Doggy health question! Kennel Cough...

[threecubs]

Our neighbors just adopted a dog that has kennel cough. Their girls have been very cautious and have told us not to pet her, but they came over and the littlest girl tried to pet Heidi (our 11-week-old pup) and I kind of whisked her away. They are over right now, but I have Heidi downstairs with me. How cautious do I need to be? Is she in danger by them just being here? (Signed, Overprotective new puppy mama!)

[Jengirl]

OUr puppy had kennel cough when we got her, it's a long story... she ended up with pneumonia..but I digress...

[lunita]

Well, is your puppy vaxed? The bordatella vaccine is generally done if a dog is going to be in a shelter or kennel and is actual a nasal inhaled thing that doesn't involve a needle.

I don't really know how hard it is to catch (I don't think they normally vax dogs that aren't going to be in super close quarters with a lot of strange dogs, so maybe it isn't that easy to catch?), but the good news is that it isn't a super serious illness and their dog is probably being treated so it might not be as contagious anymore. Our first dog, Lobo, came home with kennel cough. It made him a little lethargic and coughy but it really wasn't a big deal.

[threecubs]

OUr puppy had kennel cough when we got her, it's a long story... she ended up with pneumonia..but I digress...

I just checked her chart and it's not checked off for that one (Bordetella). She is going in at 12 weeks for her next round (next week).

Oh wait...I read further and it says that she did get the Parainfluenza vax, and in parentheses it say Kennel Cough. She had that at 8 weeks. Is that the right one?

[threecubs]

Well, is your puppy vaxed? The bordatella vaccine is generally done if a dog is going to be in a shelter or kennel and is actual a nasal inhaled thing that doesn't involve a needle.

I don't really know how hard it is to catch (I don't think they normally vax dogs that aren't going to be in super close quarters with a lot of strange dogs, so maybe it isn't that easy to catch?), but the good news is that it isn't a super serious illness and their dog is probably being treated so it might not be as contagious anymore. Our first dog, Lobo, came home with kennel cough. It made him a little lethargic and coughy but it really wasn't a big deal.

I'm glad to hear it's not that serious! For some reason I had it in my head that it was bad, and I was especially worried since she is so young and small. :) She did get the parainfluenza vax and in the description in parentheses is says "kennel cough." I'm not sure if that is a series or just a one-time shot? She's due for her next round of shots next week.

[gfrach]

:-) BB didn't get vaxed for Bordatella until she was 4.5 months old. She may have had one vax at 12 weeks at the humane society, but she wasn't considered fully immunized until she had the one at 4.5 months. I would be reasonably cautious. While this might not be a big deal in older dog, if it works like some human diseases do it could be more dangerous to a small pup.

[gfrach]

I should probably say that I'm a bit paranoid about respiratory stuff so I may have a more alarmist point of view than others.