Kennel Cough

[Sally M]

We took Penny to the vet yestrday. This isn't serious, however, it has us confused. Penny's been coughing and sneezing (very noticeable). Turns out she has a mild case of bordatella. She was vaccinated for this. So we don't understand how she caught it. We're wondering if there are different strains of the illness and the vaccine doesn't cover them all? Or does the vaccination lessen the severity of it, should the dog get it? Kinda like the flu shot for humans? Has anyone had a their Doodle (or any other pet) get kennel cough even after vaccination? The vet put Penny on antibiotics. This isn't dangerous, yet she is indeed sick. She's acting OK and eating OK but she's not 100%...we can tell.

[Trudy Harlow]

There are numerous strains of bortadella, and the vaccine protects against only a few of them. If Penny is not a very young or very old dog, she shouldn't have a problem defeating it. It's like having bronchitis. It's highly contagious. I wouldn't be too concerned, but be aware that the bortadella vaccine is of limited value. I personally no longer give it to my dog, although there are those here who will argue against that.

[F, Calla & Luca]

You are right that it protects against only some strains. But some day care, dog sitters etc. require dogs be vaccinated against Bordetella.

[BG and Gavin]

I think it is indeed like the flu shot where they guess the strain based on prior years. Hope Penny is better quick.

[Sally M]

Thanks! She's not "super sick"; just feeling under the weather. She'll be fine. Altho, she's crabby (which is out-of-character for her!) We vaccinate our dogs every year for bordatella because when we go on vacation, the kennel requires the vaccine.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'd add that while the bordatella vaccine doesn't protect against every strain of the disease, it does lessen the severity if they do get it. I've seen unvaccinated rescue dogs with bordatella who were "super sick", but the ones who get it despite having been vaccinated usually have much milder cases, as seems to be the case with your Penny. So IMO, it's still worth getting the vaccine. Jack gets the intranasal version. 

I hope Penny is feeling better soon.

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

Ditto what Karen said but keep an eye on it. My Sassparilla picked up kennel cough just before a camping trip, developed pneumonia and became VERY sick (and she's vaccinated). Our big change is anytime we venture out for play (beach or dog park) I make sure she only plays with her own toys/ball. We haven't had an issue since. Hugs to your fur baby.

[Sally M]

Our dog, Lexi, got kennel cough that it resulted in pneumonia. Lexi is a stray rescue who we adopted when she was only 3 months old. She caught kennel cough before she was old enough to be vaccinated. She was pretty sick, also. I remember watching my young dog while in this chamber that sprayed a fine mist of moisture and medicine into the air so she'd breathe it in. The treatment worked. But even so, she was sick for a couple weeks. It was scary.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Winnie had a mild case of kennel cough even after being vaccinated. She was about a year old at the time, and had a honking cough and runny nose. Like others have said, there are several strains of it. FYI if you are interested in trying a natural cough remedy (in addition to the antibiotics)- mix a spoonful of raw honey with 1/8tsp of cinnamon.We gave that to Winnie and it noticeably settled her cough down quickly for several hours. If I remember right, we gave it about every 6 hours or so.

[Kamela & Beckett]

Thank you for posting this! I was just about to make a post very similar. Our 8 month old Aussiedoodle was not himself Friday after coming home from day care. That evening he would drink water then cough and expel water and mucous. He coughed ALL night Friday night, so we took him to the vet Sat and he was diagnosed with "Tracheobronchitis" (kennel cough). He's had the Bordetella vaccine, so like you I was surprised at the diagnosis. He was given antibiotics, an anti inflammatory and cough medicine (but we only used it 1 time Sat). At one point we had counted and he had coughed so hard that he "spit up" 60 times. His cough is much better, but he's still not himself. He's very subdued, not his usual bouncy, inquisitive, on the go self.

I'm struggling now with whether or not to send him back to day care. He had to have caught it there and if the vaccine isn't reliable, what's to keep him from contracting another strain at another time. I don't think he's in danger of getting pneumonia or anything like that now, but it was an expensive trip to the vet and more importantly breaks my heart to see him suffer.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Both of my Doodles receive the bordetella vaccine annually, yet they have had mild cases a few times.  They go to Daycare once a week and they also go to a groomer who does not use crates.  I know that is where they are picking it up (even though proof of the vaccination is required in both situations) because the coughing usually starts shortly after they've been there for the day.  They have always had very mild cases (a day or two) and so I really don't get that worried about it.  Murph is 6 and Guinness is 7, and I'd guess they've had mild episodes three or four times over the years.