The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Sadie has been sneezing for a few days. A day ago she started this funny cough. My allergies are horrid right now, so I thought her syptoms went along with the allergy season. This is new for her, though.

I think I'll give her a Benedryl to see if that helps. Other than that, a trip to the vet might be warranted. She was just at the vet last week and got a clean bill of health.

Any thoughts?

has she been around any foxtails? It's still a little early in the season, but I remember Rufus had a sneezing fit at my house and I was horrified to see a foxtail come out with a violent sneeze (and then very relieved that it DID come out)!

She really hasn't been around foxtails or the like. Her nose is a wee bit runny and she sniffles and sneezes and when she runs, etc. she has a coughing (guess its a cough - it's kind of like a noisy inhale/exhale/choke sound) I have never heard a canine "cough," so I don't know what that sound is like.

a dog cough you'll recognize from knowing what a human cough is. There is a "reverse wheeze/reverse sneeze" that might be what you are hearing?

I think you're right on there. As it sounds more complicated than a cough. It does sound horrible, though. I just gave her a Benedryl and told Bill to keep tabs on her today. If she doesn't get better in a day or so I will go to the vet. I just keep thinking my allergies to HORRIBLE - I know Rusty's allergies and mine always flaired up at the same time. Sadie has never had the sniffles with me, but as we age we all change. Thanks for the info. I hope you are doing great.

Just seeing this post... so she's been sick for a few days now. Yes, sounds like a respiratory infection. If you have Robitussin DM, NOT any of the others, in the house, you could try a half teaspoon of that for the cough. It may make her groggy, which always worries me, because then I can't tell if they're "acting normal" or not, but if she's really miserable and can't settle to rest, it's probably worth it, because rest is important for recovery.

Just a thought, but if she was at the vet a week ago, it's very possible she picked up kennel cough. The timing is right on for incubation.

Oh, shoot. But if she's current on her vaccinations, would she get that?

Yes, unfortunately, it is quite possible. "Kennel cough" is not just one specific virus- more a description of the symptoms for a large family of viruses. So if a dog gets the immunization for kennel cough, they can still get sick with another strain of the same virus.

It's the same as the flu that people get- it's not the same one every year, and even if you get the flu shot, you could get another flu.

And, yes, it does sound like kennel cough- the primary symptom is sneezing/coughing _most_ in relation to exercise.

Get well soon, Sadie!

Yep, what Chris said. It's why I don't bother to vaccinate my dogs against it. they can get it anyway.

Oh shoot - and thanks bunches. Now to decide which vet to take her to.

Most pups get thru kennel cough fine, without medication. We had it go through our crew. Cooper and Louie got kennel cough somewhere, but Leila and Bridgette never got it. Hope Sadie feels better soon!

Thanks. I think her sneezing is beginning to subside. I'm keeping a close eye on her. I appreciate all the comments - this forum is such a great educational tool.

Dawn, yes, puppies are more at risk. Their immune system is immature, and they are likely to develop a fever and dehydrate very quickly.

Also, I'm guessing a puppy young enough to have been purchased in a pet store would be very stressed and had not had all vaccines yet-- and would be very susceptible to distemper right along with the kennel cough. Distemper is deadly, along with being very contagious, and unfortunately is still very common where we live.

(My vet said he wished they'd require distemper vaccines/immunity, instead of rabies, for licensing. There has not been a single case of canine rabies in this county for over 40 years now, but distemper is still a very real threat.)

Great information here. Feel better Sadie.

Actually I don't think puppies are any more susceptible than adult dogs. Many vets when presented with a dog with kennel cough, put them on antibiotics, and often a cough suppressant as well. The former isn't really necessary as KC is a virus, but it can help prevent it from turning into bacterial pneumonia, which puppies and weakened dog ARE more prone to. It's probably why your puppy was treated Dawn.

I also won't vaccinate for kennel cough for all the reasons already stated. I know some boarding facilities, etc. require it but it is a waste of money IMO.

I read in my first "vet book for dog owners" that kennel cough takes 3 weeks to recover from if you do nothing and 21 days to recover if you take the dog in to the vet and get meds.

Colleen

Yep what Colleen and Julie said. I no longer vacinate for it either as when I did Karlie caught it twice...she hasn't had it since. I don't get the flu shot myself either same reason.

Same here, no kennel cough vaccine for my crew.
And, I agree with your thinking on the flu shot as well.

I have one pupper who does get colds due to him having a very bad cold last year. Now they tell me anytime he gets a drippy nose or cough to give him benedryl to dry it up. So I think it is possible for them to get colds, but I agree with the others it could be kennel cough also. Our puppy got a mild strain when she was six weeks old and actually did well and got better with no meds. So hopefully your little one feels better soon.

I have a foster dog that was just diagnosed with kennel cough. the rescue just picked up her on Thursday or Friday from the shelter that picked her up as a stray and I took her on Saturday and by sunday she was being lethargic and has been sneezing and having a phleghmy (sp?) cough. I feel so bad for her. she's a little poodle/shit-zu mix that the cocker rescue group got from the shelter because she was so tiny and looked so scared. she's just 8.8 lbs and the cutest thing. she fits in my purse. ha ha. the doc gave her some medicine and told me to give her robitussin as needed. so I am hoping that it clears up soon. any other ways to make her feel comfortable while this virus goes away?

Maybe put in bathroom when you shower? The steam can help loosen congestion.