Kennel Cough

[ingrid rose]

I was pretty pissed today and phoned the vet and the kennel that Mya was at over the xmas break.

Mya has all her shots up to date including kennel cough....I had Mya at the kennel for 10 days over the xmas and she came home with a bad cough...
On top of this my girlfriend had her Yorkie in there and my son had his 2 beagles in there as well...all at differnt times but they were there over the xmas break....

All 4 dogs have the kennel cough.

I phoned the kennel today and told them...which their response was even though they have had the kennel cough vaccine, does not mean they cant get another cough/cold.

Basically the vet said the same thing today when I talked to him....

What do you guys think??? am I jumping on everyone for no reason?

[PrincessDiana]

I don't really know anything about kennel cough but I wanted to send you my sympathy. I can definitely understand your frustration. Franklin was vaccinated for parvo (well, partially) and he still came down with it. Hope your babies (and theirs) get better soon.

[cataholic]

I work at a shelter and we vaccinate for Kennel cough. But if a dog comes in with it the other dogs get it. There are different strands. So I think the vaccine is pretty worthless. That is just my oppinion.

[hha]

I took my oldest one in to the vet when she was a puppy, well, she ended up with kennel cough from the vets office, so, I ended up having 3 dogs with it.. the vet just gave me some medicine for all 3 of them..

[bfitpilates]

This is a pet peeve of mine....

Kennel cough is the equivalent of a cold/cough that a kid would get at school. Its sounds horrible!! But is not a very serious illness if the doggie is looked after with sensible care. Its like sending your kids to school and expecting they will never come home with a cold.

The vaccine is only noted to last for 5-8 months, depending on the size and general metabolism of the dog. So do the math that at any given time a population of dogs is only at best 45-77% vaccinated- and only for the strain that happens to be in the vaccine at that time.

But the vets don't educate people to these facts, just take their money once a year for the Bordatella vaccine. arrgggg....

I know it sounds like torture when you hear those poor little things cough like that! But, if you believe in western/bio meds, you can give a tiny dose of a cough med and it will help calm their cough.

btw, I go to a boarding kennel that not only doesn't require the bordatella vacc, they'd prefer that you don't give it (we only titer for the rest of their vaccinations and get the rabies shot every three years because it is NYState law) And since I've been taking my various and assorted pupsters there, over ten years, there has never been an outbreak at his kennel. Good hygiene, cleaning with naturally antibacterial/ antimicrobial essential oils, lots of fresh air. We love him!!! I drive 45 minutes to get there and it is worth it! And of course they come home spoiled rotten, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!

[ingrid rose]

Originally Posted by bfitpilates

This is a pet peeve of mine....

Kennel cough is the equivalent of a cold/cough that a kid would get at school. Its sounds horrible!! But is not a very serious illness if the doggie is looked after with sensible care. Its like sending your kids to school and expecting they will never come home with a cold.

The vaccine is only noted to last for 5-8 months, depending on the size and general metabolism of the dog. So do the math that at any given time a population of dogs is only at best 45-77% vaccinated- and only for the strain that happens to be in the vaccine at that time.

But the vets don't educate people to these facts, just take their money once a year for the Bordatella vaccine. arrgggg....

I know it sounds like torture when you hear those poor little things cough like that! But, if you believe in western/bio meds, you can give a tiny dose of a cough med and it will help calm their cough.

btw, I go to a boarding kennel that not only doesn't require the bordatella vacc, they'd prefer that you don't give it (we only titer for the rest of their vaccinations and get the rabies shot every three years because it is NYState law) And since I've been taking my various and assorted pupsters there, over ten years, there has never been an outbreak at his kennel. Good hygiene, cleaning with naturally antibacterial/ antimicrobial essential oils, lots of fresh air. We love him!!! I drive 45 minutes to get there and it is worth it! And of course they come home spoiled rotten, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Being that I am a school teacher, I understand how easy it is to get colds from another students......but what I;m pissed at is the fact that the vet did not explain to me that it will only cover a part of a cold and there are hundreds of different virusis out there........
I agree with you they take your money and dont explain a damm thing...and that is why I phoned him.....
second, I too think that the kennel is really not that clean, otherwise there would not be 4 dogs with colds....and who knows how many other dogs are infected....more than likely a lot would be my guess.
you did mention that the vaccine is only good for 5-8 months? see thats another thing he (vet ) did not tell me...GRRRRRRRR

I know I;m rambling but I had to phone the vet and the kennel to make a point......so now I;m hoping that the kennel cleans up their place because I have to take Mya there again at Easter....and if she comes home with another cough I will be asking to look at their facilities....

[bfitpilates]

Oh, I feel your pain! I only learned this after making many mis-steps with my first dog. Bless her heart, she was three when she came into my life and I didn't know a lot about vaccinations, or the availability of titers and so on. She lived a long and fantastic life, thank G-d, but she was allergic to so many different protein sources, and had those fatty tumors at the injection sites. She eventually died after one of the tumors burst after a long play day. I miss her like crazy every single day, but her life also taught me so much.

I'd interview for a new vet if they don't give you some sensible answers. But, as I said, the kennel cough sounds a whole lot worse than it is. The dilemma is on giving any of the vaccines, especially to these tiny ones (my other guys are all bigger) I hate that the vaccines have become the economic driver for most vets (although the $48 'consult' bill I got when I brought in Purl for ten minutes was certainly a good rate for him to make, lol!)

And maybe look into getting a sitter for your dog when you go away for Easter? I've been fortunate to find someone that will come stay with the dogs, so I like having that option (especially now with three, big bucks to kennel!!!) Oh, the worry with these furries!!

[babychanel]

I just did a search and found this thread. I just came home from the vet .Chanel also has kennel cough.She got it from my neighbors new pup.What I hate is that when she took her puppy to the vet they told her she had an upper respiratory infection not kennel cough. I told my vet about that and he said kennel cough is a combination of all of it together.He put her on antibiotics and told me to give her robitussin DM. He said its very contagious and that its like the flu in humans.

[bfitpilates]

Originally Posted by babychanel

I just did a search and found this thread. I just came home from the vet .Chanel also has kennel cough.She got it from my neighbors new pup.What I hate is that when she took her puppy to the vet they told her she had an upper respiratory infection not kennel cough. I told my vet about that and he said kennel cough is a combination of all of it together.He put her on antibiotics and told me to give her robitussin DM. He said its very contagious and that its like the flu in humans.

I've used the robitussin and it works- be very careful and give the smallest bit at first to see how your little one tolerates it. Hope she feels better real soon!!