Kennel Cough vaccine

[Sandy]

I made an appointment this morning for Toby to go for his heartworm test, and at that point I mentioned that we DO go to dog parks. The vet tech told me that it might be a good idea to get a kennel cough vaccine. She told me that it is air borne, and that sniffing nose to nose, or sharing water, could result in Toby getting kennel cough. Has anyone had experience with this? He really needs the runs he gets at the dog park, so we can't really stop going. Is this a valuable vaccine to have?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The bordatella vaccine (bordatella is "kennel cough") is required at many places dogs go, included training classes and groomers. It's a good idea to give it to Toby if you're going to be at dog parks with him. Bordatella is highly contagious, and at dog parks, you often encounter rescue dogs, fresh out of the shelter, who are carrying it.
A lot of vets put it in with other vaccines in a kind of "vaccination cocktail", but it's preferable to give it intranasally. If Toby isn't having any other shots, I'd request the intranasal bordatella vaccine.

[Sandy]

She told me on the phone that it is a nasal vaccine, so that's the right kind anyway. I'll likely go with it. It seems like the wise thing to do.

[Debbie and Thomas]

Thomas had this when he was 12 weeks old. We had never even heard about it-but someone in our neighburhood mentioned it. It was a vaccine(needle) though, but not mixed with anything else. Good idea to get it. I thought.

[Stella]

I can't believe you were able to go to classes without him having the Bordatella vaccine. We had to show our vaccine certificate before we started classes. It is a good idea to get it, they just spray it up their noses, both of ours were absolutely fine with having it done - I was suprised that they didn't mind!!

[Sandy]

The vet tech I talked to today was the first person to ever mention it to me. Sounds like I should definitely go with it.

[Kyoko]

Charlie went to the Puppy K, and it was not a part of the requiremet.
But since she was not vaccinated aginst it, she ended up getting it from the dog park or something!!
I was told that, just like flue in human, the vaccine only covers certain strains of it, so the dog can still get the different strain of it, too....

[Kathy Spyker]

Yes, I agree with the others. It won't hurt him and its quick. Its better to be safe. Most boarding kennels require it also.

[Mommy2Max]

I take Max to a few different indoor playgroups and daycares. They require the vaccine yearly at the least. One place requires it every six months. Some vets give it via syringe and some give it as a nasal vaccine. I would definately get bordatella (aka kennel cough) done.

~Danielle

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha went through 5 classes and they never required but did suggest it. I finally had her get it due to Bright & Beautiful (therapy group) require it for all dogs. I am surprised that neither of the 2 vets she sees actually pushed the conversation of Samantha's safety and the bordatella but......

[Gail & Max]

Before Max could go to Doggy Day Care he had to have a kennel cough vaccination and he had to wait for 3 days after he had it before he could go to day care...but it was fast to have done just thru his nose, and he didn't seem to have any reaction to it.