Kennel cough

Re: Kennel cough

Vikki Halliday LLB — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:28:51 GMT

[quote user="Rob Smith"]Don't see many cases where there has been a known source?!! [/quote]

If you read my original post it actually reads, "Dont see many cases where there has not been a known source"....

Re: Kennel cough

Rob Smith — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:37:25 GMT

Don't see many cases where there has been a known source?!! Really!?!!

I rarely see a case that hasn't been to a certain local kennel that doesn't require KC vaccination.

Re: Kennel cough

anthony chadwick — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:13:06 GMT

a week should be enough especially if you have given them a course of antibiotics

Anthony

Re: Kennel cough

Cat Henstridge — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:24:17 GMT

Hi Jewel,

I spoke to a vaccine company about this once when a dog developed rampant KC after giving a vaccine a few days previously.

They said that after a clinical KC infection, the dog then remains infectious for about 3 months afterwards, which is why it is such an insidious problem. So now my advice is owners is to keep their dog away from others while it is obviously coughing and then not to worry.

Their take on the dog was that it was probably incubating the KC before I saw it and it had 'nothing' to do with the vaccine (!)

Cat

Re: Kennel cough

Vikki Halliday LLB — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:25:48 GMT

I don't know the incidence of prolonged virus shedding, but I'd imagine since I don't see that many cases where there has not been a known source, i.e. a recently infected animal at a kennel or other doggy gathering, that it happens rarely.

I guess the answer is that kennel cough is not usually a serious disease, and any infected animals should be kept away from very young pups, breeding bitches and immunosuppressed animals in any event, and that the risk of serious illness to the general dog population in terms of serious disease is low.

Owners tend to get very worked up about kennel cough, but it's usually an annoyance rather than a life threatening condition.

Re: Kennel cough

jewel1973 — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:53:14 GMT

thanks,

what do you think about the risk of shedding the virus for 3-4 months after infection?

Re: Kennel cough

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:22:16 GMT

Usually once they stop coughing, in 7-10 days, but if you have dogs that have chronic post viral cough, I would say 14 days after the initial onset of coughing to be on the safe side.

However you need to make owners aware that the cough can last for up to 6 weeks