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Kennel Cough?
Happy February everyone. Its so hard to believe this year is cruising along at such a break neck speed. It seems like just yesterday it was Christmas and the day before that I was at Bark Park enjoying the sun.
Poor Rufus is a little under the weather. (As you can see above, he is getting some extra love.) He started hacking a little bit last night. Nothing huge, but I am pretty sure its a very mild case of Kennel Cough (infectious tracheobronchitis or bordetella). The time frame coincides with his trip to the vet (Kennel Cough incubation is around 2-10 days from exposure) which is a prime spot for dogs to pick it up. He had the intranasal vaccine at his visit and from what I am reading some dogs can have nasal discharge or sneezing for about a week afterward. He has neither but a slight hacking every once in awhile.
I hate over vaccinating! And the Bordetella vaccine is not a required vaccine… but since I have so many dogs, I really need to try and prevent an outbreak among the pack. Kennel Cough is HIGHLY contagious and would really be a pain in the you know what if all 6 caught it at the same time (which of course Sod’s Law would dictate)
Kennel Cough is considered self limiting and does not require antibiotics unless there is something secondary going on as well. I have been told antibiotics are more for the comfort of the owner not the dog… lol A dose of Robitussin (the plain stuff) works wonders. Kennel Cough usually lasts about 1 week and as long as the dog has symptoms (any coughing) it is contageious.
Apollo isn’t feeling too well either! He raided the trash when I was out picking up my son at the mall! I came home and he had gotten hold of the left over chocolate cake – grrrrr! He then had an upset tummy and left a nasty mess for me in my closet. Needless to say, I am renting a carpet steamer tomorrow and shampooing my carpets! Instead of the Super Bowl, I just had the Pooper Bowl. Feel better soon boys!
Never a dull moment – What a way to usher in February. I wonder if the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow. I am really ready for spring.
I don’t know if maybe that’s a little too much love. Kind of looks like your head could explode from all that hugging.
Slobbers,
Mango
We are sorry everyone is ill at your house. Why did what’s it’s name leave the present in your closet? Does he always use that as his present depot? We may have to rethink leaving our presents in the middle of the living room. Mum ended up buying her own carpet cleaner because of our muddy feets and other items.
Feel better soon, you and the dogs! BOL!
Dozer, Dottie and Cooper
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Yeah I don’t like to over vaccinate either. It’s usually required for boarding and I never know when I’ll board my dog. I think he had the bordetella vaccine within the last six months but I’d have to double check. The thing with that is it’s like the flu shot for humans. It only prevents certain strains. Ace has gotten kennel cough before even though he had been vaccinated a few months earlier. So I don’t know if it’s worth it or not when I have just one dog.
Ugh, what is it with the month of January and the Pooper Bowl?? Biggie had his issues last week, and his girlfriend is still recovering from eating dirty ice/snow from the dog run.
By the way, I recommend flokatis as a shag rung of choice with the dogs. They are amazingly washable and ours looks good as new after a few washings in the tub and then the washing machine. It’s counterintuitive but it really does well with soap and water.
I hope everyone gets better soon.
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You’ve got to admit presents in the closet
speak louder than words. Hope everyone is better soon.
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isn’t kennel cough wonderful? Polly got it at a dog show a couple of years ago. I took her to the vet, not our normal one, and he gave me a script for amoxicillin. I asked him if I could just call for more scripts if the other 3 came down with it and he told me I would have to bring them in!!! So, of course, Sinatra starts hacking two days after. I called our normal vet and he graciously called me in scripts for everyone eventually. It was crazy! I had to mark the calendar with who started when and when they had to stop! The only saving grace was that I worked for a hospital at the time and got the meds dirt cheap! We don’t do the bordatella since they’ve already all have had it (the kc itself, there’s thinking that once they get it bad, if they do contract it, it will be milder) and the vaccine is really only effective for a three month window. I feel for you though, all that hacking and slobber! Although I would trade them for Sinatra who is going bonkers since Polly is in heat and he’s making my ears bleed!
awe.. poor guys.. i love that they get extra hugs..
it seems hugs from kids are truly magic to dogs….
i wish we lived closer we could go halvies on the steamer!!
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Ahhh, poor boys! I hope you feel better soon.
Apollo, I can’t believe you ate that cake you silly thing…at least your Mom has a sense of humor about it. 
Kisses,
Nala
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Oh dear, I hope everyone is starting to feel better. Sending your gang healing thoughts.
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Well … I can’t believe there was chocolate cake in the trash! If I were there Apollo would not have beaten me to it.
Kinda cute him leaving his present in your closet – was he thinking it was as close to outdoors as he could get? Who knows, eh?
Ugh – I hate it when the dogs get kennel cough. It can be such a gross thing if they get super mucus.
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DogsDeserveFreedom
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Uh oh! I hope everybody feels better soon!
Kaos
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Yuck, I hope he’s okay. We don’t vaccinate for Bordatella… it can be like 2 bacteria or 3 viruses and so the vaccine may or may not be effective. Each time we get a dog from a shelter who has it, my pack doesn’t catch it. They are healthy and get good food so I don’t worry about it! Well, except for Lucy. She has a compromised immune system.
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Great post! There is some related info at http://www.pet-comfort-products.com/kennel-cough.html
People should take care of there PETS with great seriousness because they are the one cant speak bur the person has to understand them with their expressions,
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