Hello everyone, Let me give a little bit of brief history on my black lab and then ask my questions or try to. My lab was born 06/11/13. She got kennel cough from a Petco store which I believe was during "puppy play" from another dog. This happened last November and we were nearly ready to get her fixed. We couldn't though as it could have serious complications so we waited. We were given anti-biotics, had her on a bland diet, and some cough pills from the vet. There was vomit and lots of coughing. She recovered and everything was good. We decided to take her to be boarded at a place, they required a bordatella shot. It was done up the nose this past April a few weeks or so before we did boarding. All was good. We've been taking her to this place for daycare frequently, usually once or twice a week. She loves it and gets along great with the other dogs. It really helps get the energy out of her. We boarded her again in.....June I think it was or July, can't remember. Everything was good. We've taken her to daycare 30 + times at least and boarded her I'm thinking 3 or 4 times. We boarded her on Friday, Sept 26 and picked her up in the evening of Sunday, Sept 28. When we got her home, she went potty and she coughed just once and didn't think much of it. We had an appointment with the vet on the 1st for some of her shots she needed. We ended up moving the appt up to the 30th of Sept. The vet said it is indeed kennel cough. It isn't nearly as bad as Nov. She said the shot in April probably helped lessen the severity. She seems fine and didn't cough hardly at all until she got into the room to see the vet. No vomit this time. The vet gave us antiobiotics (that are a fortune), as well as cough tablets. The antibiotics we are to finish, the vet said some dogs may have kennel cough but not be infected themselves, they could just carry it on. Also recommended was bordatella twice a year. I called and explained the situation to the dog day care she attends. They are real nice and said they clean the kennels and floors very thoroughly daily. They require vaccination upon boarding and have to wait 7 days after the shot for newcomers. She explained there's no way to clean the air. However, since there are so many strands of bordatella, it's tricky. My dog, Zelda is not very bad, in fact I haven't heard her cough in several days. The vet instructed like 21 days until returning to daycare. Also, do not walk the dog. This is a problem - she is a lab and has to walk (if even a little) It seems she has a chance to get it even if she steps out to the backyard and goes potty - since this is airborne. Whose to say you can't get it if you step outside briefly just to look out? What about walking in remote areas where there no dogs and or avoiding close contact to others?! I am not happy when my little girl can't get out...... I have been trying to do some research as the vet said hip and joint supplements may help strengthen the immune system. I am trying to see what precautions or ways to strengthen the immune system so it can fight off bordatella better. There are about a thousand things at the petstores for hip and joints. I wonder if anyone here has advice on strengthening the immune system whether it means pills or something else. Having gone to daycare 30 + times and then getting it - she loves daycare. It's not nearly as bad this time and the shot in April everyone agrees helped greatly. The lady from daycare stated she thinks the immune system should be pretty strong by age 3 she is guessing. The vet last Tuesday gave her another bordatella shot via shot, not nasal. I've heard conflicting arguments on the nasal injection being more effective than a shot....... Strengthen the immune system?! Please share thoughts everyone! Thanks!
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Hi , what a shame for your girl . I often liken young dogs to young children who seem to catch everything going until they are about seven years old , dogs are the same I`m afraid . My own Lab was no exception, he had canine acne , I tried all sort od immune boosting foods, pills and potions , nothing worked and then, like magic, when he got to around 18 months of age, it all cleared up on its own . I would say that an adult dog should have a pretty mature immune system by the age of around 18 months to 2 years of age, it happens quite naturally without the aid of supplements although these are available should you wish to try them . My dogs have always had the kennel cough vaccination via nasal drops , so I`m afraid I cant help as to which method is best .
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Bordetella (or kennel cough as commonly known) is very much like our common cold or flu - there are lots of different strains, and the vaccine only protects against the most common. Also it does not offer 100% protection but will mean that if the dog catches it, it will be less severe. I wouldn't say that two episodes of kennel cough is that uncommon. I've know dogs get it every year, despite being vaccinated, and a couple of dogs that have been reinfected up to four times in the same season!! With regards to isolation I can only go on my personal experience from the kennels I've worked in as my dog has never had kennel cough. The vets at the kennels I worked at said the dog should be isolated for 7 days (whilst taking antibiotics etc) then have a recheck with the vet once antibiotics are finished (a 7-10 day course depending on which type). If the dog gets the all clear at this time then it was sent back into general population and contact with dogs and people. If the vet still deemed it to be infectious it was isolated for another 7 days (given meds if needed) and rechecked again, so on and so forth until the all clear is given. If the dog still had a bit of a cough but it was non productive (ie. not coughing up phlegm and not snotty or runny from nose or eyes) then the dog could go for walks but contact with other dogs was not allowed for another 7 days (or 7 days from the last noticed cough). It's a bit tricky really. I've known some vets that are really lax about it, and some that are deadly strict on isolation procedures. With regards to prevention... Yes you could try supplements to boost the immune system but I don't know how effective they would be. Eliminating all contact with other dogs would be one way of ensuring she doesn't catch it again but that's a bit extreme!!
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Growing up is the best thing to strengthen the immune system All dogs under a year have immature immune systems and are prone to catching all sorts of things that wouldn't get a toe-hold in an adult dog. Personally I wouldn't bother with supplements etc. It will just naturally get better as she gets older. The isolation is most likely to protect other dogs from catching the cough from Zelda, not to stop Zelda catching anything. So I would think it's ok to walk Zelda where she won't come into contact with other dogs. But you could check again with your vet if you're not sure. When my dog had kennel cough he had to keep away from other dogs for 10 days after he stopped coughing. All forms of kennel cough are extremely contagious and if a young dog is exposed to it odds are they will get it. So I don't think it's unusual that Zelda has had a couple of bouts of it. Unlucky but not unusual. Hope she is back to normal soon
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=8160.msg115167#msg115167 date=1412609094] Hi , what a shame for your girl . I often liken young dogs to young children who seem to catch everything going until they are about seven years old , dogs are the same I`m afraid . My own Lab was no exception, he had canine acne , I tried all sort od immune boosting foods, pills and potions , nothing worked and then, like magic, when he got to around 18 months of age, it all cleared up on its own . I would say that an adult dog should have a pretty mature immune system by the age of around 18 months to 2 years of age, it happens quite naturally without the aid of supplements although these are available should you wish to try them . My dogs have always had the kennel cough vaccination via nasal drops , so I`m afraid I cant help as to which method is best . [/quote] Thank you Kate for your response. Zelda is nearly 16 months old right now. Will be on the 11th of this month. Canine acne?! Wow! My vet gave me a piece of paper with something that may help immune system, I can't read the writing though so have scanned it and emailed it to them asking what she wrote.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=8160.msg115168#msg115168 date=1412609708] Bordetella (or kennel cough as commonly known) is very much like our common cold or flu - there are lots of different strains, and the vaccine only protects against the most common. Also it does not offer 100% protection but will mean that if the dog catches it, it will be less severe. I wouldn't say that two episodes of kennel cough is that uncommon. I've know dogs get it every year, despite being vaccinated, and a couple of dogs that have been reinfected up to four times in the same season!! With regards to isolation I can only go on my personal experience from the kennels I've worked in as my dog has never had kennel cough. The vets at the kennels I worked at said the dog should be isolated for 7 days (whilst taking antibiotics etc) then have a recheck with the vet once antibiotics are finished (a 7-10 day course depending on which type). If the dog gets the all clear at this time then it was sent back into general population and contact with dogs and people. If the vet still deemed it to be infectious it was isolated for another 7 days (given meds if needed) and rechecked again, so on and so forth until the all clear is given. If the dog still had a bit of a cough but it was non productive (ie. not coughing up phlegm and not snotty or runny from nose or eyes) then the dog could go for walks but contact with other dogs was not allowed for another 7 days (or 7 days from the last noticed cough). It's a bit tricky really. I've known some vets that are really lax about it, and some that are deadly strict on isolation procedures. With regards to prevention... Yes you could try supplements to boost the immune system but I don't know how effective they would be. Eliminating all contact with other dogs would be one way of ensuring she doesn't catch it again but that's a bit extreme!! [/quote] What's remarkable is my wife and I haven't heard her cough in the last 5 days at least. My wife says last Wednesday she heard her briefly. Nothing since though. Of 30 plus times attending daycare and not getting sick - that's a pretty good percentage of safe. Boarding I suppose could be more dangerous as they are in the cage more I'm wondering? The vet said it didn't really matter between boarding vs daycare.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system [quote author=Oberon link=topic=8160.msg115222#msg115222 date=1412626625] Growing up is the best thing to strengthen the immune system All dogs under a year have immature immune systems and are prone to catching all sorts of things that wouldn't get a toe-hold in an adult dog. Personally I wouldn't bother with supplements etc. It will just naturally get better as she gets older. The isolation is most likely to protect other dogs from catching the cough from Zelda, not to stop Zelda catching anything. So I would think it's ok to walk Zelda where she won't come into contact with other dogs. But you could check again with your vet if you're not sure. When my dog had kennel cough he had to keep away from other dogs for 10 days after he stopped coughing. All forms of kennel cough are extremely contagious and if a young dog is exposed to it odds are they will get it. So I don't think it's unusual that Zelda has had a couple of bouts of it. Unlucky but not unusual. Hope she is back to normal soon [/quote] When I've taken her for walks since her diagnosis, it has been very brief, have stayed far away from any dogs, have heard some maybe several blocks away barking. If it spreads within that, i don't know what could be done. Zelda could be out pottying in our backyard, a dog walk in the neighborhood a few blocks away, and who knows. I am purposing trying to avoid all dogs when walking her, since the walks have been so short and not very far like we usually do, haven't seen many other dogs, ones seen from a long ways away - turn around and go the other way. Thank you for your response Oberon - very informative. Let me state my walks in the past with her - very active. It's good exercise for her and she loves it. I've often taken her on walks in the evenings and such that are an hour and a half long. She's in great shape at almost 58 lbs last time checked.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system I am sure that another dog would need to be much closer than a few blocks to be at any risk. Even across the street would be pretty safe, I would say When my dog got it he got it from a dog in his obedience class. Half the class came down with it, but not dogs in other classes.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system [quote author=Oberon link=topic=8160.msg115429#msg115429 date=1412714348] I am sure that another dog would need to be much closer than a few blocks to be at any risk. Even across the street would be pretty safe, I would say When my dog got it he got it from a dog in his obedience class. Half the class came down with it, but not dogs in other classes. [/quote] That's what I thought too Rachael. Thanks for the response. Zelda got it last Nov in a puppy play at a Petco store (in U.S) they have on saturday's where puppies literally play for a whole hour.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Everyone that has replied thus far, I got a response from my vet on what the Dr wrote in some notes that may help with immune system. Lysine is what she wrote down that I could research. Any opinions?
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Sorry, no idea personally. A quick google suggests it is active against herpes virus, particularly in the context of conjunctivitis. No idea what it would do in kennel cough - if anything at all. I would think myself that in an otherwise fit healthy dog, recieving a good quality diet would probably be sufficient. And a fit healthy dog is unlikely to have any long term effects after kennel cough anyway.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=8160.msg115693#msg115693 date=1412808201] Sorry, no idea personally. A quick google suggests it is active against herpes virus, particularly in the context of conjunctivitis. No idea what it would do in kennel cough - if anything at all. I would think myself that in an otherwise fit healthy dog, recieving a good quality diet would probably be sufficient. And a fit healthy dog is unlikely to have any long term effects after kennel cough anyway. [/quote] She looks good and the vet said she looks perfect. She last weighed around 58 lbs. I exercise her a lot - long walks.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system nkzelda I sent. You a PM im response to your email. I hppe you can see it.
Re: Kennel cough & strengthening the immune system Thank you all for your replies. I think we are going to try not boarding Zelda as much as we can, my parents have a cage now at their house and their dog, a dachshund, is never around other dogs.
