Coughing Boxer Puppy!

[rainie]

Hello all,

I'm new to the board, and a new boxer mommy! My Puff came home with me about a month ago (he's 3 months now) and a week later developed this hacking cough. He had his first round of shots when I got him, and got his second the other day. He's been on clavamox for a little over a week now and although his temprature, diarhea, and snotty nose is gone, he's still hacking! The vet seems to think he's OK - not distemper, but when is my poor baby going to stop hacking and feel better? Anyone have any experience with coughing boxer pups? Any feedback would be great. Oh - I've been told that the herbal formula fenugreek/thyme will help, so I'm going to start dosing him today.

 

[Suzanna828]

Let me preface this by saying I am neither a vet nor an expert in dog medical issues; however, a few days after we adopted Jake he developed the same symptoms and was diagnosed with kennel cough. He had just received the vaccine, and I have always been of the opinion that his cough was a reaction to the vaccine. At the same time, he was being kenneled so it is possible that he received the infection from another dog. Either way, we treated him with BOTH and antibiotic and cough suppressant. The antibiotic itself was not helping the cough. Within 1 hour of taking the cough suppressant his cough had disappeared. Perhaps you could give Puff some Robuttussin? Of course, clear it with your vet first.

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Suzanna - Mom to Jake, 2 year old fawn male, floppy ears, docked tail

 

[rainie]

Thanks for the advice, I asked about Robitussin, and the vet said it was bad to supress the cough. Did your little guy act lethargic? How long did it take to get completely over the cough? That's what I really want to know - he's been on antibiotics for a week and a half already! I think puff's reaction was to the vaccine as well. He wasn't in the gretest health when vaccinated the 1st time.

 

[Sabrina Jay]

The antibiotics will do nothing to stop the kennel cough, it will stop a *secondary* infection from setting in.



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Sabrina Jay JeSaJay's Boxers

 

[Suzanna828]

rainie, it's hard to tell whether or not Jake was lethargic after being on the suppressant because we had just adopted him. Also, the vet told us to make sure he took it easy for a few days, so I really didn't push him very hard. I guess, looking back, he was somewhat lethargic but not excessively. He still played, but he tired more easily than normal.

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Suzanna - Mom to Jake, 2 year old fawn male, floppy ears, docked tail

 

[Tina-SCBR-NY]

My guy also had kennel cough when I got him...I gave him 1 teaspoon of robitussin 2x daily and his cough cleared up. It did take 2-3 weeks though. I also help with boxer rescue and have given robitussin to many shelter dogs coming through, it has never been a problem. My vet along with many others that care for our rescues have recommended it.

 

[anne]

My older dog (not a boxer) has had a cough for about 3mths now the vet gave her antibiotics then steroids and it cleared ,but it is back again ,we spoke to the vet who said kennel cough can last for weeks and weeks sometimes there's just one bug that won't go away , so she's to have another course of antibiotics ,I give her honey and lemon cough mixture but think I will try robintussin.

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mum to-
cassie flashy fawn boxer girl born 6/7/2000 natural ears and docked tail.
Tess cross/border collie born sept 1984
Jake the cat born 3/26/85