So my roommates dog came down with kennel cough a few weeks ago and now I'm noticing my dog has a thick nasal discharge coming from her nose. I swore I had gotten her the Bordatella shot because I thought it was one of those standard shots but when I went through my shot record I realized she never received it! I haven't heard any coughing, she just sounds like shes honking cause she's trying to clear out her stuffy nose. Do you think this could be the start to Kennel Cough? I'm trying to find a vet now too, but I thought I'd hear some DK opinions in the mean time.
Amanda, bordatella is highly contagious. It's usually given as an intranasal vaccine, but sometimes as a shot. At any rate, there are different strains of the virus, and the vaccine doesn't always work.
Untreated, bordatella can be very serious. Get Madden to the vet ASAP, even if you have to pay extra for a weekend emergency clinic. The "honking" sound is what bordatella typically sounds like. She needs antibiotics.
Could be Canine Infuenza as well......It is at an epidemic level right now a far as the number of dogs that are becoming infected. It is almost always mistaken as Kennel Cough and the vet needs to really be certain that it is indeed Kennel Cough because while the symptoms are similar, the antibiotic treatment for one is not the same as for the other.
One of my dogs did get "kennel cough" even though he had been vaccinated. The other dogs did not get it even though they were in close contact with the sick one. So go figure. Whatever your pup has you will need meds.
On an added note; My vet requires a Bordatella booster vaccination every 6 months for kennel cough if your dog is going to be around other dogs, enjoy dog parks, or frequently out in public.
Kennel Cough is very serious. I hope you are able to get treatment as soon as possible. Let us know how this all turns out.