Anyone here have any experience with kennel cough?

[defacto7]

I took in an adoption pup from the humain society a couple days ago and I'm pretty sure she has kennel cough. I'm taking her to the vet in a few hours but just wondered if anyone here has any tips. Of all the dogs I've owned I've never has one with k. cough. She's resting on my lap now but it can be pretty awful.

[Runningdawg]

1. We have 3 adopted dogs 2 from a rescue organization, one off the streets

Both who came from good rescues came with kennel cough. I will tell you what my vet told me. You can't expect to clear it up UNTIL they are removed from the environment that is breeding it. One visit to the vet and 2 weeks later they were both fine, never had it again.

[defacto7]

3. Good info.

She's definitely out of the environment and I guess it's all about just sitting it out. Did the vet give you anything for it or symptoms?

[Runningdawg]

5. Gave them both shots - antibiotics or antivirals I guess? Maybe some steroids to speed healing

[emmaverybo]

2. Took in a rather frail little guy from a rescue shelter. Had kennel cough and so the high kill was

going to put him down, but our rescue took him in. I was monitoring him until he could be seen. I was really alarmed.

But as sick as he seemed, with meds and hydration (ringer’s solution with a dropper) he recovered in no time. It is very common and treatable, which is why it was awful the
kill shelter was gonna put him down.

You are getting help soon so she should be on road to recovery. I know how bad it can look.

Bon courage and keep us posted.

[defacto7]

7. Thank you. We'll see what the doc says shortly.

[defacto7]

22. My daughter commented today,

she said "I think I saved her life". She's the one who chose her to take home. I asked her why she thinks that and she said if Ginny had stayed one more day they would have noticed her cough and put her down. I realized she is probably right.

[emmaverybo]

23. Bless your daughter. Yes, they do that, even sometimes, and this is heartbreaking, when being

treated. Saving this one means everything to this one and is how we do it, one at a time.

[MontanaMama]

4. One of our dogs caught kennel cough

from this hiking group she was part of a couple days a week. We discontinued her membership in that club...it was a bummer because she loved going BUT once she was diagnosed, we knew we couldn’t risk her going back. Our vet treated her - I don’t remember the meds now but she recovered quickly and has been fine ever since. She was otherwise very healthy so there were no other complicating factors. Early treatment is your pup’s best chance. Thank you for adopting!

[defacto7]

9. Ok! Looks like were on top of it. It's only been since yesterday

that we noticed it.

[Doreen]

6. Working in shelters for many years I have.

Try to keep seperate from other dogs until they have been on meds for a couple of days. Kennel cough is very contagious so wash hands between contact of one dog to another. As long as it is treated pretty soon after getting it it is actually not hard to get rid of. You just need to work at sanitization faithfully. If it has been going on for to long it can become a longer problem with respiratory issues and heart issues that even though the kennel cough is cured the results could be permanent. If they end up having those problems for life it will not be contagious anymore so at least the dog can have contact with other dogs.

With some of the new strains out there it can cross over to cats also. I have heard some strains can cross to humans too but for me that is only hearsay and I have not studied it.

Good luck with your new fur baby.Most of the time it comes out just fine with meds, sanitization, and lotsa love.

[defacto7]

10. Thanks. We're going to get her well.

[livetohike]

8. We adopted a puppy from a shelter in L.A. back in 2003.

She had kennel cough and our vet gave her a shot of Interferon (I think) and then Tramadol drops to be given at home every 4-6 hrs. We had to wait until she was cured to adopt the second puppy. It took a month or so for her to be cleared.

[defacto7]

11. Good info to know. Thank you.

[secondwind]

12. The humane society should have treated her for this before adopting her out. Maybe they can help.

[defacto7]

13. She had no symptoms when we got her

and I don't think they had her very long. We only know she came from Arizona recently.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Yep

Our 'Oops' Maltese and his two siblings all had kennel cough - but no symptoms until all three went to live with their families.


Ask the vet for the antibiotic that tastes like a treat and make certain they also test for Giardia. Our little guy had a one two punch . . . his Mama's mama also rescues dogs and the three pups were exposed to all - but only ours had both.


Also - when you go into the vet make certain he is in his carrier or your sling and you sit away from the other animals and their humans.

He's weak - and could pick up something.

Good luck - and it gets better. So glad that little pup is with you and in good human hands!

[defacto7]

16. Lots of good advice here. Thank you.

[Midnight Writer]

15. Be sure to let the vets office know ahead of time. They may want you to use a separate entrance.

We had an epidemic here, and the vets requested that dogs with symptoms not be brought through the regular entrance so they would not infect other dogs.

[defacto7]

17. Good point. I was concerned about spreading it but the iffice

Was not crowded and I did wrap her up in a sheet to catch anything that she might expel. She was in no mood to wander anyway.

[defacto7]

18. Well, she's going to be fine.

No pneumonia, a slight fever. It was Bordetella and caught early. They gave her an IV because of dehydration and also an antibiotic. They also wanted her to get some nutrition since she hasn't eaten for about two days and is underweight. So they actually gave me some vitamin paste and a couple cans of high calorie food. Yes, I said gave, no charge.

She slept for a couple hours afterward, then she ate, drank, peed and now is sleeping quietly again.

She is really a very nice new family member and we're glad she's with us. We can tell she's lived a very hard life, many scars and someone cut the chip out of her neck, we think, before discarding her. I can't imagine such things. Yet she is so sweet and very smart. Lots of eye contact and quiet affection. My daughter says she's a Cheagle, I call her a Beagquaqua.

I'll post a pic when I find a new pic uploading site. No more tinypic.

Thanks everyone.

[emmaverybo]

19. Thanks for updating. Bless you and family for taking this precious one in to your hearts. So sorry

to hear how she had been treated, but you will wash all that away with your kindness.

[Midnight Writer]

20. Good to hear. I hope everything works out.

[defacto7]

21. Thanks. She seems so much better today, I was surprised

to see her leading us to give her food. First signs of hunger in days. She's still weak when we go out to pee but so much better than yesterday. She's still coughing but not hacking up food and bile like before. She's going to be great.

[JustAnotherGen]

24. Happy to hear this!

On Friday we got Ruckus his Bordatella immunization. Next check up ask your vet if she thinks it would be a good idea to get this pup one each year.