Kennel Cough Questions

[wintress]

We have another vet appointment on Monday.

Keeta (3mths) was on antibiotics for a week for green runny nose and what sounded like clearing her throat.

Her nose stopped running and coughing subsided.

After a week she was back to hacking really bad.

Vet placed her back on antibiotics this time for two weeks, for symptoms of Kennel Cough.

Durring the two weeks we were seeing an improvement but now it has been a
week and all the signs are coming back again. Hacking/Cough with snotty eye this time, no runny nose though. No fever, very active & playful, eats normal, stools normal. ** Note this is a few times a day.... not like the 2nd time when it was several times a day**

Now ... My mother in law said that when her dog was a pup he took awhile to get over it. Is this true... should it take this long?

What has others experienced with Kennel Cough?

 

[aaplunkett]

I work at an animal shelter and we have kennel cough like you would not believe. Our treatment regimine is to give the dogs a broad spectrum antibiotic for 7 days, then they go on a cough syrup and antihistamine until their symptoms are gone. It's usually 2 weeks, at least. Some are upwards of 5 weeks, depending on the dog.

Most recently there has been an outbreak of the canine flu, whose symptoms mimic kennel cough but that doesn't respond to kennel cough treatment. You may ask (if you have not) your vet about the possibility your dog could have the canine flu. At our shelter, we've had a few select dogs truly have the canine flu, and we barely caught those before they became pneumonia.

 

[wintress]

Thank you all for your input and the link.
She is still coughing time to time... not as often... but still has snotty eyes.
appointment is still set for Monday.

Will ask our vet about canine flu.
I thought it was a virus also .... and questioned, if human viruses dont respond to antibiotics why would it respond in a dog...

Thanks again
hope everyones Holidays are wonderful

 

[Jan]

I thought it was a virus also .... and questioned, if human viruses dont respond to antibiotics why would it respond in a dog...

They don't! At least not unless there is a secondary infection involved. Kennel cough usually lasts for about 3 weeks.

Try giving a spoonful of honey for the cough. It will help.

 

[Lola's mum]

I gave honey and also some childrens cough medicine when it was quite bad.

 

[wintress]

I think Keeta has finally kicked the Kennel Cough.. haven't heard a sound in 2 days 3 if you count today.

And we are going with another vet... found out today that he thinks the whole ACE thing is just a myth. I wasn't too hip on antibiotics for a virus ... just didn't make any since to me unless he was trying to prevent other bacterial. still im done with that vet.

Anyway ... thank you all for your input on Kennel Cough. You've all been wonderful. Hope everyone has a happy holiday or vacation time.