Kennel Cough / Canine Influenza

[Box Boys]

OK....I think Buster has either kennel cough or canine influenza. None of my dogs have ever had any of these before, ever.

Buster received his vaccination for kennel cough (along with other vacs) on Saturday, October 30th. For the first time ever, I took him to our local dog park on Saturday, November 13th. By early Sunday morning (the very next day), he was acting strange...in what appeared to be like he was going to throw up but making a hoarse sounding noise. It sounds as if something is caught deep in his throat and he can't cough or throw it up. When I google the symptoms, it sounds more like kennel cough than canine influenza but I haven't taken Buster's temperature to see if he's running a fever. He doesn't seem to have any nasal discharge or a runny nose (other than what's normal...with his nose looking a little wet sometimes).

Now....seems a little soon if he were just at the dog park to have contracted this from another dog (right?)....so, is this more from having been vaccinated for it and then he came across a dog infected at the park? I'm lost on this one....and frustrated. I'm not sure we'll be visiting the dog park again!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

It's usually 3-10 days for the onset of symptoms but I've had it happen as early as 2 days with being exposed to KC and getting it themselves. It could also be from the vaccination though (typically they tell you not to go to places like that for 2 weeks because your dog is also contagious from the vaccination). Unfortunately there's really no way to tell either way. But it's just a cold for most healthy dogs. No different than you or a child getting a cold. They have it for 1-4 weeks and fight it off on their own. Just a virus unless they get a secondary bacterial infection. So watch for a foul odor coming from their nose or mouth or green snot coming from their nose. Other than that, a good diet, keeping him quiet, and if you want you can put him in a room with a humidifier or take him in the bathroom when you take a shower and he should be fine in 1-4 weeks. I've had quite a few dogs who have had it more than once in some cases and we only needed antibiotics once when it turned into a sinus infection. Just make sure to keep him away from other dogs and where other dogs visit so he doesn't infect anyone else. And I wouldn't write off the dog park, that's kind of like saying you're never going to let your human child go to school or daycare again because they came home with a cold...it's just a normal part of growing up and building immunities.

Good luck!

 

[Box Boys]

Thanks Meghan. I was reading about KC online today and when symptoms usually appear and what to look for. Unfortunately, my vet didn't mention anything about keeping him away from other dogs after getting his bordatella vaccine a couple weeks ago. I never thought twice about it. My vet wants me to come in tomorrow for some tests, that he says the manufacturer of the vaccine will pay for. I guess to research why he came down with KC after having been vaccinated for it just two weeks ago. I've only heard Buster do the "coughing" spell twice since 4:00 pm today, although, we have been keeping his play time down to a minimum.

 

[Box Boys]

And I wouldn't write off the dog park, that's kind of like saying you're never going to let your human child go to school or daycare again because they came home with a cold...it's just a normal part of growing up and building immunities.

That's actually quite funny....and true! Thanks for pointing it out!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Thanks Meghan. I was reading about KC online today and when symptoms usually appear and what to look for. Unfortunately, my vet didn't mention anything about keeping him away from other dogs after getting his bordatella vaccine a couple weeks ago. I never thought twice about it. My vet wants me to come in tomorrow for some tests, that he says the manufacturer of the vaccine will pay for. I guess to research why he came down with KC after having been vaccinated for it just two weeks ago. I've only heard Buster do the "coughing" spell twice since 4:00 pm today, although, we have been keeping his play time down to a minimum.

That's odd IMO because I've never gotten the vaccination but talked to vets about it and they've all told me that mild KC symptoms may appear for up to 3 weeks after the vaccination, thta they are contagious with it for 2 weeks after and that they aren't protected from Bordatella for those 2 weeks because they're building up the antibodies, etc. So basically it doesn't take effect for 2 weeks. Seems like yours is acting pretty normal for having just gotten the vaccination 2 weeks ago. Not to mention, Bordatella is only ONE strain of kennel cough, there are millions of other strains (which is why myself and many others don't vaccinate for it), same as the human cold, so just because you vaccinated for Bordatella doesn't mean he didn't come down with another strain from somewhere else.

Obviously you'll have to make your own determination on if you want to put him through tests. Good luck.

 

[maery]

Elton came down with kennel cough despite his Bordatella vaccination. The vaccine was done about 2 months prior so likely unrelated. We thought it was more nausea/flu because the "cough" essentially sounds like gagging/throwing up with no release. I was shocked to find out that this was the "cough". Not the best descriptor!

He was put on shorter dose of Clavamox and was fine. The funny thing, is despite 2 vaccines for it so far (required for our daycare and kennel), we've never been given the info about being contagious or possibly coming down with it!

Mary

 

[dodgeandmar]

I wouldn't swear off the dog park. As long as your dog is vaccinated, it should be fine.

This could be kennel cough. Or it may not be. My dogs get this cough thing about this time of year EVERY STINKING YEAR. Vet says it's just a cold probably related to allergies, especially since it always happens around the first week of November. So maybe your baby just has a cold. I hope!

 

[Box Boys]

I called my vet and he wanted me to bring Buster in, which I did last night. He said he could hear some raspy sounds in his lungs, which sounded like bronchitis (but said KC and canine influenza all sound similar). The manufacturer of the vaccine apparently agreed to test nasal samples from Buster at their expense to determine what is going on or if there was something wrong with the vaccine. Again, I was never told to keep Buster away from other dogs, to expect he may have symptoms from the vaccine itself, or anything else. The vet also put Buster on some antibiotics, presuming that the test were going to come back affirmative.

We're trying to keep Buster calm and not run around with him. He's doing less of the gaging type reflex but you can definitely hear the raspy sound when he's breathing or at most times, when he's trying to sleep.

I have to share a comical portion of his vet visit yesterday. The vet tech wanted to take his temperature. As you know, our little boxer's stubs are short, so there wasn't much for her to hold onto to keep it out of the way. And, Buster didn't really want her anywhere near that end of his body....and tried desparately hard to clench that little stubby so she couldn't get the thermometer inserted. Didn't work...she's obviously done this before.

The vet said that if he does have canine influenza, he's going to call our local newspaper for them to do a story on it and to urge those that take their dogs to the dog park to vaccinate their dogs. Buster may end up being in the paper! My little celebrity!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

Just as an FYI the antibiotics won't do anything unless he has a bacterial infection. So if it's just a virus don't expect them to help with anything.

 

[Box Boys]

Just as an FYI the antibiotics won't do anything unless he has a bacterial infection. So if it's just a virus don't expect them to help with anything.

You're right. (Just like with our kids...) Thanks.