During training yesterday, one of my friends said her dog had kennel cough...my dog had been around that dog a week earlier so she was exposed. Yesterday after training, my shepherd starting coughing like she had something stuck in her throat. It continued all day and all night. I know that there's not much you can do for KC but I have her Goldenseal and am going to pick up some echinacea. Tonight I'll give her some Robitussin DM so that she can sleep.

I guess that I am more concerned that she is quieter than usual. She's normally "crazy" and hasn't been so crazy lately. Does KC cause dogs to be somewhat lethargic? (She's eating and drinking fine)
-She's 9 months old and could be coming into heat? Is this why she's quieter? I'm just not sure. Any advise or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

Also, we did personal protection training so she did a lot of tugging on the lead. Could it be from this? This is my first personal experience with this type of coughing.

Try Clavamox, and going to a vet. KC is extremely contagious and can bring high temps and damage if not vaccinated for. Go to vet, everything should be OK.

She's been vaccinated but from what I understand, there are different strands. :-)

Sounds likea vet that likes to take peoples money. Different strains happen all the time. Look at Flu or colds. There is always evolution in stuff like this. Goldenseal and Echa-whatever are not going to help a dog. They barely work in people, and mostly thru placebo affect. In other words if you are not believing, it isn't working. Still, very contagious, if it is KC, and since they don't have home test kits......... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I would never just give antibiotics unless there is an infection or you can determine the cause of your dogs cough is bacterial. Antibiotics are useless for viruses.

keep your dog comfortable, give the cough supressant at night if needed so you both can get some rest.

if your dogs spikes a fever, or acts lethargic for more than a day or so then I would consult with your vet and ask about antibiotics.

as for different strains, the bordetella vaccination usually covers a dozen or so strains. it's my understanding that there are hundreds of different mutations so if your dog contacts one of those, the vaccination is pretty much worthless. I don't vaccinate for it, it typically runs it's course in an otherwise healthy dog but you have to do what you feel is best for your situation.

Cindy is right. Kennel cough vaccines OFTEN cause kennel cough! In most cases, it is nothing to worry about. The dog will usually be a bit more lethargic, may have some dirrereah and may go off food for a bit or eat less.

I would be curious as to how often the vaccine causes kennel cough? I have given the intra-nasel probably over a thousand times and never caused anything. If you get "one" of the more dangerous strains, and your dog hasn't been vaccinated, your dog is in for quite a treat. The fever is high enough to cause brain damage, and yes I have seen it more than a few times. KC isn't something to play with, it only takes one time.

wow, OVER a THOUSAND times you have vaccinated for KC!? that's a huge number!

I owned a boarding kennel for many years and worked as a vet tech for almost 15 years and I would guess I haven't seen a thousand KC vaccines given. Most folks only got their dog vaccinated for boarding situations, it wasn't something we gave to every dog that came in. In all that time I never witnessed a fever high enough to "cause brain damage". I have seen dogs run a low grade fever or get a secondary infection and require antibiotics but these were usually dogs that weren't the healthiest to begin with.

I used to show in AKC obedience (back in the old days <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )and take my dogs to shows almost every weekend, I had a few cases of KC back then but nothing that really debilitated my dogs, other than the hacking that kept us all awake for a night or two.

It would be difficult to accurately determine how many vaccines cause disease or illness.... Many vets won't admit that this can happen, no matter what vaccine you question.

I used to work for a veterinary clinic and brought my GSD to work, keeping him in the boarding kennel. At one time all the dogs boarded there, which were vaccinated against Bordetella, came down with a severe case of Kennel Cough. My dog, who was UN-vaccinated and raw fed was the only dog who didn't contract the virus. Hmmm... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />