Topic: Kennel cough

[star]

We had one of our two girls at the vet last Tues, thinking she had a grass seed up her nose. But thankfully not, instead its kennel cough.

A weeks dosing of anti biotics, she is on the mend now, but the other one is now showing symptoms and we cant afford to take her till next week.
 
Apart from keeping her warm and giving lots of TLC, has anyone any advice that may help till next week :-\ 

[Hyacinth]

Hiya! I'm sure you've googled? - I just did! I'd say, don't mess around with homeopathic/home remedy stuff....it's contagious, it needs anti-bios to knock it on the head - and vets take credit cards......if you're up to your limit with yours (and who isn't?)...explain to them that they'll have to wait a while. ...if we're only talking "til next week" that's not long for them but it might be a crucial few days for your pooch?

Hope I've convinced you 8)

[blisters]

A lot of vets recommend Benylin Cough Mixture, one spoon morning and night.  We have used this on our dogs in the past with good results.  If you Google you can find quite a bit about this.

I've also heard of people giving a spoonful of honey mixed with water to sooth the cough a little.  Not tried this, but can believe it works.

[Hyacinth]

......but, while those might soothe the symptoms, they're not a cure for a viral infection (which I believe - mistakenly/hopefully?) kennel cough is...?

Just dunno..only know that if it was serious enough for the 1st dog, then it's serious enough for the second...was merely trying to see how this might be affordable :-\

[flowerofshona2007]

I have 5 dogs with it and there is no point giving anti Bs unless it continues to a chest infetion, Kennel cough is self limiting and will normally clear in 1-2 weeks.
Mine are all on cough syrup for chesty coughs and it helps a lot, you can also sit them in a steamy bathroom to ease it and getting them outside away from central heating it doesnt help !!!
Keep them away from other dogs dont get them to excited as this makes them cough more.

Anti B's are useless for viral infections they only fight bactirial infection so your vet is onto a good thing !!! if your dog is NOT coughting up green muck there is no infection there and white frothy cough is normal !!!!

[star]

Thanks for all the advice, Sally will be at the vet in the morning. Cash is sorted :D

xx

[calendula]

Hiya! I'm sure you've googled? - I just did! I'd say, don't mess around with homeopathic/home remedy stuff....it's contagious, it needs anti-bios to knock it on the head - and vets take credit cards......if you're up to your limit with yours (and who isn't?)...explain to them that they'll have to wait a while. ...if we're only talking "til next week" that's not long for them but it might be a crucial few days for your pooch?

Hope I've convinced you 8)

I certainly wouldn't mess around with the dangers of antibiotics, very dangerous and kennel cough can go on its own accord - most vets are not trained well in homeopathy and there are very few quality vets who specialise in it but there are plenty of homeopathic rx that would safely heal the cough although the cost would be the same as a trip to the vet probably

Hope I've convinced you  ;) and that the dog gets well soon

[star]

We got Sally in this morning, so patient number 2 will be well soon too :D.

Thanks for all your replies and differences of advice, everyone's opinion counts and is valued. It has given me lots to think about ;).


Star xx
 

[flowerofshona2007]

More money to the vets !!
Shooie had to have an operation to remove a lump 3 weeks ago and picked it up at the vets !
All 5 of my dogs have had it and 2 have now finished coughing and the other 3 are starting to play and cough less now.
Having been a vet nurse and worked for the father of the vet i have now i spoke to her and she agrees anti'B's are a con unless they develope a chest infection !!!!
Why do we always run for anti B's !!!!!!!!! when they are really needed to fight infection they will be useless, kennel cough is a VIRUS like a human cold therefore anti B's are no use so your dogs have cost you a fortune and are now more at risk as stronger anti B's will be needed if they fall ill with an infection :(
As soon as shooie came down with it i knew it would go through the lot, there is a preventive shot you can have and when i breed a litter (every 2 years) i have all mine done against it but its no good once its shown up.
Hope your dogs get well soon hun.

[star]

Thanks Flower, I have to say I am leaning more toward not rushing to the vet in future for anti bio's. Like you and others have said, these drugs may be needed for more serious things that may happen further down the line.

 WE dont get them from the docs for viruses for ourselves for the reasons you mention.

I appreciate your input ;)

[pamsdish]

A few years ago i spent a lot of time in greyhound kennels, as you can imagine a cough could go right through the block,
with so many dogs you have to treat what you can yourself otherwise you can end up with huge vet bills,
kennel cough was treated with,  2tbs black treacle ,lge thingy butter,(not marg) squirt of lemon juice and 2tbs vinegar, warm the lot up in a pan till runny , cool till blood heat and give to dog about half of mix, repeat 12 hrs later, if required make another dose ,
This is what most trainers take for their own coughs aswell

[Sinbad7]

Sounds good to me pamsdish, will give it a go when I get a cough next year.  How much butter is that?

What I was going to say Star, I think you are being given good advice.  I know we all tend to panic when our animals aren't well and I was forever at the vets in Sam's (dog) younger days as he was forever sick and had diarrhea.  He really did cost me a fortune I never had, but one Sunday I went to an emergency vet with him and he said "You can carry on spending all this money or take my advice and change his diet, dogs have diarrhea and sickness because of their diet not because he is picking up something from outside".  He said to try him on a wheat free diet, which I did and I have never looked back.  I now know exactly what upsets him so another £80 (that's what the emergency visit to the vet cost me) parted with but so very well spent.

[Hyacinth]

Hope Sal's starting to be better, Star.. :-*

All your comments have been a real eye-opener, tho, and the contributions have all come from experienced sources (specially like the recipe for the cough medicine 8))

What I'm not understanding is WHY vets prescribe anti-bios ???

Even the ad under this thread currently showing says "...safe, effective natural remedies. Avoid antibiotics side effects!"

So.....why are vets prescribing them? :-\

[calendula]

it's all about $$$$$ - they get paid to prescribe them, or get bonuses to do so, just the same as allopathy for humans - all ruled by the drug industry, but there are some vets who believe in them, even prescribing them erroneously they still believe in them  >:(

[Hyacinth]

I wondered about the $$$ effect, but thought they were making their $$$ from the price of the visit + issuing a script - whatever they prescribed. It seems so irresponsible to prescribe anti-bios when they're not needed >:(

[star]

I totally agree, I never rushed my kids to the docs for a snuffly nose (unless they were young babies) nor do I ask for medication if I have a cold. Self medicate, yes with hot toddies and paracetamol.

So going on the advice given I will wait in future, depending on what's wrong of course. But last weeks visits came to over £100, which possibly was very unnecessary.

At the end of the day, we do for our pets what we think is right. I do blame vets for indiscriminately  prescribing anti bio's.....well a lot of them anyway. I know they need to make a living too, but I haven't been to a surgery yet where it was empty.

Anyways........doggies are doing ok, they can have an off lead run next week ;D

[Sinbad7]

Glad the girls are do okay Star.  Bet they can't wait for next week and their freedom again.

Sinbad

[Looby Loo]

Sinbad - sounds like my dog was similar to yours.  When she was a pup we fed her on a well-known brand of dry food and she was always at the vets with sickness and diarrhea.  She was also a bit hyper.  Fortunately our dog trainer was trained in dog nutrition and recommended that we feed her on raw and home cooked food.  We've never looked back.  The only time she gets the squits now is when she's been eating something unsavory in the park (just don't ask!), and although still mad, no longer hyper.

[Mr Smith]

I kept Whippets, Greyhounds and Lurchers for many years and the circles I mixed in you could guarantee that once a year you could end up with kennel cough, I know it is upsetting seeing your dog with the symptons but its a bit like us getting the flu, first place of call is your vet.

[Ishard]

Water based ice lollies soothe the dogs throat allowing the benilyn to work, its what we always have used over the last 25 years of dog breeding and showing.  ;)

 No excersise in the cold air as that will start a coughing fit, if the dog continues to cough after 2 weeks then it may be a heart cough (sound similar) and so will need a vet.

If the dogs temp goes too high then paracetomol is safe for them, dose dependant on size, small dog 1/2 250mg,  labbrador 1 tablet 500mg.