Dogs » Does my dog have kennel cough!? Please help! ):

JackRussell JackRussell

This question is related to: Murphy the Dog, jack russell

Murphy
Age:6 years old
Gender:Male
Breed:Jack russell
Neutered:Yes
Fed On:Dry food. (Iams)
Kept:Sleeps in the kitchen. Very healthy most of the time.

Does my dog have kennel cough!? Please help! ):

I am so stressed. My dog was sleeping a few hours ago and then started coughing a little bit. He hasn't really stopped coughing and when he does, it's only for a few minutes. It's a wheezy, phlegmy (wrong spelling?) kind of cough. Then it got worse an hour or so later and he keeps being sick with white frothy fluid. ): it just stopped for about 5 mins but now he's gagging again! What else... he's shivering and looks quite lethargic but maybe he's just tired because it's so, so late ): im so exhausted. Should i do something to calm his throat down? My parents are so bad for taking him to the vets because it costs so, so much! But i really think i should take him tomorrow morning because he's so unhappy and we both probably wont sleep tonight. He was on a walk 4 days ago and met another jack russell and touched noses but that's all the contact he's had for weeks because he isnt a big fan of other dogs.

please help. sorry about my hysterical writing! I am so tired and worried. Thank you x ):

14/3/12

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JackRussell JackRussell

I have a feeling i might not get an answer until tomorrow because it's 1am... I just want to know if i should be rushing him to a vet or if it's ok to wait until tomorrow. Either way, i'll probably be sleeping in the kitchen tonight...

14/3/12
stuart stuart

unfortunately I am unable to monitor this site 24/7 and have been busy since 8 am. It is currently 14.22 here as I am in Japan. The phone line is however still available at the same rate as ever.
This does sound like kennel cough which causes by a bacteria usually in conjunction with a virus or other stress factor. It is rarely of any serious consequence to a fit healthy middle aged dog and usually the most serious stress is as you have identified suffered by the owner in the form of lack of sleep. The good news is that it will pass the bad news is that is likely to take between 2 and 3 weeks before the night time disturbances cease. A little paediatric benylin (without codeine) up to 5 mls in divided doses towards evening may help. At this stage of the disease antibiotics rarely produce any marked benefit unless the dog has a temperature or is systemically poorly. They are unlikely to shorten the course of the disease either. It is advise able that he is checked out by a vet for your own piece of mind and should you elect to do so it is best to ring and arrange an appointment so that contact with other dogs at the surgery can be kept to an absolute minimum. He is and will remain highly infective to other dogs as long as he is coughing and maybe even for some time after he stops coughing. Best to walk him well away from other dogs and avoid direct contact with others until 2 weeks after he is back to full health.

14/3/12
JackRussell JackRussell

Thank you for taking the time to reply! I understand and appreciate how you must be busy and don't always have a spare moment to reply.
I took Murphy to the vet the next morning and yup, he has kennel cough. He's on his fourth day of antibiotics and has cheered up considerably (: Thanks for the advice, Stuart!! It's a relief to find a website like this!

17/3/12
stuart stuart

glad you appreciate it! I do hope it has helped him and you

18/3/12
JackRussell JackRussell

It's me again...

Well. It's been 2 weeks and 3 days after he finished his antibiotics and he's been fine until yesterday and this morning... he's been coughing once in a while and it's only been 2-3 times and only since yesterday but could this be the kennel cough coming back? Or does it sound like he's got something worse? Bronchitis? ): I was told that if he didn't stop coughing after his pills, he was to go back for an xray...(£)...but it's been a while since then. He's not come in to contact with any other dogs in 3 weeks... ):

3/4/12
stuart stuart

give him more time treat him as normal I doubt that it it is the kennel cough returning Try him with 1-2 mls of paediatric benylin (without codeine) at night if he starts coughing overnight and let us know how he goes on Best kept away from other dogs

3/4/12
JackRussell JackRussell

There are times when he coughs a couple of times a day, but only a couple of times a week... and apart from that he seems ok. It's not bad enough to keep him up at night.

Thank you again (:

18/4/12
stuart stuart

good sounds as though time will resolve the cough.

19/4/12
JackRussell JackRussell

): I'm sorry for carrying this on for so long... but Murphy is coughing again tonight. He spotted a fox in the garden and his barking started his coughing again, quite badly. When he breathes (all the time, not just tonight), it sounds quite raspy.

I know i should take him to his vet again but she said that if it carries on, he will need an xray. We've never had a dog that's needed an xray - does anyone know the approx cost?(scotland/uk)

Or...do you think he needs more time? I have no idea how long i should give him to get better after the antibiotics. The internet doesn't tell me much either.

30/4/12
stuart stuart

x-rays of a dogs chest and throat are going to mean general anaesthetic or deep sedation and the cost is likely to be somewhere in the region of £150 to £300 (guessing!)
in the process or intubation a really good view of the throat and tonsillar area will be enabled and should be requested anyhow even if a full general anaesthetic is not used.
i am however tempted to have a really good look at the back of her throat to get her used to having her mouth opened wide though do start gently with the aim of getting a really good look and comparing the sides for symmetry or asymmetry especially in the folds of the mucous membranes. As long as there are no obvious irregularities and the dog is well in itself then I am inclined to give it more time on the basis that there is likely to be any long term consequences as a result of l delaying at this stage that are not there already. Hope that makes sense. Please ring me on the call line if it does not..

30/4/12
JackRussell JackRussell

Hi, I should have replied earlier because you made the effort to -sorry!

He was coughing more every day...and so we took him to the vets the other day and the vet examined him a lot better than the one we went to when he first started coughing...!
He said he doesn't need an xray (phew) and there's nothing wrong with the sound of his lungs...throat isn't swollen or anything...

He's been given 14 anoxycare pills.
He improved after taking them for the first two days until today as he's been coughing a lot and wreching. Could he be reacting badly to the medication...or could the illness be fighting against it? Or am I being paranoid as usual? (Our last dog became ill quite quickly and had to be put down and I think that's probably why I'm so anxious incase Murphy becomes really ill also and we can't do anything for him.)

11/5/12
stuart stuart

I doubt that there is any immediate danger but I do suggest that the best course of action will be to ring the vets in the morning and ak their advice. It may well be to continue the medication for the full course and then take him back for re-examination. Pleae do keep us informed

12/5/12

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