Would you accept a yorkie puppy that has kennel cough before getting to you?
 

Hey All,

This is a question for experienced yorkie owners- if before you received your puppy, you were told it had kennel cough and the breeders decided to keep the puppy until it was healthy. Would you want that same dog (after you've already grown attached to that specific dog), or would you get a different dog?

This is not my exact situation but you could almost say it was the same! After having my dog for a day he developed the cough and was sent back. I was offered a refund or a new dog or that same dog to be healed and returned. What would you do?

So what did you do?

If I was attached- I would wait for him to get better.

i got one (rescue, different I know and a misdiagnosis by my vet) and it gave all my other two kennel cough and shes never left my side. they are all on antibiotics and getting better. so if it were me i would want the same furr baby, healed.

I still haven't made a permanent decision. I've told the breeders that I'll take him back but I still have time to change my mind. I'm wondering if others would take a different dog or go with a different breeder. Surely sickness so early would make one wonder.. :/ there are many scary stories out there.

Thank you for your opinion. That's definitely what I'm personally leaning towards. He was perfect in EVERY way except that he was ill. Not just coughing a small bit, was coughing constantly.

I am not in that situation so I don't know what I would do honestly! BUT for you, I would go with what you feel in your heart-

Thank you, I will try and not be too worried about it and follow my heart. :)

I agree everyone has a different opinion. You have to go with your gut.

Well that's good to know that people don't think it would be crazy to take him back! I want him so bad just don't want to ignore warning signs.

Kennel Cough is so easy to get rid of, if I was attached, which I can't imagine you aren't. (it took me all of 15 min. or less to know that my little guy was going to be with me forever) I would take the same baby back!

Buster had kennel cough when I first got him. I was under the impression that kennel cough is more like a cold and can be easily caught when dogs are at the groomers or being boarded(when they are older). I do not think it is as serious as hereditary defects which would concern me more. I like the idea that the breeders held them back until they got better so that the costs of the treatment was not on you. I say if you bonded with your baby go with your heart.

Thank you so much guys! You've really calmed my fears! I can't wait to get the bugger back even more now!!! The wait is so brutal! Haha

I agree with Buster Brown that kennel cough is like a cold to human. Puppies hadn't fully developed their immune system yet so a little cold can happen easily. So long they are being treated medically, they will recover.

I agree with others I would go with my heart. Also agree kennel cough is like a cold in humans and treatable. Georgie had a congenital spine defect that we didn't know about until he was 6. I know God gave us Georgie for a reason. He had surgery in September of last year and is doing amazing! He is actually better then he ever was. I am sure your furbaby will be just fine and you will be so happy that he is yours;)

I hate to be the WET BLANKET" in this thread.....I am posting this information NOT TO FRIGHTEN YOU, but I do not want you to consider kennel cough as nothing more than "a little cold". It CAN present serious issues.....it CAN last several months......it CAN go into pneumonia......your baby is being treated by a vet, and treatment was started in a timely manner....I do not think your baby will deteriorate into a worse case scenerio.....but it is not fair in my mind to leave you with the impression kennel cough is simply a cold, because it is more serious than that. With proper medical intervention, it can be cured, and it develops into nothing more than an aggrivation to both you and the baby....If it was me, I would go ahead and accept that baby back, with the stipulation that the breeder covers the cost of vet visits and antibiotics required to treat the condition if the baby is still coughing when you get him back. Now, I am not talking about any FUTRE cases if he should come down with this....just this current infection that he came to you with.

"Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, generically referred to as kennel cough, is a highly contagious and common condition affecting puppies and adult dogs. The disease causes an inflammation of the dog's larynx, trachea, and bronchi--tubes leading to the lungs. Most cases cause only mild disease with signs that tend to be more aggravating to owners than dangerous to the dog. But kennel cough in puppies can cause stunted lung development, and/or develop into life-threatening pneumonia. The disease can be caused by any one or combination of several different infectious agents. The most common culprits are bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica, the canine parainfluenza virus, and the canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2). These agents attach themselves to the delicate hair-like cilia in the dog's trachea, or actually cause the removal of the cilia. Kennel cough can develop into a vicious cycle difficult to cure without help from your veterinarian. The infection causes irritation that prompts the cough. But the honking cough causes even more irritation. "

I would Totally wait and get the same pup back, if I was already attached.... only beause I know that Kennel Cough is very treatable.
It is like a Cold, to us Humans!! If I did not know that though, I would
definitely be a little more nervous about it. :D

Can't wait till you get him back and post pics.!! IF that's what you
decide to do!!

Thanks for the advice everyone! I wish Grim wasn't sick when I got him, I was so shocked to receive a puppy that was less then 100% because of the amount of time and research I put into getting my puppy. I had a deposit on him long before he was even born! As of now I'm going to get him back. The genetic guarantee for a year still holds so if I encounter anymore issues I will tackle them as they come! I just got a new pic of Grim. He looks so stunning. I will post it ASAP! :)

Here is the pic of Grim at 14 weeks! He just had a bath =)

Omg he is so cute and I bet he is full of energy

Omgosh he is super cute:)

Thanks girls! He was either hyper or sleeping haha. He loved to run around the house and play with all of his toys. He's a big lover of toys! Have tried to stay away from treats for the most part where he was sick when I got him!

It would not be a determining factor for me. It is very common and very treatable. Yes, a few cases develop into pneumonia, but that can almost always be prevented. My only concern would be that these symptoms aren't from kennel cough but collapsing trachea. Very unlikely. It is always a consideration though.

Not only would I take the puppy back, I onestly wouldn't leave it with the breeder while healing unless that is the only way the breeder will pay vet bills. It can take weeks for that cough to go away and taking care of a kennel cough pup is not hard. Unless you aren't home much, jmho the breeder doesn't need to take care of him (although it is very nice of them). ...unless you have other dogs that could catch it or somebody in the family that is immunocompromised...

I agree with yorkiemom1. You should be concerned about it.

I agree and by no means am I an expert but I was under the impression that like with people it develops into pneumonia when it's left untreated or their are other issues? I do think it was nice of the breeder to take him back and get him better before giving him to you.

Again, he is a doll baby:)

Thank you!! :) I wish I could bring him home now but flights do not start back up for pets until January 9th in Canada. Picking him up is also not an option because I got him from across the country and would take a 7 day drive lol. Collapsed trachea was my #1 concern. The vet actually voiced this concern to me upon seeing the X-ray. She is a new vet though and made it clear that she had no idea if it was collapsed trachea as she hasn't had experience with such a small dog and that issue. She said it was unlikely though because that tends to develop later and is rare in a puppy. She consulted with an experienced vet and he said there was absolutely no signs of collapsed trachea.. But I'm still concerned that the question was even raised.. Sigh..

I am most definitely worried about his cough and compromised immune system at such a young age.. There are so many possible illnesses that these guys seem to attract. Even with a great breeder issues could still exist beyond their control. BUT all in all I do have a tendency to over react and worry. I'm hoping that my case is just one in which the dog caught kennel cough young but fought it and has been healthy ever since.. Here's to hoping! :)

I think with certain breeds Vets are on higher alert with CT. If the more experienced Vet said there were no signs of it then that's reassuring. Believe me I constantly worry about Georgie and he is 7!!! The love and happiness he brings totally outweighs it all though;)

It is self limiting. Technically no treatment is needed unless there is a secondary infection. ANtibiotics can't fix it. They can only fix secondary problems. Some vets give them for good measure and always if there is a concern.

Secondary pneumonia is not common if treatment is given when needed. It can sound like CT sometimes though.

Thank you for the kind and reassuring words Georgiesmomma. I can't wait to bring him home and make him a part of my family. I wonder if all yorkies personalities are as cute as Grim's. They are so smart and affectionate and adorable in every way. My friends say that Grim was made for me lol. He doesn't appear or act overly prissy but is handsome as a devil just the same!

I must modify my statement as yes YorkieMom1 is correct that it can turn into pneumonia. Buster did have kennel cough when I first got him and I took him to the vet the next day he was treated for over a month and a half on different antibiotics until it started verging on pneumonia and he had to be hospitalized for three days on an antibiotic IV to finally get rid of it I. thought since the breeder was taking care of the issue and it was not going to be at the expense of julieandrea that it should not cause her to fear getting the puppy she had bonded with. I realize I could have been doing her a disservice, my apologies.
He is adorable!

Thank you for sharing your experience with kc. I'm glad your baby was able to get better after a month and a half. I didn't realize how many people received their dog with a cough. I'm not so much concerned with pneumonia since he is being treated by the breeder with antibiotics. He is apparently almost back to 100%. I'm more so wondering if kc early on is indicative of an underlying genetic issue. In humans when someone is susceptible to infections- sometimes there is an underlying condition causing this and sometimes there is not! I don't think I'll take Grim back until the breeders can say that he has completely beaten the bug he has. I couldn't bare getting him back with him still coughing after everything I've been through.