[Genie]

Well, Misty the energizer bunny poodle just keeps going and going!! (Literally and figuratively, but that's another story!

) Anyway, this week she started coughing really bad with a wheeze that she hasn't had before and sounded really awful. So it was off to the vets for her (third trip for our pets in a week!) Our vet diagnosed kennel cough, gave her a cough suppressant and an antibiotic, and pills for us to give her. I know kennel cough is very contagious, so I've been trying to be extra careful about not letting her eat or drink from Shiloh's bowls.Shi's bordatella shot is not up to date, since I haven't boarded her in years. So far, Shiloh is fine, and Misty is much better (I still say she'll outlive us all. The vet said that other than the cough she's in great shape.) But my question is--how in the world do you suppose she could have contracted kennel cough? The only dog she's ever around is Shiloh, and Shiloh rarely sees other dogs, especially during the winter. So who could she have caught it from? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif

 

[cheerio]

Kennel cough is called KENNEL cough because it is typically acquired in a place with lots of unrelated dogs.
Did you say Misty went to the vet this week? Here could be your source of contamination. It could also be simply a dog passing by while on a walk... Kennel cough is extremely contagious and depending on what virus and/or bacteria is involved, symptoms can appear as early as 2 days after exposure. Furthermore, many of the kennel cough viruses are airborn and does not demand direct contact.
Bordatella is only one of the viruses causing the disease. Parainfluenza, CAV-1, CAV2, herpesvirus are among others.
Chances are, you will not be able to protect Shiloh from it, unless it is one of the viruses he is vaccinated against. On the plus side, it is not a serious disease per say. The disease follows its course pretty much on its own and is over 14 days after the onset of the symptoms. The antibiotics prescribed are now given routinely to avoid Pneumonia which is the only known complication. A residual effect of kennel cough, although not very well known, is the decrease of sperm counts, sometimes rendering breeding males impotent for up to 12 months following recovery.
Beside boarding kennels, and unconsciencious large scale breeders, the most likely places to acquire the disease are grooming parlors, training classes, dog parks and vet clinics.
Keep your dog in a warm well humidify (to help the cough) area away from any draft. Also, please do think of other dogs: It is better that you do not take your dogs for walks at the moment (Including Shiloh) or to a friends who has dogs. I was taught to count 3 days after the disapearance of all symptoms. There are mixed believes as to whether a dog is contagious while not exhibiting any symptoms. So an extra few days may be prudent.

 

[Genie]

Thanks, Cheerio, for the info and advice. Yes, Misty did go to the vets this week, but the reason she went was because of the coughing, and that's when he diagnosed kennel cough. So I don't think she got it there. But I'll be sure to take care with Shiloh as it's not something she's been vaccinated against in several years.
I wonder, though, if there doesn't have to be direct contact, could the kennel cough virus have been passed on to Misty through our cat KC? He was at the vets a week ago Wednesday for minor dental surgery. He hasn't been sick, but maybe he could have been a carrier for the virus???

 

[cheerio]

My understanding is that Canine kennel cough cannot be transmitted to a cat. Although I could be wrong. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif

 

[BeagsMom]

Well Cheerio gave you all the info in kennel cough you need. I'll just add that my 7 year old lab contracted it once when he was about 2 or 3. We boarded him at our vet's for 3 days and a week later the symptoms emerged.

I thought he was choking to death, it sounded so terrible. He'd hack-hack-hack to the point I'd just go and hold him and rock him. Got him to the vet within a day of first symptoms and that's where I learned about kennel cough. Never having been offered the vac and never even knowing there was such a thing, as we left the vet's office my husband said: "We brought a perfectly healthy dog here to stay. As a result, he became sick. I do not think we should have to pay for his treatment this time."

The vet waived the fee. Then again, we'd been going there for years and we have a LOT of animals. It was a gracious thing for the vet to do.