kennel cough

[citronella]

Hi, Has anyone had experience with kennel cough? Laci visits the day care twice a week, she has been vaccinated for it. I stupidly forgot about the other 2 dogs which stay at home and they should have been vaccinated as well. Laci has had a runny nose and now Cooper and Tilly have runny noses, no coughing or hacking just sneezing and runny noses.
Has anyone treated this with Vitamin C or garlic tablets as I've read are ways of boosting their immune system or is this even kennel cough?

[Samson]

Kennel cough is exactly what it says - a cough and a very distressing one for humans and dogs alike.

I would suggest you let the vet check them out as runny noses and sneezing are not side effects that I have seen with Bordatella !

[citronella]

ok thanks for the advice.

[Samson]

Hmmm ! It mentions sneezing so I suppose a runny nose COULD be included but it's strange that there's no cough !

Symptoms

Symptoms can include a harsh, dry hacking/coughing, retching, sneezing, snorting, gagging or vomiting in response to light pressing of the trachea or after excitement or exercise. The presence of a fever varies from case to case. The disease can last initially from 10–20 days and can rebreak when the dog is put into a stressful situation which puts stress on the dog's immune system. Diagnosis is made by seeing these symptoms; having a history of exposure is also helpful but not always found, as kennel cough is easily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as the ground, toys, and sidewalks.

[Tanya]

make sure to let the daycare know and keep your boy home - he is a carrier and can bring it to daycare (if he hasn't already).

you can manage it without going the vet (or give them a call). Also remember the vaccine is like the flu shot - it does not protect against ALL strings of kennel cough.

[MidwestGirl]

The vet will prescribe an antibiotic after testing them for it.

[LuvBrown]

I am unaware of a test for Kennel cough, and the MAIN symptom of KC is COUGHING. If there is no coughing, i doubt you have KC. But you can treat KC with vit C, echinacea, and robitussin DM.

[Tanya]

I agree, haven't heard of a "test" for KC.

The antibiotics are only to help combat a secondary infection if ever the dog was to get one. so your call on if you want to give them or not (they don't clear up the KC or anything)

[MidwestGirl]

Sorry I didn't mean test, just diagnosis.