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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Kennel cough tips

26 replies

Duplobinlorry · 25/10/2021 22:08

Our lovely springer has come down with kennel cough.

She’s fine and jolly in herself. But the coughing sounds so painful for her.
Vet is confident she will shake it off without treatment as she is young and healthy.

Has anyone got any advice / experience to share? Or even just a gentle paw hold 🐾

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 25/10/2021 22:09

Our dog is susceptible to KC and is very keen on baby tixylix , it seems to help or at least makes him happy .

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 25/10/2021 22:24

@Floralnomad thanks! That’s a great idea. And I’m
Pretty sure I have some in the medicine cupboard too.
She’s a funny pickle though and was terrified of the spoon of manuka honey I tried to give her earlier!

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Mangozesty · 25/10/2021 22:28

When my dog had kennel cough I used to shit him in the bathroom with me when I had a bath, the steam really helped

Mangozesty · 25/10/2021 22:29

Shut not shit obvs

Floralnomad · 25/10/2021 22:31

Fortunately my dog is very good with cutlery , he’s an expert at eating off spoons or forks . Hope your dog gets well soon

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 25/10/2021 22:36

@Mangozesty that’s a great idea! Will try not to 💩 her in 😂

Thanks @Floralnomad - at leat this will give us an opportunity to work on a new skill!

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icedcoffees · 26/10/2021 07:27

Manuka honey is really good for their throats - you can get it from most supermarkets or Amazon

DoraTheScottishExplorer · 26/10/2021 07:37

A bit of honey or sit in the bathroom with the shower on creating steam. And try not let them over do as it can make it worse.

spotcheck · 26/10/2021 07:38

I gave my dog echinacea, which worked. Didn't know it would!

WeAllHaveWings · 26/10/2021 07:41

Ours had kennel cough a couple of weeks back. He wouldnt touch the spoon either so we put the manuka honey in a bowl and he licked it out of there.

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 26/10/2021 08:07

Thanks everyone. Shes’s had a pretty settled night.
I gave her some manuka honey mixed with a bit of plain yogurt this morning and that went down well.

Roughly how long did your dogs cough last?

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tizwozliz · 26/10/2021 08:12

Our lab only coughed for a few days and the 3rd day was only really after she'd been running around the garden. She was snotty for another day or two after the cough stopped

Iluvfriends · 26/10/2021 08:21

A spoonful of childrens Benylyn can help them settle.
Another thing is to try and keep them from bouncing and running around as this can make it worse, not easy when you have a very active dog.

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 26/10/2021 08:26

Thanks @tizwozliz, that gives me hope it won’t be too long. She’s still happy in herself. But it’s heartbreaking to see her when she coughs. And the amount of phlegm she’s bringing up is giving my washing machine a work out!

@Iluvfriends bouncing and running are her fave things! I let her out for a wee this morning and she went mad zooming about. May have to start using the lead.

Thanks everyone, this is all so helpful.

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Theoscargoesto · 26/10/2021 21:42

I posted on another KC thread recently, there is a lot of it about!

Mine had it in the summer. What I wasn’t told was how infectious it is, and what they cough up is v infectious. A vet has since said that I should have kept mine away from other dogs and/or where other dogs might be whilst she was coughing, and for 2 weeks afterwards. Also the vaccine is a live one so you’re advised to keep vaccinated dog away from old/vulnerable people and dogs for a week.

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 26/10/2021 21:49

Thanks @Theoscargoesto. Our vet said the same.

She’s actually heaps better today. I want expecting her to improve so quickly. But she is coughing loads less and hasn’t brought up any phlegm since this morning. It’s early days, but I hope it means she’s going yo shake it off well.
She’s developing a taste for manuka honey now. And is totally pissed off at the no walks!

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PiousPenelope · 26/10/2021 22:10

Hello OP, I hope your dog gets well soon. Can I ask if your dog is vaccinated? I got my dog vaccinated after rising cases in my area. But he was wondering if 'breakthrough' cases were common? Also did your vet say if your dog is immune now?

Thanks!

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 26/10/2021 22:23

I think there's lots of different strains of KC and the vaccine only works against some of them? Our dog had it recently and the vet said there's loads around at the moment.

Our dog was only ill for a few days and actually seemed fine in himself other than cough. I'd be nervous about giving him human cough medicine tbh, aren't there sweeteners and stuff in them that would be bad for dog's?

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 26/10/2021 22:37

@PiousPenelope the vet didn’t mention anything. But, I’ve been Googling LOADS, and there do seem to be lots of dogs who get it after the vaccine, but maybe not as bad.
I would imagine she’s immune to this strain now at least.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies she seems to be getting better much quicker than I expected. She’s hardly coughed this evening. I would’ve tried the cough medicine I think, but it doesn’t feel like we’ve needed anything other than honey.

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Theoscargoesto · 27/10/2021 08:01

I think it is like flu in humans so they vaccinate but the dog may catch a different strain than the one they have been vaccinated against.

My dog was prescribed codeine for the cough, and paracetamol (rather than metacam). She recovered quickly but whether that was the drugs or just she wasn’t very unwell……

tizwozliz · 27/10/2021 11:15

I was surprised how quickly our pup recovered too, I'd been worried that we might be confined to the house for much longer. There seems to be lots of different advice regarding how long to keep them in the house/garden. Our vet said to keep them away from other dogs until 7 days after symptoms stopped.

Iluvfriends · 27/10/2021 11:42

The vaccine doesn't stop them getting KC it minimises the symptoms.........my dog is vaccinated and has had it 4 times.

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 30/10/2021 07:31

I just thought I’d pop on this thread and say that she’s now almost fully recovered. 6 days after symptoms started. She started on Sunday, coughed terribly on Monday. Has gradually improved since Tuesday. I think I only heard her cough once yesterday.
Rest and manuka honey for the win.
We’ve had a couple of lead walks and she’s desperate for a good run by now!
Hopefully this helps anyone looking for stories like I was last week.

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StTherese · 30/10/2021 07:40

Good to hear your DDog is getting over it op.
Our boy (beardie) got diagnosed with it last week at the vets. He must have caught it at the groomers. Vet gave him anti inflammatory meds and he stayed in at home for a few days, slept loads. He's over the worst of it now but still keeping him on short walks away from other dogs.
I thought KC was only from boarding tbh, I had no idea that it was so easy to pick up.

Original poster

Duplobinlorry · 30/10/2021 09:17

I thought the same @StTherese! Had no idea they could pick it up so easily.
Glad your dog is doing well 🙂

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