Just because they are vaccinated...
...doesn't mean that can't get Kennel Cough
We thought, "Hey, we'll never get it here! Both the dogs are totally protected!"
WRONG!
Killian was hacking yesterday - I mean HACKING... to the point where he was heaving - so badly he needed to lie down and recuperate between fits. It was scary to watch him like that to be honest. So I did what any good corgi momma does and took him to the vet.
Turns out that he somehow got kennel cough even though he hasn't been boarded ever and is up-to-date on his vaccines. The only contact he gets is every few weeks at the dog park and when our friends come over with their dogs to go wild in the backyard.
Both Killian and Murphy are fine. Checked out last night, got them both put on doxy and plenty of bed rest (ie. no walks in public :( ), for the next two weeks but this serves as a lesson to me, and one I'd like to share because I was surprised when the vet told me that it was kennel cough.
Even if the pups vaccinated doesn't mean they are entirely immune! Like the flu shot it only has a certain percentage of success.
The silver lining though (and ultimately why getting the shots are a good idea)?
If he hadn't had the shot, then the symptoms would have been much worse. I can't even imagine that, considering how terrible that cough is.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Rachael & Waffle on
-
I will never voluntarily vaccinate against bordatella because it doesn't work very well and puts the dog (and human!!) at unnecessary risk. Was he vaccinated for it recently? They can actually get it from the vaccine.
-
Permalink Reply by Jessica on
-
Well that's even more disconcerting now isn't it...
No - he was vaccinated around 8 or 9 months ago so I doubt it had anything to do with the vaccine.
He didn't have any reaction to it when he got the vaccine though - and the vet told me that it probably helped reduce the symptoms.
I am a bit curious as to why it puts the human's at risk.. but as I think of it.. a little risk on my part is okay if it outweighs the risk of him getting totally sick?
..Then again... I don't get a flu shot for myself (mainly because they contain trace amounts of mercury and god knows what else... ick)
-
-
Here is someone from MyCorgi who got sick.
I believe over-vaccination of pets is a real problem and I strive to avoid giving my dog stuff he really doesn't need. He doesn't get boarded and the vaccine doesn't work too well, so there's no point in it for me.
I don't know if the symptoms should be lessened if the dog receives a vaccine, but with giant heaving fits it sounds like maybe it didn't help with Killian. :[ Whenever my animals have gotten kennel cough, it's been like a mild human cold. Wikipedia says bordetella can last in the environment for a while, so he probably picked it up at the dog park or maybe your walking route... which is odd, because the only time I ever hear of kennel cough happening is at kennels or shelters and in dogs people recently brought home.
-
Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
-
Rachael, they can only get sick from the vaccine if they are given the live vaccine, and it's pretty rare. Kennel cough isn't considered a zoonotic disease, so humans who get it have a weakened immune system for some reason or another. If I vaccinate Franklin I generally do the injectable vaccine because there is no chance for them to get sick from that vaccine, however I do agree that some vets do over vaccinate. Many people don't realize their dogs are sick because it more sounds like the dog is hacking something up so they continue to take their dogs to the dog park even with a cough! I was at a shelter with a friend one time looking at a dog and the shelter staff kept insisting this dog had something in is throat, I was able to make him cough with a tracheal palpation (way to diagnose kennel cough) and they finally admitted he may actually be sick! You'd think they would be more aware! This dog was playing with a few other dogs at the shelter so I'm sure there was an outbreak shortly after.
-
-
Yeah, it makes sense only the live vaccine can get people sick--I didn't think the injectable one could. That would be terrible! Also, you would think shelter workers would be the best at diagnosing kennel cough... like, THE BEST, so the other dogs don't get sick. ... Glad you helped out, haha.
-
Permalink Reply by steve smith on
-
Hey Waffle--Dino agrees with you about over vaccination. BTW what is the difference between immunization and vaccination?????
-
Permalink Reply by Beth on
-
Hi Jessica. Sorry your boy is so sick!
Here's some things to know about kennel cough:
"Kennel Cough" is a generic description and there are any number of viruses and bacteria that cause it. We only vaccinate for a few. Bordatella is a bacteria, and the protection probably only lasts about 8 or 9 months. Generally speaking, those of us who board or train are going to vaccinate because those facilities require it. Because the vaccine probably lasts less than a year, the best bet is to vaccinate about a month or so before boarding your dog. Bacterial vaccines tend not to be as effective as viral vaccines, but they can still help. You will read some things on line about risks with bacterial vaccines, and while some is better than others, we all have had bacterial vaccines ourselves (tetanus-pertussis-diphtheria is a human bacterial vaccine).There is some controversy about vaccinating for kennel cough because it is rarely life-threatening, but it is highly contagious and that's why kennels and stuff require it. No one would want to board if every time they did their dog came home and started hacking a week later.
Some viruses that cause kennel cough include parainfluenza (usually vaccinated against) and adenovirus (not always vaccinated against, though I think show kennels sometimes do and our dogs were when we got them).
But there are more. So even if vaccines are up-to-date, your dog may come in contact with a bacteria or virus that causes coughing for which they were not vaccinated against. And since the Bordatella vaccine is far-from-perfect, a dog who was vaccinated can still get Bordatella.
I hope he's better soon.
-
-
That's too bad your vet didn't warn you of this when he was vaccinated. The kennel cough vaccine is only good for 6 months and only good against certain strains. I don't vaccinate Franklin anymore for kennel cough because I don't board him, and the vaccine doesn't provide long lasting immunity. He got kennel cough from a trip to the dog park even though he was recently vaccinated. It is a vet (or technician's) job to make owners aware that this is NOT a 100% protective vaccine. Also, something that vets often don't tell owners, kennel cough is self limiting. Dogs generally don't need any treatment and they will get better on their own. Generally vets will give cough tabs to help with the cough, but you can actually buy them over the counter. Only time kennel cough is really and issue is in situations where the dog has a weakened immune system for some reason. Hope he feels better soon!
-
Permalink Reply by Sandy Stickney on
-
My golden retriever got kennel cough, and she does not go to dog parks, has not been boarded, nor does she interact with any other dogs besides my own. She must have picked it up on a walk.
-
Permalink Reply by Julia on
-
"Kennel cough" is a catch-all term to cover an upper-respiratory infection. Coughing isn't even always a part of it. There are many, many different bugs out there that can cause a cold, as we humans know. Like Sandy's dog, we human's have all caught colds without being aware of coming in contact with whoever gave it to us. Germs are out there. Shelter dogs are more likely to catch cold because of the crowded conditions and the stress they are under, so we treat aggressively with inoculations, antibiotics and isolation. Even so, it can't be prevented.
A healthy dog, in a home, who isn't under the huge stress of a shelter dog is probably going to get over it without any treatment. Rachel, you probably don't hear about it in other situations because it usually isn't serious outside of those situations. It really does sound scarier than it is :)
Rescue Store
Stay Connected
FDA Recall
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Recall
Groups
We support...
Badge
© 2024 Created by Sam Tsang.
Powered by
