My dog has kennel cough and the vet wants to put her on antibiotics?
October 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Dog Kennel Questions
My dog had the Bordetella Vaccine but was exposed to a dog that has kennel cough the next day. I’ve searched online and everything I’ve read says that to just let the disease run it’s course and the dog will be over it in 2 weeks. The vet assistant said that kennel cough doesn’t go away by itself. She said they would have to put my dog on two different antibiotics, one for inflammation and I can’t remember the other. I heard antibiotics are bad for the dogs immune system though. I tried to find a suppressant for kennel cough locally but didn’t have any luck.
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I’m volunteer for a shelter and is so normal that
I would just let the vet handle it. She knows what she is doing. You can ask her though if too many antbiotics are bad for dogs.
Kennel cough is like human flu – you get the vaccine but it does not necessarily cover all the types of virus floating around out there.
Antibiotics are standard to avoid secondary infections. They may also shorten the duration of the illness.
http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/bordatella.htm
It is EXTREMELY contagious – airborne (hence the common name) so keep her away from other dogs until she is well.
I dunno ,but I give my dogs a human medicine and they are just fine
You should take the antibiotics… it’s true that the KC might run it’s course, but it could also get worse and develop into pneumonia and I think that would be worse. My friend adopted a dog who had KC when he brought it home, it was on antibiotics and is no worse for the wear because of it.
You should go with what the vet says and put the pup on antibiotics. When we adopted our puppy 4 months ago, she had kennel cough, we took her to the vet, gave her antibiotics and she was fine a week later. Please follow your vets advice.
I would say go with your VETS advice if you trust & know your vet as I assume you do ! Short term antibiotics are not harmful as far as I know & Kennel Cough is !! Good Luck to you & your dog
Kennel cough can be caused by one of two things. A virus or a bacteria. The vaccine only helps against one. Kennel cough can go away by itself, but it may not and it can get worse. Antibiotics aren’t bad for the dogs immune system. If the kennel cough is viral it will help prevent a secondary infection from taking place while the dogs immune system is busy with the virus. If it is bacterial the antibiotic should clear it up.
I’d be cautious about using anything not recommended by a vet. Some human medications are toxic to animals and without talking to a vet you do not know the proper dose for your animal.
I would recommend doing as the vet says. The antibiotics shouldn’t hurt your dog and the antiinflammitory will help lessen some of the symptoms.
It doesn’t just “go away” by its self. And the reason the Vet wants to also treat your dog for inflammation is because the cough causes very uncomfortable swelling in your dog’s throat. The antibiotics will NOT hurt your dog, only HELP it. Please take your Vets advice, and give your poor dog some relief.
Listen to the vet.
Kennel cough is like the human cold. It usually goes away in 10-14 days by itself. Kennel cough can lead to pneumonia in some cases. The antibiotics will not hurt. If the coughing is bothersome, call your vet and ask for the dose of Robitussin DM cough syrup. Dogs can use this but you need to find out how much. I am not sure of the dose off the top of my head. They do not like the taste but it may help.
My dog had kennel cough and I couldnt afford to send him to my vet. My vet recommended that I get Childrens Motrin or Childrens Robitussin.. and give them that for a few days until it clears up.