Worried mom

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deja614

deja614

Boxer Pal
Yesterday morning Scruffy started coughing a little bit. I thought nothing of it since he has coughed on a few occasions and it was nothing serious. But when I got home from work he was pretty much coughing continuously and it sounded terrible. I thought he had something in his throat (he's known to eat leaves, sticks, straw, anything on the ground if you don't watch him). The cough reminded me of a goose honking and would be followed by a gagging noise like he was going to throw up. Well, we ended up taking him to the emergency vet (which BTW is ridiculously expensive!) who gave him a sedative so they could look down his throat. Nothing was found in his throat, but it was very inflammed so he was prescribed tussigon to suppress the cough and cephalexin.

The words "kennel cough" were never spoken but isn't that what it sounds like? If it is KC, the only place he could have picked it up would be Petsmart last weekend. Otherwise, he has just been in the house with us.

Also, last time I took him to the vet she said he wouldn't need the bordetella (sp) vaccination unless he was going to be in a boarded, so I didn't get it.

I've been searching the internet to find out if this is contagious to humans, and have found a few sites that suggest young children my be susceptible. I have a 9 month old who Scruffy kisses constantly so I am a little concerned. Anyone ever heard of transmission to humans?

Sorry so long and so many questions. Just worried about both of my babies!!:confused:
 
Draymia

Draymia

BW Adviser<br><img src="/forums/images/modpaw.gif"
It sure sounds like kennel cough to me. Not sure why they needed a sedative to check down the throat, but??? Anyway the coughing and gagging are pretty classic.

Scruffy may very well have picked it up at Petsmart. Kennel cough is an airborne virus kind of like the human cold. It is not contagious to humans, but is highly contagious to other dogs.

I feel we are doing way to much vaccinating and do not vaccinate for many things including kennel cough. Scruffy might have caught the cough even with the vaccination.

It runs anywhere from a couple of days to up to a month. :( Since it is a virus, it is a waste of money to give antibiotics. My guys have not had a case of cough for over 7-8 years?, but when they do I only use cough syrup so the entire house can get some sleep.

Hang in there... :)
 
jaimie

jaimie

Boxer Insane
I have never heard of KC being transferred to humans. My mom had a puppy that had KC and he never gave it to my kids (my baby was 2 mo old when they brought Bandit home and he would never leave the baby alone.
The vet didn't actually say he had kennel cough did he say what he thought it was at all? Poor baby, let us know how he does!

Jaimie
 
myrocky

myrocky

Boxer Insane
Don't worry to much about passing on the vacc. KC is like the common cold for humans. There are soooooo many strains and mutations of it that they really can't vac against it. The bordetella vac only covers a few types of KC :)

You can give him some teaspoons of honey through out the day to help with this cough as well :) If he is on kibble you can moisten it just a little bit so the little peices don't scratch his throat when he eats. I have always noticed that the KC coughing fits are worse right in the morning and at bedtime. Give your baby lots of hugs for us :)
 
deja614

deja614

Boxer Pal
Thank you all for your advice and well wishes for Scruffy. He seems to be feeling much better than he was last night. The vet never did say what he thought it was, just that he had a cough. Glad I paid $150 for that expert diagnosis! :rolleyes: Next time I'll know better (although I hope there isn't a next time).

DixieDiana, the site you recommended was really helpful.

Thank you all again!!
 
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