Dog Community

Kennel Cough

Posted : 8/15/2006 12:35:54 PM

Ok so my unvaccinated dog may have been exposed to a dog with kennel cough. I've talked with my vet and know what to look for but I had some other questions and thought the collective knowledge of Idog might know.

1) How contagious is it after the infected dog is gone? Like will the virus survive outside the host for any length of time?

2) um, well I guess that is my biggest question. This dog came into my house and drank from my dog's water dish. And I hold agility classes at my house, not IN my house but this dog was walking around the agility area. Should I cancel classes for a week or something?

anne

Posted : 8/15/2006 1:02:42 PM

I am no expert at KC, but I foster so I know a little.

My best advice would be if you can to get all your dogs vaccinated against it immediatly. From what I understand the vaccination (which my vet will sell to me without even having to bring all mine in) takes effect within 45 minutes.

I am not sure how long it lives outside the dog though.

tashakota

Posted : 8/15/2006 1:16:10 PM

Two of our dogs have been vaccinated but the dog that my have it, was also vaccinated. The vet's office also said that there was nothing we can do now expcet wait and see if she contracts it.

Another questions though, how long till symptoms show up?

anne

Posted : 8/15/2006 1:33:50 PM

The first foster I had got KC at the shelter, sadly my dogs were not vaccinated and they got it within 2 days.

cakana

Posted : 8/15/2006 3:11:31 PM

Just like the common cold, there are different strains of the virus, so vaccinating against may not protect 100%. My girl started showing symtoms 2 days after we brought her home from the shelter. I don't think the virus will live for long periods of time without a host, so you may not have anything to worry about in terms of the dogs that come to visit. On the other hand, if your dog contracts it, it could be spread that way. Even if your dog isn't showing symptoms yet, it doesn't mean it couldn't be spread.

tashakota

Posted : 8/15/2006 3:35:33 PM

So here's another question. I hold agility classes at my house where other people bring their dogs to practice. Should I let them know that there was a possibly infected dog here? Should I wait until I here back from the person that has the dog after they go to the vet tomorrow?

ColleenC

Posted : 8/15/2006 9:50:47 PM

Personally, if I am taking my dog to classes, I feel better with a kennel cough vaccine. I would make it a requirement for all dogs in the class. I would tell the members and require them to get the vaccine. Also, everything I have heard says it takes a week or two for the vaccine to be effective. That is why when we have dogs going to shows, we always vaccinate them at least two weeks before the show.

tashakota

Posted : 8/16/2006 7:11:08 AM

I agree. Which is why this dog was actually vaccinated but still may have it. The vaccine doesn't cover all strains of kennel cough, just as the human flu vaccine doesn't cover all strains. The good news is that kennel cough, while not fun for the dog or the family, is not life threatening unless the dog is old, stressed, or really young.

I find out today if the other dog has it and then have to decide what to do about classes.

stardancnminpin

Posted : 8/16/2006 4:52:00 PM

mmthomason
My best advice would be if you can to get all your dogs vaccinated against it immediatly. From what I understand the vaccination (which my vet will sell to me without even having to bring all mine in) takes effect within 45 minutes.

When you vaccinate, it takes 7-10 days for the dog to develop antibodies and the vaccine to be effective. Also, if the dog is sick, you don't vaccinate against what he is already sick with. You will just be adding more of the virus to the dogs body. It will/can only make the dog sicker. Please don't do this.

ColleenC

Posted : 8/16/2006 7:03:27 PM

Notify, and then make the vaccine required. This will help make it a healthier environment for all of the dogs in the future.

tashakota

Posted : 8/17/2006 7:07:28 AM

ColleenC, the thing is, the dog that has a "mild case" of KC WAS vaccinated for it.

So should my plan of attack be to notify everyone of the situation, explain that the agility area has been clear of dogs since Monday and that classes will be held but it's up to each individual owner if they wish to come this week?

agilebcs

Posted : 8/17/2006 2:57:01 PM

ORIGINAL: tashakota

So should my plan of attack be to notify everyone of the situation, explain that the agility area has been clear of dogs since Monday and that classes will be held but it's up to each individual owner if they wish to come this week?

That's what I'd do. Hey, I'd be psyched if people didn't want to come, less dogs in class!!!

FWIW, I don't vaccinate for bordatella and my dogs are somewhere (agility class, trials) every week.

If you require that dogs are vaccinated for kc what do you do about dogs with owners that don't vaccinate for it for whatever reason? Not let them come for class?

tashakota

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:26:48 PM

agilebcs, well if I had more than 2 people showing up! lol... we're pretty small at this point.

I don't actually require KC vaccines but tell people it's not a bad idea. I do require rabies, just to follow the law. So I guess in that respect it's a come at your own risk kind of thing to begin with!

amstaffy

Posted : 8/17/2006 3:58:49 PM

My dogs have been vaccinated and still have picked it up at shows. My sons client came back from the VA shows with it and now Teddy is coughing at my house. 2 weeks later.

My experience with the dogs who have picked it up and passed it along to other dogs at home was a 14 day incubation type period.

I always let it work it's course unless it is in a young pup, which I did have happen and she developed pnumonia and was treated with antibiotics and vaporizer treatment.

Seems like a lot is going around in the dog show world right now, I've gotten a few e-mails of dogs being sick when they've returned home from shows...luckily the worse I've oicked up is the cough.."knock's on head..err wood"

Carla Mayhew

Posted : 8/17/2006 9:11:04 PM

It pretty much is a wait and see kind of situation. I also foster and vaccinate my own dogs and so far no one has gotten it. Repeated exposure is a more common way of contracting it. If you are holding class, just make sure to bleach what you can and just wash the rest. Most dogs should be ok.

Carla