Dr. BJ Hughes :
Hi there -- Welcome to Just Answer,
Dr. BJ Hughes :Has your dog received an intranasal bordetella vaccination before?
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:we adopted him through a rescue society about a month ago. we asked about his vaccination status, and when they got back to us they said they did not have any record of anything other than him being neutered
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:so i don't think so
Dr. BJ Hughes :Ok -- this can happen -- particularly with the first vacciantion. Because the vaccine is a modified live vaccine, it can grow in the nasal cavity. Typically, the symptoms are very mild.
Dr. BJ Hughes :The other possibility is that your dog may have been exposed before the vaccine was given. So coverage was not there.
Dr. BJ Hughes :This should not keep you from giving a future vaccination when due.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:That's what I'm thinking may have happened. I am an RN and i know that for people, if it was a side effect of the vaccine, it should only last about 72 hrs
Dr. BJ Hughes :The vaccine strain will grow and cause a minor infection -- which is how it give protection. It stimulates the immune system with a mild infection.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:I am just so worried about him.
I had a dog that died of IMHA and subsequently heart failure, in may of this year, so I hear Charlie coughing and it scares me so much :(
Dr. BJ Hughes :Actually -- it is not really a side effect
Dr. BJ Hughes :But rather -- a bit of a complication-- as the immune system did not keep the vaccine strain growth in check or the strain was a little more viruent.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:ooh. Ok
Dr. BJ Hughes :(sorry -- virulent)
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:He got all checked out, xrays and bloodwork. Everything grossly normal
Dr. BJ Hughes :This will run its course as the disease -- generally 7-10 days (mightbe shorter as it is milder).
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:just the cough/wheeze and retching. Clavaseptin, metoclopramide, and a probiotic for his upset gut.
Dr. BJ Hughes :Anither thought -- there are actually a number of bacteria and viruses that go together to cause kennel cough. So it might even be one of the ones that we cannot vaccinate for.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:It's already been 9 days of coughing. I guess what I'm asking is, is it going to get better? I fear the worst
Dr. BJ Hughes :It should be getting better -- also -- since it has been 8 days, a chest x ray may be warranted if respiratory noises are present on auscultation.
Dr. BJ Hughes :Or if it is getting worse -- just to rule out any pneumonia or heart issues.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:he just had a chest xray yesterday. Was totally normal. And I do think he has improved a bit
Dr. BJ Hughes :This was the right step ==
Dr. BJ Hughes :That is very good.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:he seems to cough more with exercise, excitement, and at night. Is this normal? Sorry to ask so many questions :S
Dr. BJ Hughes :Not sure why the immune system is not covering this -- but I am not too worried. This is all normal. No problem for the question;-)
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:Ok great. I feel a bit better. I hear him cough and think it sounds the very same as when my poor dexter (cocker spaniel) went into pulmonary edema and died as a result of IMHA and heart failure
Dr. BJ Hughes :Night time tends to be worse -- are you using a cough medication --- or is it necessary to get rest?
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:the worst experience ever...as I'm sure you can imagine.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:um we are not using a cough medication
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:we are resting him more. Just short walks for bathroom breaks
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:is Clavaseptin a good antibiotic for this? I believe it is cephalexin
Dr. BJ Hughes :You can use Dextromethoraphan -- (Robitussin DM) .5- 1 mg per pound every 8 hours.
Dr. BJ Hughes :Also -- if not using the dextromethorphan, you can use benedryl which helps with drainage and inflammation in general (dosage is up to 1 mg per pound every 12 hours.)
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:oh really? I never thought of that. I will try it. Thank you. He is only having a few episodes per day and per night. And I suppose I need to give the antibiotics time to work. It's hard not to panic when they can't talk to you
Dr. BJ Hughes :Clavaseptin is a amoxiciliin/clavulonic acid --- probably our first choice -- that or doxycycline.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:ok great. That's reassuring
Dr. BJ Hughes :It is very hard to treat with antibiotics -- sits on top of tracheal cells and does not get blood contact (the bacteria that is). So this is more for secondary infection.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:Oh ok. Kind of like people with pneumonia secondary to influenza?
Dr. BJ Hughes :I am much more reassured after you mentioned the x ray ---
Dr. BJ Hughes :Yes
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:So it's really just time. Great.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:You would expect, then, given the normal xray and bloodwork, that he will be feeling progressively better in the next few days?
Dr. BJ Hughes :Time and symptomatic treatment. I would love to say this will improve in few days -- however, a bad case of a virulent strain (if he was infected prior to vaccination and not a vaccine strain) might last up to 21 days -- so hang in there. It should not get worse though.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:ok. So we might be looking at another 10 days or so...fiar enough. I feel much better. The problem is, our vet was more concerned with the vomiting...Charlie will cough freely at home but not ONCE at the vet's office!
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:so the vet hasn't heard the coughing at all
Dr. BJ Hughes :ok --- it is very common for dogs with coughing to have retching --- then a vomiting (single event). So this doesn't surprise me. I am assuming this is the case here -- or is the vomiting occuring after the cough -- or by itself and is it in single events or is it ongoing?
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:nope just once. With coughing
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:he went kinda bonkers...coughing so much then outside gobbling up leaves and grass
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:then vomited
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:definitely related to the coughing
Dr. BJ Hughes :this is not atypical at all -- so that may ease your mind. If the vomiting gets more frequent or diarrhea develops, there may be another cause.
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:ok, thank you. I am quite sure the vomiting episode was related to coughing. No diarrhea at all
<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:When he tries to eat leaves and such, should I let him? Or stop him?
Dr. BJ Hughes :Very good -- you are most welcome. Try to stop the leaf eating and the like. While digestable -- it can be difficult on the gastrointestinal tract!
Dr. BJ Hughes : I hope this information helps!_____________________________________________________________________
Please click "ACCEPT" if the information I have provided has been of help so I receive credit for my work. Bonuses are always welcome and appreciated. Thank you.
The above is given for information only. Although I am a licensed veterinarian, I cannot legally prescribe medicines or diagnose your pet's condition without performing a physical exam. If you have concerns about your pet I would highly advise contacting your regular veterinarian<span class="JA_chatAuthorName"Customer:
I bet!
