dog. Your dog may show no symptoms at all.

Check with your vet but I think the infectious period is about 21 days.

Edited May 5, 2009 by poodlefan

[poodlefan]

dogs can have it and now show signs of it for a while..

I can see PF is typing, so i agree with whatever she says

Gutsy play Teebs.

[Teebs]

I like to take a risk from time to time

It was around town last year something shocking, Kaos got it, and Atlas got it very lightly, i just kept them inside and warm when i could, since i knew it was around, i kept them home as much as i could. I know a littler of 2 week old puppies that got it, one didnt make it (RIP I rushed her to the vets but nothing they could do for her ) but the others all got over it and were fine

[cashew]

It's like the flu in dogs I reckon. Little to prevent because it is so contagious and a dog's own immunity works to get through it. I alwasy believe in dosing Giggles with a tiny bit of Vit C. I buy sodium ascorbate powder and sprinkle it onto his food. I suppose Vit C helps.

[shellbyville]

One of my pups picked up KC at a show. Luckily it was pretty mild. However the cough went through all of my dogs (7), one after the other. It was just like one of the family getting a flu, so I just restricted their running around in the yard, kept them warm, fed them well and also gave them honey and paprika on a spoon (3 times a day) which I think helped the irritation in their throat. I didn't need to take them to the vet, they all just got it and then with a bit of tender loving care, came good. I must say thought their cases were mild. The phlegm they coughed up was a clear colour, no green or yellow discharge, which is a sign of an infection. However I couldn't take any of my dogs out of the yard for months. It was very inconvenient, stopped me showing them for a long while, which didn't help with the socialisation of a few young dogs I had here.

Your dog will possibly get it as it is highly contagious.

[poodlefan]

Tilly, don't forget that your current dog is now a possible carrier of KC. He should be quarantined (ie not allowed near other dogs) for 14 days to see if he displays symptoms. If he does, you should keep him away from all other dogs for a further period of 21 days after he shows no signs of the disease.

KC is a serious pain in the arse. One dog exposed and allowed to socialise can infect a hell of a lot of others before any of them show symptoms.

Edited May 5, 2009 by poodlefan

[Erny]

I'd be dosing my dog with Active Manuka Honey (get from health food store with the highest UMF possible) to help his immune system, just in case he has contracted CC.

[sandgrubber]

If the KC is indeed mild, I consider it almost a good thing. I think the mild cases build up immune response -- as do vaccinations. That doesn't mean it's fair to share it with other dogs, though. What's mild for one dog may be nasty for a dog whose immune system isn't prepared.

[Beaglesareourlife]

Both of my dogs had it some months ago.

They contracted from the dog next door who had been sick but I did not realise with what as I have never had to deal with KC before :rolleyes: . Charlie my little boy started to cough uncontrollably one night and I took him straight to the vet the next morning, and alas it was too late to seperate them as it was likley that my little girl Toffee had already been infected sure enough four days later as the vet had predicted she started to cough too.

I was a bit ignorant to Kennel cough as I knew that they had been vacinated however the vet set me straight and told me that it could be worse if they were not vaccinated however they can still contract regardless just not as badly as if they were not vaccinated.

Just watch out for secondary infections as both of my dogs had secondary infections and became really sick for about two weeks and the people next door would not get their animal treated so I have now isolated my dogs from their fenceline. Both the dogs came good after a course of Antibiotics for the secondary infection and TLC. I also found that a teaspoon of honey dialuted with warm water calmed the cough.

Hope this is helpful

Edited May 7, 2009 by Beaglesareourlife