Kennel cough

[Klayden]

Ddog has kennel cough (it's going around at dog day care) and he's miserable. I don't know if the heat is making it worse because he doesn't like the hot weather anyway. We saw the vet on Friday and it was confirmed that he has tonsillitis, secondary to the KC virus, and he's been on antibiotics since then. He seems so...blah. :( What can I do? Obviously he can't go on walks, which isn't helping matters. I phoned the vet yesterday who didn't seem that concerned but it's just so unlike him to be like this. They suggested finishing the course of ABs and then reassessing.

Any thoughts/reassurance would be lovely, thank you.

Aww poor pup. Mine's rather susceptible to it as well, it's horrible. A lovely vet told me that it's similar to a human cold, so I would pamper with this in mind. Lots of fluids, I'd probably even make a special chicken broth, but then I'm a bit potty about my dog! Hope he recovers quickly.

I'm surprised that your dog day care doesn't insist that all dogs are vaccinated against this. Most boarding kennels do and dog day care should be the same.

We had a dog which had KC - he was a rescue and came to us with it. It's unpleasant but not life-threatening. I suspect with the weather warming up, he'll just want to lie in the shade and relax. Maybe offer him some nicer food/treats?

Oh and if he's likely to go back there, I'd get him vaccinated annually anyway.

Can you freeze him some treats so they are nice and cold for him eat mines likes an ice pole

Because it's a multifactorial disease, the vaccine is not always 100% protective and we do see clinical cases that have been vaccinated.
I boost my dog every 6 months and would recommend that, if your dog goes to kennels or daycare.
I'm going to depress you now by telling you that it can go on for ages, 2 weeks is usual but 6 weeks being below par is not unheard of by any means, and that your dog should be confined to barracks for at LEAST as long as he is coughing. Dogs shed Bordetella bacteria for up to 3 months after infection.

My dog gets a recurrent KC ( at least once a year) despite vaccinating him - he came to us as a puppy with the Battersea strain - he likes baby Tixylix for his cough .

The dog who was the first one to introduce kennel cough was already vaccinated. Apparently, it's much like the 'flu jab, it protects against the most common strains but doesn't completely eliminate the risk.

I'm going to treat to him to something nice, maybe peanut butter. Oooh frozen PB in a kong will be much appreciated, I'm sure.

It's horrible seeing such a happy chappy looking so glum.

He can have Benalyn to help his cough and cold symptoms. As your vet for dose. Freeze treats for him or just let him have ice cubes ( do not leave alone with him though in case choking occurs). Agree vaccine does not often work. If the nasal vaccine dogs normally so unhappy having it hardly any of the vaccine is ingested!

Once a dog has had KC next time round they do seem to build up immunity.

Def say the heat will not be helping. Cold towels laid on him can help.