Could this be kennel cough?

[Mignon's Mom]

My baby Mignon has been hacking and retching for the last couple of nights. She doesn't throw up, just a gagging sound. Other than the nighttime coughing (about 3 times during the night) she is acting fine - eating well. She is 3 1/2 months old and we have had her for 4 weeks. Her only exposure to other dogs since we got her was 2 weeks ago - my daughter's 4 but none of them have any kennel cough symptoms - - but I have had a very bad cough and cold. Might she have caught something from me? Thanks!!

[eringabrielle]

Biscuit has had a cough since I got him at 11 weeks. He always eats well and feels fine, his kennel couhg infection was gone a long time ago but the cough can sometimes take awhile.He is now 5 months and is just starting to get over it.My vet has put him on four rounds of antibiotics and I recently bought a vicks vaporizer and some vicks medicine to put in it and it has helped tremendously!It is only since I got the vaporizer that his cough started to get better .
Sounds like your baby could have kennel cough, has she seen a vet?

[Patti]

Originally Posted by eringabrielle

Biscuit has had a cough since I got him at 11 weeks. He always eats well and feels fine, his kennel couhg infection was gone a long time ago but the cough can sometimes take awhile.He is now 5 months and is just starting to get over it.My vet has put him on four rounds of antibiotics and I recently bought a vicks vaporizer and some vicks medicine to put in it and it has helped tremendously!It is only since I got the vaporizer that his cough started to get better .
Sounds like your baby could have kennel cough, has she seen a vet?

I have the exact problem with Cali. I got her at 9 weeks and she is 5 months old now and 4 rounds of antibiotic and she still has the cough as does my 8 year old pom. I would have the baby checked out by th vet. They may want to give her antibiotics.
Biscuit's mom- How long to you put the vaporize her on her? Thanks

[eringabrielle]

Originally Posted by Patti

I have the exact problem with Cali. I got her at 9 weeks and she is 5 months old now and 4 rounds of antibiotic and she still has the cough as does my 8 year old pom. I would have the baby checked out by th vet. They may want to give her antibiotics.
Biscuit's mom- How long to you put the vaporize her on her? Thanks

While I take a shower at night, I put him in his small crate and bring him in the bathroom with me so the steam opens up his airways.THen I put him to bed in his crate, in the study (which is a smaller room).I shut the door with the vaporizer on all night so that when he sleeps the room is full of vapors.It's been almost a week and he gets better everyday!
Good luck with your baby!

[Patti]

Thanks

[yorkieusa]

This is from shooterdog:

My Yorkie has a dry hacking cough that sounds like something is stuck in her throat. Could it be tonsilitis?

Yorkies are prone to tonsilitis, especially if they go outside to make and get a chill, or if someone in the family has a "strep" sore throat -- They will "get it"...to be sure. A tonsilectomy is called for ONLY IF THE TONSILITIS BECOMES CHRONIC, but in the meantime treating the tonsilitis with Amoxicillin 50 mg 2 x day and temaril p (antihistimine with prednisilone) keeps down the inflammation and the mucous. Be sure to use the Amoxicillin for 10 days.
If the dog has tonsilitis regularly like every other two weeks or once a month, then I would consider doing a tonsilectomy.
Kennel cough (traceobronchitis) is a cough with congestion usually and lasts about 30 days. Treatment is pretty much the same except an expectorant (childs cough syrup) might be called for, if the congestion is bad. Kennel Cough is usually the case where dogs congregate and are in a closed area -- Like a benched indoor kennel club show where no fresh air is circulating.
From what you described, a "clearing of the throat" sounds like tonsilitis. Another way to tell if the tonsils are swollen is because you can feel little lumps swollen also when tonsils get infected. The lumps are just at the angle of the jaw bone.
Another thing that you might want to check if the cough is persistent is the trachea. An x ray will show if there is trachea damage or an inherited trachea problem. Some small dogs that are anethesized to have teeth pulled, etc. need very small tubes to be inserted and if the technician forces a tube in the trachea that is too big, it can cause tracheal damage and this is something I've heard of many times before. Always insist that your VET intubates your toy dog with a small as possible tube so that the trachea is not damaged. I put this on my bill of sale for the client to take to the vet because I feel it is so important.
If you like, you can discuss this letter and the attachments about tonsilitis, tracheobronchitis, and collapsing trachea and damage with our vet. It may help and if your vet thinks I'm nuts for suggesting it after 30 years of raising these little dogs, then you need to find another vet.


TRACHEA COLLAPSE

There can be a weakness in the trachea and if it collapses the dog cannot breathe. Emergency surgery and inserting plastic devices or coils can be done in some cases to keep the dog alive. This can be caused by severe hacking from a cold or it can be a congenital thing.
Symptoms -- A loud honking, dry cough. Gasping, unable to breath.


TRACHEOBRONCHITIS (INFECTIOUS)
KENNEL COUGH

A mild, self-limiting disease, involving the trachea and bronchi of dogs of any age. It spreads rapidly among animals that are closely confined as in hospitals or in kennels. Environmental factors such as cold, drafts and high humidity apparently increase susceptibility to the disease.
The incubation period is 5 to 10 days. The outstanding sign is a harsh, dry cough, which is aggravated by activity or excitement. The coughing occurs followed by retching or gagging in attempts to clear small amounts of mucous from the throat. Reverse sneezing is noted in some cases. Gentle pressure over the larynx or trachea will induce a cough. Body temperature is normal in the early stages but may be elevated as secondary bacterial invasion takes place. The most severe signs are noted during the first five days, but continue in some degree for 10 to 20 days.
Treatment - Keep warm (not hot) and quiet. An expectorant like Benadryl Children's Antihista-mine/Nasal Decongentant (dosage 1 to 1 1/2 ml-two times a day) and though antibiotics have no effect on the primary disease and it will have to run its' course, they may be used to good effect in controlling secondary bacterial infection, which could lead to pneumonia if unchecked. Amoxicillin is my Veterinarian's choice as a primary antibiotic. 50 mg two times day for ten days.
Whether or not to vaccinate your dogs against Bordatella (another respiratory disease) probably depends on your exposure. If they are to be kennelled or shown at indoor shows during the cold winter months, then it is probably a very good idea to have your veterinarian give this vaccination which is very effective. It may give your dog a mild case of the disease, but can be beneficial if the exposure is a threat.


TONSILLITIS

Most toy dogs are prone to tonsillitis when the weather changes and there are severe temperature fluctuations and don't let anybody kid you a tiny toy dog can die from tonsillitis if left untreated.
It is important that you know the symptoms and treatment for this because the symptoms can be confused with other gastritis problems and waste valuable time in treatment. Toy dogs can not afford to lose too much weight, particularly the tiny ones.
The first sign of tonsillitis is refusing to eat, that progresses to lethargy, swelling of the salivary glands (just below the jaw bones) and if you can open the mouth and depress the tongue you will see that the tonsils are inflamed and enlarged, the back of the tongue is affected and red and swallowing is difficult. If left untreated, the dog will be swallowing mucous and the next sign you'll see is mucous in the stool. Depending on the size of the dog this will progress to a severe gastritis and thereby produce mucous stool and later yet bloody stool. The dog does not necessarily run a fever through this episode.
If this toy dog is very small; that is, a three or four pound dog, and you have delayed getting to the veterinarian, you have one very sick dog who may even be too weak to stand or convulsing.
The dog as presented to the Vet could be suffering from any one of many different diseases, so the first thing he may do is suggest a blood test and fecal test, etc. to rule out any infectious diseases. Now you are weakening an already weak dog.
It won't hurt to mix the formula for a pregnant sick bitch in Whelping and Sick Puppy and syringe the dog to keep up it's strength. Also give pepto bismol mixed with Nutri-Cal to coat the stomach. Ask your Vet to check the throat and salivary glands on your dog to rule out tonsillitis before taking blood and if the tonsils are inflamed treat the dog as follows:
50 mg Amoxicillin 2 times a day for ten days
1/4 temaril P 2 x day for 3 days, 1 x day for 2 days...every other day 3 x....
(do not give temaril p or any steroid if pregnant)
Temaril P is a combination drug which is no longer available, but your vet can prescribe another similar drug which will help your dog to recovery. The Amoxicillin will attack the infected throat and the temaril P is an antihistamine with prednisolone which will take down the inflammation so the dog will start to eat again.
Within a day or so if the dog isn't any better, THEN IS THE TIME TO START blood tests and whatever else is necessary. If Amoxicillin is going to work, you should see results in 24 hours. Any antibiotic therapy must be continued for the full duration of 7 to 10 days. Don't stop giving it mid-stream. To do so will only mean that next time you need that antibiotic, it may not work!
DO NOT ALLOW YOUR TOY DOG TO GO WITHOUT EATING FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY WITHOUT SEEKING A SOLUTION. MIX THE GRUEL AND SEE IF THEY KEEP IT DOWN. Remember your last sore throat and how hard it was to swallow. Dogs won't eat if their throat hurts!

http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq3.htm#COUGH

[Mignon's Mom]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. Mignon has been to the vet 3 times, but not for the cough. I'll get the Vicks vaporizer today and take her to the vet on Monday! Karen - thanks for the great info from shooterdog!

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

My new puppy picked up kennel cough from a vet visit and had it for three month. She wil be a year old this next week and is fine now but it is common and easy to catch from a trip to the vet.

They can actually GET kennel cough from the vaccine given to prevent it too so, I do not allow mine to have the vaccine.

[whispersmom2]

My little girl, Cara, has had a time with tonsillitis. Three rounds of antibiotics, cough meds, antihistamines helped but she still has her "snotty" sound. Vet says it is best to take a wait and see. Too many antibiotics are not good for them either. She does not feel bad at all..

[scrapindee]

My 4.5 mo old yorkie *6.1#, came home with kennnel cough--10 days ago. She is on anti-biotics and cough medicine. She had been vacinated for everything but rabies.

Is the 14.5 mo old havanese contagious? Can he be in the Xmas parade? He had been vacinated for everything and was current on his his shots--due for annualsnexts months

[livingdustmops]

One word of caution I would advice anyone taking their furbaby to the vet is: NEVER LET THEM WALK ON THE FLOOR!

Many large dogs walk in that are very sick and germs and diseases are left all over the floor. My vet was the one who told me this and I think she is right. They do clean the table after every small animal but not the floors.

[toninm]

it might be...Dollar had it, just take them to the vet they will give him meds!

[scrapindee]

Is the 14.5 mo old havanese contagious? Can he be in the Xmas parade? He had been vacinated for everything and was current on his his shots--due for annualsnexts months

[Patti]

Cali gave it to my Pom and they both still have it 3 months later. I did take her to my girlfriends to see her Cavalier and she did not come down with it but it is contagious and Maya had been vaccinated against it.

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

One word of caution I would advice anyone taking their furbaby to the vet is: NEVER LET THEM WALK ON THE FLOOR!

Great advice, Cindy! I hadn't thought of that.

One way that a dog can get kennel cough that we don't think about his through the fence if your neighbors have dogs.

In the areas where I've lived, kennel cough is NOT a routine vaccination. You have to ask for it. When my dogs have gotten the vaccination, it has been given nasally, not as a shot. So, a dog who "has had all their shots" isn't necessarily protected from it.