Kennel cough advise needed ???

Question

My dog had to go into kennels for 11 days. We had no notice as it was due to a family bereavement. I took her to the vets on the day she went in and got the kennel cough vaccine done. I know this wouldn't work straight away but i wanted it done. She has come home today and is doing little coughs every now and then. Is this the start of kennel cough? and if she has it will the vaccine she had 11 days ago help it to be less severe ? She's a Golden Retriever and 14 months old. Barking makes her cough. Any advise would be great as I don't know much about it xx

Answer 1

Kennel cough can be quite severe and I'm not sure the vaccine would work so quickly to curb the onset.  Although if it was a reputable kennel, I doubt kennel cough would be an issue.  What your dog may have instead is an upper respiratory infection (but not bordatella which is kennel cough).  Common upper respiratory infections can spread like wildfire through  kennels, rescue groups and vets who board dogs....anywhere where dogs are kept together in close confinement.   You should take her to the vet for a check up to make sure.  Even if it is just a common upper respiratory infection, she may need antibiotics to help her through it.

Answer 2

Kennel cough is highly contagious and you would have needed to have had her vaccinated a few weeks before she went into the kennels. However any vaccination is better than none and she probably won't get it as badly. However she needs to go on a course of antibiotics so you will have to get her to your vet ASAP. It may not be Kennel cough but better to have it checked out than to leave it.