Puppy with suspected kennel cough..

[Rafferty]

Hi there,

I've got a three month old Yorkshire Terrier. I recently moved to Spain and bought him from a pet shop. He arrived with fleas and roundworm which I have since treated. He also developed a cough, which initially was put down to the roundworm. Since the worming treatment was finished and the cough was getting worse it was clear it was a separate ailment. The cough gets worse at night time, although he does cough during the day. I went back to the vet and was given a prescription for some antibiotics - Zithromax and also a cough medicine called Romilar. He has been having the antibiotic once a day and the Romilar three times a day now for the past three days and the cough isn't getting any better - if anything it's getting worse! The cough used to be a completely dry cough, with the hacking at the end which is characteristic of kennel cough. Over the past few days the cough seems to be getting wet - I can hear mucus moving around as he is coughing.

Does anyone know whether this is normal? How long does it usually take for the antibiotics to kick in and for him to improve? Is it normal for the cough to become a little wet??

I'm due to go back to the vets on Wednesday for him to check Benji over again. I'm considering taking him first thing on Monday and telling the vet the antibiotics aren't working. Just wanted to check first that I am right in thinking that I should have seen an improvement by now.

Thank you for your help

[boxtops]

I'd take him on Monday, he is too little to let things drag on by even a few days.

[lankeela]

Coughing is definitely a symptom of a heavy worm burden, and it can also indicate a heart problem. Kennel cough takes about ten days to incubate so if you have had him for more than ten days and he has not been in contact with any other dogs in that time it is unlikely to be kennel cough. I would take him back and get him checked again.

[Rafferty]

I've had him for nine days. I'm getting very worried about him. The only thing stopping me panicking is the fact that he's really active, running around, walking twice a day, eating well, drinking well, always wants to play.

He's only passed two worms. Would I have seen more if it was a heavy infestation?

[woofgang]

poor little love, I would take him back to the vets on monday or sooner

[woofgang]

has he been treated for heartworm?

[jules77]

Kennel cough is usually worse at night or when a dog lies down. One way you can test to see if your dog has it is to press the throat gently, right in the collar area, and if this triggers a cough it may be Kennel cough. He shouldnt be going out on walks though, as it is highly contagious. I would take him back to the vet to rule out anything else.

[wolf63]

My cat had a cough with a weird noise at the end - almost sounded like he was hacking up a hairball or being sick. I took him to the vet and we discovered that he was asthmatic.

The first time we went to the vet he got an anti-inflammatory steroid injection that calmed it down for a month or so. He now (unwillingly) has to have an inhaler treatment twice a day.

So far when he is not coughing and making me ill with worry he is racing around and being a normal, annoying, cat.

I wish you well with your little puppy.

[NoMercy]

What part of Spain are you in?

My dog was registered with vets in both Xátiva and Xeraco and whilst neither of the ladies could speak English, they were both excellent veterinarians. If you have any concerns whatsoever, take your dog back to the vets immediately.

Perhaps you could consider, in the meantime, the possibility of an allergic irritant. This may be food or something as simple as a household cleaner. Let us know how you get on.

[NoMercy]

Please don't think I'm criticising, Raffety, but I know what a fortune puppies are sold for from their glass prisons in the spanish pet shops. I saw puppies with price tags of 1,045eu and upwards. Do you have any idea how many homeless dogs there are all over Spain?

If you ever thinking of adding to the family, please consider PEPA, SPAMA or anyone of the other animal charities that are crying out for foster homes and permanent homes for all the abandoned, neglected and abused animals.

[Rafferty]

Woofgang - No I don't think he has been treated for heartworm, that was another of my concerns. He was treated for the roundworm and I'm not sure if the treatment would treat roundworm too or if they are separate treatments?

Jules77 - Pressing his throat gently doesn't trigger anything!

NoMercy - I'm in Girona. I've done some research to try and find an English speaking vet here but have had no luck! The vet I'm using was recommended to me by a friend and so far he has been good. I'm planning to take a Spanish friend with me when I go back to act as translator so I can explain my concerns completely and understand absolutely everything he says.
As for the homeless dogs, Benji was bought as a gift for me. I would love to adopt dogs here. One of my colleagues was telling me yesterday how many people just abandon dogs here and how they are just not cared for nearly as well as they are in England. If ever I consider adding another to the family I will definitely adopt from a shelter. Although with all the ailments Benji has it's a good thing I do have him, at least now he's getting treatment for his illnesses instead of sitting in a pet shop suffering on his own! Poor little thing.

Thank you all for your advice, I will return to the vet first thing tomorrow and will keep you all updated.
Melanie and Benji

[NoMercy]

Thanks for that, Rafferty. I was in Valencia, so can't recommend any vets in your area.

I hope you and your pup have many happy years together. :-)

[woofgang]

that depends on what worm treatment he had. its 20 years now since we had to treat dogs for heartworm (In NJ, USA) the drug used then was ivermenctin and it was given in addition to ordinary worm meds and more frequently.