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Puppy Kennel Cough

We recently pulled three dogs from animal control, and within 24 hrs all of them had kennel cough.

The puppy has been sick with kennel cough for over a month. We've had her on clovomox, and then we had her on cefadroxil. We've had her chest x-rayed and she doesn't have pnemonia or anything more serious. The vet also had her do a round of panacur in case it was a lung fluke.

We  had her on hydrocodone, and that didn't even curb her cough. We have her on children's benedryl, and that helps her sleep better at night but as soon as she wakes up she is hacking and heaving. She mostly coughs at night, or when she is running around.

Nothing seems to be working.

My other dogs all had this cough as well, but it eventually got better. My Cairn terrier mix had it really bad, but after two weeks of doxyclycin it is mostly gone away.

Her activity level is normal, her appetitite etc is all normal, she just has this aweful cough for over a month.
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2054217 tn?1330538434
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
great youtube links.
Your Cairn Terrier has a reverse sneeze...which is exactly what it sounds like...something irritating his nose and making him sneeze...but backwards (weird I know but nothing to worry about).
There isnt much that can be done to stimulate the immune system to help fight a virus...nothing that really works.
I know I am not being a lot of help, there are a lot of possibilities. Perhaps the cat is reacting to the heartworm medication?
Any way you can video them would be great.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Actually, this is exactly what my Cairn terrier sounds like when he coughs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrnDsFedaJ0&feature=related
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Actually, my Cairn terrier has the more honking noised cough, but he is mostly better. He occassionally has coughing spells.

This is more what my Cairn terrier sounds like when he coughs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUpV1-iBCU&feature=related
This obviously isn't my dog, but I thought I'd let you know what it sounds like.

And my puppy, it isn't as loud. I should video tape it. She also occassionally sneezes.

My cat, now as the exact same cough my puppy does. She was healthy before. We updated my cats dystemper vaccine, and gave her heartworm medicine for the first time three days ago. I don't know if the cat being sick is related to my dogs being sick or not, or it is a side effect of the vaccine ... or who knows.

I'm starting to wonder if I have a mutant virus in my house. What can I do to help them fight off a virus faster, since anti-biotics won't do anything to curb a virus.
Helpful - 0
2054217 tn?1330538434
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Normally kennel cough resolves within 2 weeks, I am concerned that it is something else. If it has been more then 2-3 weeks I wouldn't wait any longer. Remember, there is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion also.
Does the coughing involve a honking noise at all? Like a goose? Tracheal collapse then also gets added to the list of possibilities.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.

How long should I wait before doing that? I am reluctant to have surgery done on such a small and young dog. She only weighs 6.8 lbs and is eight weeks old today. Can it eventually go away on it's own?

Other than the cough, she seems normal.
Helpful - 0
2054217 tn?1330538434
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Kennel cough is a very common condition  and causes a dry hacking cough as it causes inflammation and even ulcers in the upper airway. I normally responds well to antibiotics and you've tried two. Hydrocodone also helps but not in this case. I would recommend a scope (tracheoscopy) and perhaps a tracheal lavage.
Helpful - 0

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