LoremIpsum Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 As a puppy, my almost-one-year-old Labrador Martha was vaccinated against Kennel (or Canine) Cough. Now she's coughing on exertion and occasionally producing frothy mucus. She is otherwise well — lively, normal temp, normal humungous appetite, normal effervescent mood. Could it be Kennel Cough despite the vaccination? As I said, she's almost one, so she's due for boosters soon. Is the KC vacc is only short-acting? Could it have worn off? The cough came on yesterday afternoon. I can take her to the vet today. Reading through other threads on Kennel Cough, I see that a lot of people let their dogs ride out a case of Kennel Cough, as it is analogous to the cold in humans. I'm going to get her some Manuka Honey, as Erny has suggested in the past. Do you think I should wait to see how it progresses, or is it quicksticks to the vet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yes they can still get it even if vaccinated. Like the flu in people, there are different strains and it mutates etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 yep, they sure can get it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabs Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Sure can. The vaccination only covers a few strains and there are literally hundreds of strains of the virus. Often though a vaccinated dog will not get it as bad as an unvac one. ETA unless there is a secondary infection or the dog is very unwell then the vet is not needed. Plus you will just spread it around at the clinic. Be prepared for at least a week of coughing. The honey should help. Also some vit C powder and some zinc tablets. Edited May 13, 2009 by riesenhaft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yes she can still get kennel cough even though she was vaccinated Manuka Honey sounds great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yes just like your dog can still get parvo. It all comes down to said dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna H Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yep, they can still get it. Chelsea had it despite being vaccinated, but it did seem quite mild - so maybe the vaccine helped a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) I'm going to get her some Manuka Honey, as Erny has suggested in the past. Do you think I should wait to see how it progresses, or is it quicksticks to the vet? Get the ACTIVE Manuka Honey and get it from a health food store. Get the one with the highest UMF reading possible. I think that's about 35+. The supermarket variety is about 5+. The higher the UMF the more effective it is in terms of boosting the immune system and aiding recovery/healing. Of course, the higher the UMF the more expensive it is. So be prepared. I know I've paid something in the vicinity of $25 (give or take) for a 250g jar. Sorry to hear Martha has CC. Keep her quiet, warm, free from draft and just keep your eye on her. If you don't think she's been drinking as much as she ought, you can use the AMH in a small amount of water to help keep fluids up. Don't use a full bowl of water as you might find she will over drink and an intake of too much water isn't good either. If any of the other things change (eg. appetite or temp etc) or if breathing begins to sound a little bit laboured, then I'd do a visit to the Vet with her. It is secondary infection that you need to watch out for. Hope she has a speedy recovery. Edited May 13, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) The only dogs I have had get it have been the C5 vaccinated ones. The one who isn't vaccinated for it because of an allergic reaction never picked it up even when the others got it. Edited May 13, 2009 by Diva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yes but hopefully it will be less severe because she is vaccinated. Keep her quarantined, in your house, for at least two weeks. Vets can only treat secondary infections that occur because of the KC. So if she is happy within herself, still eating etc then a vet visit isn't needed. If she starts to go downhill then off to the vets for some antibiotics. Years ago when my pug boy got KC I knew he was really sick with a secondary infection because he felt so crook he wouldn't curl his tail. (pugs always have curled tails unless they are sick, scared or asleep) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoremIpsum Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Thanks so much for all those replies guys. Erny, thanks in particular for all that info. Her water intake is normal so I think I'll give her the pleasure of licking the honey off the spoon. One more question: what about walks? There's a lot of dogs around her and I don't want to spread it around — how long do I need to avoid them for? Unfortunately, we've got another dog staying with us, a 9-year-old Golden Retriever. I am keeping them separate now (although that's very tricky in our small house and yard), but I'm assuming Geordie may have picked it up from Martha before she showed any symptoms. So I'm going to prevent him from associating with others dogs too. This is the first time I've been brave enough to NOT rush her to the vet at the first sign of any discomfort, so I'm a bit nervous. I will certainly take her if she shows any symptom other than the cough or if it goes on too long. P.S. Erny, what about dosage with the honey? I think I read in another thread that you advised a teaspoon three times a day? Edited May 13, 2009 by botheration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoremIpsum Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 Yes but hopefully it will be less severe because she is vaccinated. Keep her quarantined, in your house, for at least two weeks. Vets can only treat secondary infections that occur because of the KC. So if she is happy within herself, still eating etc then a vet visit isn't needed. If she starts to go downhill then off to the vets for some antibiotics. Years ago when my pug boy got KC I knew he was really sick with a secondary infection because he felt so crook he wouldn't curl his tail. (pugs always have curled tails unless they are sick, scared or asleep) Puggy, we posted at the same time, but thanks for this; it answers some of the questions in the previous post. Two weeks! Oh dear. Can I take her for on-lead walks if I avoid other dogs? She will go mental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teebs Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 no, dont walk her, exercise will set it off more, and you may spread it to the other dogs. I leave my dogs together when one gets it, the dogs have it before symptoms show, so they both would have been around it. If they both get it, they do... but saying that, out of all the times kaos has had it, atlas has only gotten it once Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I would suggest LOTS of clicker training or similar to manage those restless legs - I know my Dally would go completely mental without his regular walks/runs/training so best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 (edited) Erny, thanks in particular for all that info. Her water intake is normal so I think I'll give her the pleasure of licking the honey off the spoon. She'll love you for it . I used it as a 'treat' (even though it was for medicinal purposes) that he got for sitting or dropping etc. Because my boy wasn't getting out and around and I kept exercise very quiet, I very much focused on passive exercises and of course used the "NILIF" principal to provide mental stimulation. I only asked for what he could give me though. At his worst (ie feeling lethargic), a "five" (hand shake) was sufficient. One more question: what about walks? There's a lot of dogs around her and I don't want to spread it around — how long do I need to avoid them for? As I understand it, incubation time before symptoms become apparent is about 10 days. I used to think that you should allow a further 10 days AFTER the symptoms disappear before you considered your dog well and no longer contagious. However I have noted the general concesus of opinion is 14 days. This is the first time I've been brave enough to NOT rush her to the vet at the first sign of any discomfort, so I'm a bit nervous. I will certainly take her if she shows any symptom other than the cough or if it goes on too long. Yes - it is worrisome isn't it? And the 'hacking' sound at the end of a cough is awful. I admit to taking my boy to emergency on the first night. I knew it was CC and I didn't go because I wanted something for it (because there is nothing) but his resperation rate was a bit alarming to me, so I began to wonder if there was something else going on. As it turned out I had to wait for an hour. In that time he got bored and started playing a game of tug, and then perked up. I took him home before seeing the Vet. His respiration rate was still up but not quite as alarming. I monitored him overnight and he was much better by the next morning. For him, the coughing ceased within 24 hours and he was back to full bounce within 48 hours. There was no discharge from his nose. I think he might have caught only a mild dose of it. My biggest concern was that when were at emergency, a parvo case came in . I didn't want to be hanging around there. P.S. Erny, what about dosage with the honey? I think I read in another thread that you advised a teaspoon three times a day? First couple of days, dose 3 x daily. Then back it off to 2 x daily for the next two or three days. Then back it off again to 1 x daily for the next week. This is just a rough idea and is not formal or strict advice - it's just something that I personally do. I dose with frequency (ie 3 x daily) when the coughing and/or sore throat symptoms are present. As the intensity of the symptoms begin to abate, I begin to drop the dosage. I don't know if this is completely the right approach, but it has worked for me both recently and in the past. Mandela's "AMH treatment" only really went for a total of 1 week because he got over it so quickly. Edited May 13, 2009 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoremIpsum Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 I would suggest LOTS of clicker training or similar to manage those restless legs - I know my Dally would go completely mental without his regular walks/runs/training so best of luck! Excellent idea. Time for Martha to learn some new tricks. We have a very small yard (which is normally fine, because we live across the road from a huge area of parkland) and Martha usually gets one long and two short walks a day. This is going to be tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sankari Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 My GR who went to rainbow bridge in November, had a bad case of KC despite being vaccinated against it. She had a secondary infection and was on the verge of being hospitalised as she was on the verge of pneumonia. She got better eventually with antibiotics. She had a dark green snotty nose, coughing and if we let her outside she was only allowed to walk as if she ran or trotted she had shortness of breath. Was fine otherwise though. God i hope i dont come in contact with it again though it's awful. Must say the KC wasnt involved in why she was pts. She ended up being diagnosed with Aggressive Lymphoma and had a very short time (1 week or 2 at the most) so we did the right thing by Lucy and let her go. I quarantined Lucy for 3 weeks when she was sick and an extra 3 weeks from last cough except for when she had to go to the vet. which we were taken straight in to avoid spreading to other dogs in there. Charlotte didnt get much of it, she barely had a cough at all. Still quarantined her anyway. Charlotte went mental but i didnt want to risk other dogs. I wouldnt be worried unless she starts showing other symptoms or she gets worse then she'll probably need some antibiotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna H Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The only dogs I have had get it have been the C5 vaccinated ones. The one who isn't vaccinated for it because of an allergic reaction never picked it up even when the others got it. That has been my experience too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 The only dogs I have had get it have been the C5 vaccinated ones. The one who isn't vaccinated for it because of an allergic reaction never picked it up even when the others got it. That has been my experience too. I've actually experienced the complete opposite. The last time I had KC here the other dogs that contacted the KC were the ones that were nearly due for their annual KC vacciantion. The ones that had had their vaccinations in the last 6 months showed no signs or symptoms of the KC. botheration I owuld suggest you don't worry yourself silly about keeping the visiting dog away from Martha as being in such a confined space he probably would either have it by now or not. He could have also been the one to pass it onto her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoremIpsum Posted May 13, 2009 Author Share Posted May 13, 2009 The last time I had KC here the other dogs that contacted the KC were the ones that were nearly due for their annual KC vacciantion. Martha certainly fits into that category. botheration I owuld suggest you don't worry yourself silly about keeping the visiting dog away from Martha as being in such a confined space he probably would either have it by now or not. He could have also been the one to pass it onto her. Thanks. It's already (in half a day) proving to be pretty impossible — spaces are too small and dogs are too needy for attention! I got some Manuka Honey. The good news: Martha loves it. The bad news: it cost $45! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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