Kennel Cough or something else?

[Sugarstarzkill]

I am frusterated and do not know what to do, but I may just be over-reacting. I have two chihuahuas. Zoe who is 2.5 years old and Oliver who is 13 weeks, I brought him home when he was 9 weeks old on 9/16. He wasn't coughing at the place I adopted him from but he was coughing/sneezing within an hour of bringing him home. I first brought him to the Vet the adoption place recommended and they said it was an upper respiratory infection and gave him Clavamox. Days later, Zoe started in as well and I brought her to my normal vet and they said it was Kennel Cough and also gave her Clavomox. Almost a week later, they were no better.

*Note- Zoe had bronchitis in July and was on a tough regimen of medicine and she got better. She also had rare moments where her trachea would constrict, causing a weird cough. The vet assured me that small dogs just sometimes do this.

Back to the question- I brought them both to a different Vet. He agreed that it was Kennel Cough and it takes time to go away, gave a different antibiotic and a kennel cough vaccine through their nose. It seemed to help because they are not as bad as they were. I went back a week later, he assured me their lungs were fine, and gave another round of the vaccine.

So, almost a month into this whole ordeal and they are still coughing/sneezing on a regular basis. Numerous times a day, probably several times in an hour, at least. The puppie's gets worse at night.

Am I over reacting or should I travel out of town to a different vet? Does anyone know if it takes THIS long for KC to go away? Could it be something else?

[PrincessJam]

I would say try somewhere else.  I have been to three different vets to help with my dogs allergies and raw paws... every vet seems to have a different opinion on what is going on and what is causing his ears to be infected all the time.

He did however have kennel cough before, and after taking the medicine was better in a few days... so I'm not sure why it's not clearing up, but I would say try and see somebody else. Hope that helps!

[Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician]

In my experience, I have seen cases of tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) last for 6 or even 8 weeks.  Has either veterinarian done a culture and sensitivity test?  This test helps to specify what antibiotic will work best on the "bugs".  Without that kind of test, you really don't know if the antibiotics aren't working or if the illness is just more prolonged.  

I would also ask our experts in the Ask A Vet forum for their advice.  

You can also take the pups into the bathroom with you when you shower....the warm moist air will often help with cases like these.

[Sugarstarzkill]

Thank you for your response. No, they have not done cultures or sensitivity tests. I will have to press the issue. Also, the second round of antibiotics only last 6 days! I thought that was kind of odd. And all the vet keeps doing is giving them the vaccine. I am going back this Friday and I will request it. Thank you for the shower suggestion as well! We have a humidifier but the shower would work better.


Thank you again!