Dog Community

My pup and Bordetella

Posted : 6/15/2006 9:28:42 AM

    On the 8th my 5 month old pup was diagnosed with Bordetella. My vet gave me the option of two medications commonly used for the sickness. One was more often used and I can't remember the name, the other was Doxycycline which she said was better, but less people used it because it has a chance of causing browning of the teeth. I went with the Doxycycline because I wanted him to have the better meds, I didn't really care about his teeth going brown, I can address that at a later time if the problem arrose.
    A few days ago he was doing a lot better, the cough was nearly gone. Now a few days later it is back, as a matter of fact it woke me up last night. He isn't hacking all the time, but when he does it isn't what you think you would hear if he were getting better, his stool has gone soft again which may or may not be related.

    I wondered if anyone had any insight or experience with the treatment or recovery of Bordetella?

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/15/2006 10:45:29 AM

I have no idea, just wanted to say I hope he feels better soon!!!

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/15/2006 10:54:26 AM

I've never treated kennel cough with anything but cough medicine to get them enough sleep and time, personally. Even when my older pups had it. Make sure you are finishing whatever course of drugs they give you even if he seems better. Not doing so can strengthen the problem. They cough...for a couple of weeks, then it's over...

One of my Akita friends had a grown male dog get it pretty bad and he couldn't eat and was vomiting and losing weight so they treated him...I'll have a looksee at what exactly they used...

ETA: Okay...he was on Amoxi for the problem...shot of Reglan for the vomiting. He was feeling better within a week. Her other dogs also had it but they did not require any treatment and simply coughed for a few days then began to recover.

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/15/2006 11:00:33 AM

OOPS....forgot to add he was also given colostrum to boost the immune system.

ewin0210

Posted : 6/15/2006 11:56:01 AM

The only reason antibiotics are given for treatment for kennel cough is in case it turns into pnemonia. The cough does last for a week or two. Please make sure that he is not around other dogs for two weeks after he stops coughing.

One thing that really helped us was using a humidifier. I put drops of eucalyptus and peppermint oil in the water. I put this next to his crate at night and in my office during the day.

Hope he feels better soon. I treated with antibiotics, but probably won't next time.

Julitza

Posted : 6/15/2006 12:09:27 PM

My Lizzie came down with a bit of cough when I brought her home, and the breeder recommended childrens Robitussin? and a bit of baby Panadol (sort of like Tylenol). I gave her a bit for a few days and she cleared right up and I havent had anymore problems.

Now maybe someone will disagree and say I shouldnt give her hom remedies but this lady has worked with dogs for over 20 years and I trusted in her that she would know what to do with my pup.

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/15/2006 12:11:48 PM

Lizzie my VET recommended a child's dose of Cough meds (Tussin) for KC when they are really bothered by it and cannot sleep.

However, Tylenol is NOT a good thing for dogs and can kill them so let's hope that wasn't acetomenaphin (sp)...good that she got better tho!

marlania

Posted : 6/15/2006 2:17:17 PM

Panadol is acetometaphen. I didn't know they made it anymore, but I took it as a kid because, for whatever odd reason, regular Tylenol didn't work on me.

Lou_Dog

Posted : 6/15/2006 3:02:38 PM

Thanks for the posts!

You know what, I'm suprised that my vet was so quick to prescribe antibiotics after listening to you guys. Cough syrup, humidifiers, peppermint? Wow, don't get me wrong I have every faith in her, she is so good with my two boys, but this kinda sucks to hear. Oh well, done deal now.
She told me that if he kept up on the 7th day to call her for more, yet gave me enough for 10 days. I think I will try a bit of cough medicine, just a kids dose or two and see what happens. I really hope she isn't ripping me off, it is soooo hard to find a good vet in my experience. Although I don't want him to take antibiotics he doesn't need and then when he really needs them they may not work.

Julitza

Posted : 6/15/2006 3:32:25 PM

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles
However, Tylenol is NOT a good thing for dogs and can kill them so let's hope that wasn't acetomenaphin (sp)...good that she got better tho!

Wow, I did not know that! Good thing I only gave it once and it was a very small dose because she hated it and shook her head and sprayed pink all over the couch! lol

Yep they still make Panadol, I think its a bigger seller here in Puerto Rico than Tylenol or Advil. I'd never heard of it before until I moved over here

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/15/2006 5:34:43 PM

Vets are generally going to give you the antibiotics because thats what easier for you and them.... not the best for the dog though.

Bailey has a bit of Demoex (a mange mite) and the vet was going to give her Ivermectin... and if that didnt work Amitraz dips... BOTH very harmful to her and not exactly a "cure" for her condition but rather a get rid of it for the moment sort of thing. I am her tech, so she knows how I feel about thast stuff. I ended up just taking an Amitraz collar and thanks to Callie, I am treating her without the use of chemicals...

Not only that... but taking this much more complicated yet much more healthy route... theres a good chance I can prevent her from ever having this condition again, whereas when treated the other way, it returns throughout life. Its an immune system thing, but the vet did not mention a thing about improving her immune system to prevent it from happening again, or how these chemicals can just hurt it even more.

I hate to sound like I dont trust vets, because I do, but sometimes there are better ways and they just dont give us the option.