[yungster]

I woke up very early this morning because Nala kept coughing. (She is still sleeping in my bed, but at least I can watch over her very carefully!) I thought maybe she just had some drainage in her throat again, so I got up with her. (She purposely won't hack up or blow her nose in my bed, it's like she knows she's not supposed to!) So we went outside and she did hack up a little and blew her nose in the grass. I thought she'd feel better after that, but she is still coughing. It's a dry, nagging cough. Still has the snotty nose too. No fevers. Her nose is cold and wet, and her body temperature feels normal.

I think this sounds very much like kennel cough. I am assuming the antibiotics she's taking will cover that too. I'm a little nervous because she should be getting better at this point, not worse. I'm calling her vet (AGAIN) as soon as they open, and ask what they think. The good news is, she's not really acting all that different. She's still playful today. It's so funny how she has gone from being so timid and shy, to this little monster chewing up anything in her path! :lol: I love it though, that's how a puppy should be.

Anyway, have any of your dogs had kennel cough? What was their experience like? How long were they sick? Is this fairly minor? (Remember this is my diagnosis from what I've read. The time line and symptoms sounds very much like kennel cough, but I will have to see what her vet says.)

 

[mom to many]

Awwww, I'm sorry Nala is feeling icky again. I don't have any personal experience with kennel cough, butI know most of the time it's minor and easily treatable (but very contagious). Have Koa and Heaven been vaxed for kennel cough? If not, be sure to ask your vet about the chances of them catching this.

If you're not able to get in touch with your vet, or you're not comfortable with what they say, I can always ask one of my daycare parents about it...she's a vet...and I can reach her almost anytime today.

 

[yungster]

I called them as soon as they opened. The person that answered the phone said, "Well where would she have gotten that, it's not very common." Uhhh.. ok. Well how come I hear about it all the time then? Anyway, she asked the vet and she said if Nala DOES have Bordatella (kennel cough) then the Clavamox she is already taking will cover it.

I THOUGHT she was vaccinated against it. In fact, I THOUGHT she had all her first shots. But I called the place in KY where Nala had her spay done and found out that she only had her Parvo vaccine. So I guess she is still due for all her first shots. I feel horrible! I've had her out in public and everything. The rescue group said "she had her shots" -- they failed to mention that she was missing some very important ones. I hope she's not sick from something I exposed her to at PetsMart or the vet's office.

Her cough has calmed down a bit, so hopefully she was able to bring it all up before it settled in her lungs. I'm doing my best to get her well again! I hope it's nothing worse than a normal cold. They can't even vaccinate her until she's well, so let's hope she had a speedy recovery.

 

[Rachel Zugg]

poor Nala.... give her lotsa hugs! ( I know you will :lol: )

 

[Kasco]

Poor baby. At least she's still active. Hang in there, you'll have a healthy pup soon!

 

[gazar]

I am not a vet, but it seems to me that there should be a shot that they can give her directly to boost the antibiotics into her system along with the meds she is taking now. If this gets into her lungs with her immune system as low as it is right now, it will cause her alot of problems. I am praying that all goes well for her and she gets better quickly.

 

[debs]

Not experienced in the kennel cough area but it is reatable and I would have the vet check her. If they think it is and the meds she is on will help her then why after she has been on the meds for days is the cough getting worse? I would ask the vet. Eitherway hope she gets better soon and give her lots of love. Good luck
debs

 

[Kate]

From my experience with Kate... Kennel Cough vaccine is not given unless asked for it.. .it is not part of their normal routine shots

 

[yungster]

Really? Heaven and Koa both had their Bordatella vaccines with their routine shots. I'm not sure if they were given it on the first round or not, but I know they just had their boosters. I could be wrong.

 

[i love remy]

Poor Nala! She just can't get a break, can she? I hope she starts feeling better soon.

Bella got her bordatella shot at 18 weeks old when she was spayed. That's when she got her rabies shot, too.

 

[Roxy]

Roxy has had kennel cough, did seem to go on forever. Roxy yack'd up loads in the morning, but this is a sign of it clearing, white bubblie fleme...i think i remember. It does take it out of them, Roxy was slighlty listful.

It's very similar to our common cold, so many different strains. Kinda hard to vacinate against them all. Ask the vet if Koa and Heaven can catch it. Didn't have Marlee then, ask the vets, if it is KC.

Good luck with her, but it does sound like it could be clearing up. Hope the vet agrees.

Roxy and Marlee send kisses :love5:

 

[elke]

I’m sorry to hear Nala is not feeling any better. My first dog Elvis had kennel cough when I first got him. I believe it lasted about 10-14 days if I remember correctly. The vet gave him antibiotics, a cough suppressant and also told me to take him into the bathroom when I showered as the steam helps loosen the congestion. Clavamox does seem to be the preferred choice of antibiotic for kennel cough.

Since she seems to know that she shouldn’t mess your bed, I would give her a towel that she can cough on and blow her nose. Good luck.

 

[Hug~A~Bully]

Kennel Cough is the biggest pain in the tail!! It is so hard to kick. It can last for ever. I think she should be given a stronger antibiotic to help nip it. Good Luck Trina and kiss that little booger for me!
**Anywhere that Nala has sneezed or coughed is contaminated...The Bordatella VX doesn't garuantee Koa and Heaven won't get it as well.

 

[Carrie]

AN FYI...many people do not vaccinate for Bordatella..reason is, there are different strains of Bordatella, and the vaccine will only cover against some of those. I have known many dogs to be vaccinated for it, and still end up picking it up in puppy class or at the park, etc. Essentially kennel cough (Bordatella) is a doggy cold. In an otherwise healthy dog, many vets recommend you allow the dog to fight off the cold on his own without antibiotics. Obviously a dog with a weaker immune would be better off with antibiotics, etc.

You can help give your dog a little boost by giving extra doses of Ester-C (vitamin C) and chicken broth. (chicken broth is salty which encourages the dog to drink more fluids overall) I also would recommend Pedialyte or any electrolyte solution to help keep them hydrated.

 

[Sennin]

I bought davids mom a maltese, and she had kennel cough when we got her. They treated her before we took her and it was gone in a few days it seemed.

 

[yungster]

Thanks, everyone! She's still eating and drinking... can't get the girl to stop, as a matter of fact! LOL. She's gonna end up like Koa and grow up overnight.

She still has that dry, raspy, hacking cough, but it seems like it gets better as the day goes on. She goes back to the vet on Tues to have her stitches removed. (They asked me not to do it myself in case the wound opens.) I don't think there's very much more I can be doing for her, and she's still in good spirits. She's had this cold for a week now, let's hope it doesn't last much longer.

 

[Tinkerbell]

Poor baby I hope she gets better soon. Poor thing has been through so much already.

I too have hear that the Bordatella VX does not protect 100%, so keep an eye on Heaven and Koa, and take then in for meds at the first signs of a cough or cold.

(((((NALA)))))

 

[yungster]

Well Nala has already been kissing on Heaven & Koa before I realized she may have more than just nasal congestion. I hope they don't get sick.

 

[msvette2u]

Well Nala has already been kissing on Heaven & Koa before I realized she may have more than just nasal congestion. I hope they don't get sick.

I have news for you. Kennel Cough is airborne, they've been exposed since before the puppy showed symptoms.

 

[Cookies Mom]

poor baby, I hope she feels better soon.