Kennel cough?

[milos_mommy]

I don't know what this could be...just a cold? They supposedly treated this dog for kennel cough at ACC/her past foster, but they also often adopt out "fixed" dogs who aren't, and so on, so who knows.

Last night I was walking Edna, and she sneezes, and then kind of started wheezing a bit. A little bit like reverse sneezing. It only lasted a few seconds and we kept talking and she was fine.

This morning she was lying on her back, and when she rolled over, started wheezing loudly/hyperventilating/coughing. It lasted longer, maybe 15 seconds, and she looked completely freaked out, I just rubbed her chest and sides until she stopped.

She's lying down now, but she's snoring, and it sounds like fluid-y.

Obviously I'll be trying to get her to a vet ASAP, but that might be a few days if it's not an emergency/it doesn't happen more often. Does this sound like kennel cough?

 

[lizzybeth727]

Could be the start/end of kennel cough.

Kennel cough is difficult to treat because there are more than one strain and at least some are viruses. There's not much you can do to get rid of a virus, just wait for it to run its course. So while the shelter/rescue might have treated kennel cough, it's common for the dogs to still show symptoms.

 

[Sush]

She's right, I work in a shelter and we have dealt with some crazy mutated strains that last forever and don't respond to any antibiotics. The residual cough can last up to weeks and even months after it's been treated and you think it should be done. However, it can turn into pneumonia if the kennel cough wasn't treated properly so if you're really concerned, a vet visit isn't a bad idea.

Normally, sneezing isn't a symptom of kennel cough and almost makes me think maybe the dog inhaled some type of irritant or allergen while you were on the walk. When a dog is upside-down (on their back) and they do the back-ward sneeze thing it can sound and look a bit more horrible than it really is because their body is in an unatural position making their organs sit a bit differently.

If it were me I'd watch her closely for a few more days before bringing her to the vet.

 

[destinyQueen]

Benny, my cocker spaniel, had Kennel Cough and it kept us up for nights until we brought him to the vet (we didn't know then that it was Kennel Cough). He had this coughing fit which sounded like a honking goose. The vet gave Benny his share of antibiotics, cough suppressant, and a bronchodilator.

I remembered, I brought Benny to the dog park three times in a row before his coughing bouts and the vet said he might have gotten the infection there.

The vet also gave me an immune-boosting supplement which I still use until now particularly during periods of stress.

This website also came in handy in helping me understand what was happening to my dear Benny.

Kennel Cough Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment | kennelcough.com