[jameslindsay]

My youngest Cocker Spaniel who will be a year old next month was at the vets the other day as she sounded like she had something choking her. They thought she had just been pulling too hard on her lead so off we came home. This morning my middle one started coughing and being sick. It got too much so phoned the vet and we had to take her in and she/they have kennel cough. Because she has a temperature she has been given antibiotics - the youngest seems fine now and hoping the old lady  does not get it! This is my first experience of this - what a nasty thing it is.

[knightquest]

It's fairly easy to treat as well. All you need to do is get some cough medicine that contains codeine (sp), chemists own brand will do, and treat the dog with a childs dosage. Don't tell the chemist it's for the dog tho'.

Once treated, restrict the dogs exercise until clear and Bobs your uncle! Vets don't tell you this by the way. A local retired one told us.

It's the pulling on the lead and over exertion that makes it worse. You can tell if it's KC if you rub the throat just above the breast bone and the cough starts.

Hope that helps.

Ian

[kingnigel]

only thing i would add to what knightquest has said is that dogs remain carriers for 3-4 months after recovery, so be careful round other dogs
kn

[jameslindsay]

Thanks Ruby is much better. She stopped being sick after 24 hours and her temperature is closer to normal again. She is still coughing a lot but not feeling way as sorry fore herself and luckily the other 2 are showing no signs of it.

[knightquest]

Glad Rubys' feeling better. It's horrible when the dogs get kc. It seems to make them so miserable. Lets hope the others avoid it 

Ian

[little blue]

oh dear James, hope they soon get better    :X

did the vet mention vaccinating them against kennel cough?  I remember them asking if we wanted old Barney vc-ing for it

[jameslindsay]

No there was no mention. However, there was an article in the newspaper the other day warning against this - so, who do you believe?

[little blue]

No there was no mention. However, there was an article in the newspaper the other day warning against this - so, who do you believe?

I know.... I just wondered, if the vet had made comment.
And if its treatable,  then a more natural immunity is surely better....   (can of worms opened there I think!     )

[jameslindsay]

She got anti biotics and I guess the other 2 have built up their own immunity to it as still no signs, fingers crossed.

[knightquest]

I think that there are different strains of the bug and there is no guarantee that you will prevent infection anyway. Best avoid non essential vaccinations in my humble opinion.

Ian

[jameslindsay]

It's really difficult making any decision, I mean who do you believe? One organisation tells you how bad the injections are and another tell you your dog needs them.

[knightquest]

Ask yourself who has most to gain financially.....sad but true.

Ian

[jameslindsay]

Gynty the 9 year old started coughing and being sick so she now has it too. Gave her one of Ruby's anti biotics to get it in to her system as early as possible and will phone vets when they open in 10 minutes. This is not what this old dear needed at all.

[knightquest]

Sorry to hear that James 

Ian

[doganjo]

You can get homeopathic pillules for KC, my friend swears by this.  I have a tube of them but have never given them to my dogs.  If it's going about I might just try it though.