Kennel cough?

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Our 13 month old dog seems to have some of the signs of kennel cough. This morning he started coughing as if his throat was irritated. Sounded a bit raspy. Then he didn’t do it again for a while.
He coughed a few times in the day, not many. Then just now had a good enough cough to bring up a bit of water and white foamy stuff.

He also sneezed a few times but not many.

He’s otherwise fine. Still loving anything edible, playing crazy ball games, enjoyed his walk etc.

Does it sound like kennel cough? Online it says it should just clear up in about a week. I am assuming that as it’s so contagious the vet won’t want to see him. I plan to phone in the morning to ask just in case.

Or should I try to get him an appointment?

He’s only had an ear infection before so I panic a bit about him being ‘proper’ poorly.

[JesusHRooseveltChrist]

Sounds like kennel cough.

When MiL's dog had it, he was his usual self in between coughing fits too. Mind you, his took closer to 4 weeks to completely clear up. You can take him to the vet, and they'll check his temperature and probably give him an AB to take for a week or so.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Thanks Jesus! He just occasionally coughs. Otherwise is fine. I think I will phone and ask the vets if I should bring him in.

He has a cut at the groomers booked on Monday. I think I will also message her and ask her if she wants to postpone (though he won’t be able to see by then! ).

It’s basically a dog cold by the sounds of it. Just very catching.

[BiteyShark]

Definitely phone the vets and get him checked out.

It does sound a bit like KC and whilst it's common I would still get it checked out as one of my relatives dogs had permanent damage after a serious bout but he was a very old dog.

[Honeyroar]

Definitely postpone the groomer’s appointment!

We think one of mine has it. We went to the vets yesterday- my dog stayed in the back of my car and the vet came out to him.

It’s strange in my dog’s case. He’s been like this for 10 days, yet my other two haven’t got it. Plus they’ve not been walked for over a month (we have acres of land, they’ve been on there) or near another dog. I’ve no idea how he got it.

I need to drop something round to a friend and she’s getting a new puppy today- I’m thinking I shouldn’t go round. The vet said it could transfer by humans in between dogs, it’s that contagious.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Will do Bitey. I read complications can happen, more in older dogs but I want to make sure.

He’s actually not coughed or sneezed all morning. Wondering if t could have been something he ate that irritated his throat as it went down. That or the number of sugar babies he’s sniffles recently (those floating thistle seed things).

Honey - I hope your dog is better soon.

[BiteyShark]

Honeyroar I personally wouldn't go round to see the puppy. I guess the chances of transfer are low but I wouldn't want to risk it given that it is more of a problem in very old or very young dogs.

I am sure if you explain they would understand if you drop whatever it is at the door and then leave without fussing the puppy.

[Honeyroar]

No I’m not gonna go round. It’s a shame- I had some orchids for her that I had brought back from Singapore!

Missshapes our dog’s cough seems to come and go too. It’s worse after exercise. We thought it was something stuck at first too.

I’m wondering whether only he got it because he’s an elderly ten and the other two are 4 and five?

[Floralnomad]

It is not only older dogs that get complications , our dog came to us as a 15/16 week old pup with the Battersea strain of KC and has tracheal issues because of it . He also seems very susceptible to it despite getting the vaccine . He is 9 now and loves his baby Tixylix.

[Honeyroar]

Does Tyxilix help?

No, I know all dogs can catch it, I’m just wondering why my two younger dogs haven’t caught it with him. It’s also strange he doesn’t have a temperature either. They gave him an anti inflammatory jab and he has to go back for another one on Monday if it’s not eased.

[Jouska]

I would always pop an elderly dog with a cough along to the vet . Leave the dog in the car in case they are infectious.

Many illnesses have a cough as a symptom eg heart disease, lung worm, or inhaled foreign body etc so best to get it checked out and to get peace of mind.

Not a vet so not sure if this is a good idea but if I gently stroked the throat of my dog with kennel cough he would cough as his trachea was sore.

[Floralnomad]

I’m not sure if the tixylix does anything except make me feel better for doing something but the dog loves it ( he has the baby one ) and has got taking it off a spoon down to a fine art .

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Hi everyone thanks for replying. So ddog hasn’t coughed or sneezed at all today! And he raced about on his walk. So I’m assuming it was something irritating his throat and he’s got rid of it.

I phoned the vets this morning and they said just to keep an eye on him. But obviously, since then he’s done nothing.

[BiteyShark]

I sometimes find as soon as I book an appointment at the vets the symptoms disappear .

Glad he seems better today.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Haha! And then, once I decided it was nothing - he just did the big cough thing again!
He’s clearly feeling fine though as he’s following us round dropping balls at our feet because he doesn’t think the half hour craziness in the garden just now was enough time.

[JesusHRooseveltChrist]

Glad to hear DDog is better today, MissShapes!

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Weirdly after a few days of no coughing he was off again this morning and made himself sick. He’s now been to the vets. She thinks possibly not kennel cough. She felt his throat and says it’s definitely inflamed as he was coughing as soon as she touched it. He’s otherwise fine so she thinks maybe something has irritated his throat. He’s got some anti-inflammatory medicine and she thinks 5-7 days should clear it up. If not he might need some investigating to see if something like a splinter is stuck in his throat. 🤞 it clears up soon.
He’s just annoyed we didn’t go in the pet shop next door as the vet said to avoid dogs just in case.

[Honeyroar]

My dog is still suffering. He had an anti inflammatory injection when we took him to the vets, he seemed better for a few days then it came back. We've been back to the vets and saw a different fry, who wasn't sure whether it was kennel cough, but said he had an inflamed trachea, so he's got five days of codene linctus and rimadyl tablets, but three days in he doesn't seem any better. Not sure if it's a coincidence, but he's pooped in the house at night a few times, which is not like him. He's not a good invalid, feels v sorry for himself and it's been 3 weeks now. Poor old man.

[Floralnomad]

honeyroar , has he had antibiotics , when ours had the Battersea strain he ended up having to have 2 lots of antibiotics and I’m not sure he ever had a temperature.

[Honeyroar]

The first vet didn't give him antibiotics because he didn't have a temperature. Not sure what the rimadyl is? I think they're anti inflammatory meds?

[Honeyroar]

That's interesting that your's had antibiotics even without a temp. I feel like ours needs something more.

[BayandBlonde]

Can you ask them to scope him? Grass seed, corn kernels etc can get stuck in the airways. They generally don't dislodge and become imbedded.

A scope will help see what's going on, better to go down this route than keep trying antibiotics and having consultations

[Honeyroar]

Yes I think I will be asking for further investigation if this last bit of medicine doesn't work.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Honey sorry he is still poorly.

My vet only gave us metacam (anti inflammatory pain killer I think). And said if it’s not better in a week he would need a scope to see if it was something he had in his throat so I would def go back.

Luckily so far he hasn’t coughed for days

[Honeyroar]

I'm glad your dog is fine. He's usually on Metacam for his arthiritis, but both vets we saw have said to not give him the Metacam for now.