Pneumonia and Kennel cough

I recently purchased a 10 week old GS. We brought him for a wellness checkup and everything seemed fine. A couple days later he would not eat and was very lethargic. We brought him to the vet and he had a fever. They gave him some fluids and he seemed to do a little better. Still after a few days he wasnt eating and was still lethargic. We brought him back, they took xrays and found he had pneumonia and kennel cough. We received antibiotics and hydrocodone. A few more days went by, puppy still isnt feeling better. We went back to the vet and got new antibiotics. He still isnt better. Is there anything else we can do? Or anything we can try to have him eat more. How long does pneumonia generally last? Is the  hydrocodone contradicting the antibiotics, since it dries the secretions of the pneumonia that the dog needs to get rid of?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Maybe it is time to take your puppy to a veterinary internist at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Hydrocodone has no effect on the efficacy of antibiotics.  If the antibiotics don't seem to be effective a culture and sensitivity should be performed on a trans-tracheal wash, though it may not be accurate since he has already been on antibiotics.

Switching from hydrocodone to prednisone may help to stimulate the appetite.  But don't waste time,  bring him to a teaching hospital or referral clinic.