Elmo the Eskimo has Kennel Cough, I think.

We are off to the vet at 11:30 this morning. El was fine until 8:00 last night and then he started to cough (memories of 1976 and our "pound" Beagle who had an extremely bad case - and this was before vaccines or even knowing to give cough meds). Neither my husband or I have slept of course - including Elmo - and now we are in to the white foamy phlegm. He has been vaccinated for KC - but I do realize that it doesn't cover all strains of KC. He was home boarded 12 days ago and does go to socialization once a week so probably another dog had the virus without the signs (they are very careful where he goes). We were up and ready to go at 8:30 just in case there was an early vet app't - but Murphy's Law applies here. I have to catch this now as my husband is leaving in 3 weeks for a business trip to Europe and I have an AC points seat leaving on July 12 so El is going to boarder's. Poor little guy is scared - and wants to be held. Hasn't affected his appetite at all though - yet. I am somewhat nervous though about giving him his kibble in case a coughing fit starts. I don't know whether vet will prescribe a cough suppressant or if an antibiotic will be necessary. I am allergic to cough meds so if I have to go to drug store I will want vet to write down exact product name. If he doesn't like the taste (unlikely) I think I will add some to my emergency cans of I/D kept for the just in case tummy upsets that might happen. Hope you pups don't come down with this. Elmo has been extremely healthy - he is now just over 3 years old. But gee this was fast. Worst of it is is that he was at socialization yesterday - which is located behind vet's - if only he had coughed before we left at 6:00 last night.

Sorry about Elmo, SnowDancer. :grouphug: KC can be wicked.

I've heard that, too, that the vaccine doesn't cover all the many strains of KC...just the most common ones. :frustrated: Unfortunately, it seems that our dogs always manage to get exposed to the ones that aren't covered. Nothing like six dogs all hacking and needing pills and cough suppressant! :rolleyes: Sigh...

Is Elmo easy to pill? We usually get a cough suppressant in pill form--Hydrocodone/Homatropine 5 mg/1.5 mg. Our dogs take pills pretty well. (Getting them to take cough syrup would probably be a futile, sitcky endeavor :D) Typically, we only needed to treat the cough a few days after we started the antibiotics.

I hope Elmo recovers quickly, SnowDancer! :fingerscr

when my dog had it, my vet prescribed antibiotics for about 10 days. (although as soon as he was on the meds, he cleared up in a few days, but as recommended we continued the full antibiotic treatment)

I also had my dog vaccinated, and he still got KC. I do continue to have him vaccinated each year, as it's a requirement for the daycare he attends, but I'm now aware it doesn't cover every strain.

you may want to let the other owners who were at that social event know (if possible), your dog very well could of picked it up there, or passed it along.

I'm sorry your little Elmo is sick! I hope he clears up real fast!

Thanks, Hazel and Jessi. I have used about a whole roll of paper towel chasing the phelgm. Surprises me that Elmo isn't trying to lick it up, disgusting as that would be. Elmo takes his Sentinel pill with great delight and the only time he had to have an antibiotic pill was in Nov. 2004 when he had a stomach virus - I hid it in his canned I/D that came home with him - so figure I can work out something. I am hoping he will get antibiotics instead of a cough medicine - just want to clear this as soon as possible. I have already called his groomer where he goes for his weekly socialization and told them about the KC so they are going to watch for other cases. Will let dog boarder know tonight. Other than those 2 places Elmo doesn't really have contact with other dogs - but heck, dogs "water" our lawn all the time and it doesn't take much for an air borne particle to land on our pups. I have "our" sheets in the wash now and I guess I will have to disinfect Elmo's Kongs etc. I know there is some recipe that uses bleach - of which I have none in this house - my husband is a little careless and spilled good amounts - twice - not pleasant! Will report back on our vet visit. Sure hope it is KC - symptoms could be for illnesses a whole lot worse.

Good luck at the vet, SD :fingerscr :goodvibes:

Well, we are back. And as I expected, despite being there for an hour Elmo did not cough once. This despite hacking the whole way over in the car and as we walked down the street to vet's - to point that people were stopping me to ask if Elmo was okay. My husband can't believe it - but I can because of my experiences with my very stoical Dachshunds. As soon as we turned the car into our street, he started hacking again. Now of course, I did get Elmo to the vet early - the symptoms during night were severe and since I will never forget our Beagle's experiences with KC - all of the green discharge etc. I wasn't about to take a chance. The vet prescribed a cough suppressant - Butorphenol - 1 mg. Dosage is 1/2 to 1 pill every 8 - 12 hours depending on severity of cough. I just gave him 1/2 a pill. Will try to use mainly at night. She is hopeful that this is just early stage KC that will quickly run its course since he has been vaccinated - and that if it is KC it will most likely be full blown in 3 days. She will be on duty all weekend - thank heavens for a Toronto vet who opens on Sundays. I am to call her over weekend if his coughing continues to be extreme as last night and this a.m. and if by Tues. things are not looking better further tests may well be in order - of the sort requiring being put under. He does not have a temperature either. As she was listening to his heart I was trying not to think the worst. Today being the 3rd anniversary of my darling last mini Dacshund's death did not help. Elmo and Jack also share the same birthday - April Fool's Day. Maybe he is getting messages from Rainbow Bridge. This med may cause slight sedation - I can only hope. Now if only they could find a cough suppressant I could take - the only hacking going on was from me.

How do they always know!?! We've had more limps and coughs and lethargy disappear on the way into the vet than I can count! :frustrated: Are dogs silly or smart? :laughing:

Anyway, I'm glad you got something for the cough at least. I hope that's all it takes! :fingerscr :goodvibes:

My Duke & Jasper had kennel cough last month and the vet told us that alot of dogs have been getting it and it just happens that every dog that she has treated have all been to our local dog park. The vet gave me Hydrocodone and said the cough could last for weeks but it only lasted 4 days and only had to use 3 pills.

Well, Elmo had a full pill at 11:00 p.m. and went to bed. Husband took a Tylenol Cold pill - and allergic me had nothing to take. Elmo coughed at 2:30 and then went back to sleep. At 7:00 he started to cough so husband gave him 1/2 a pill and he went back to sleep. He has had a couple of episodes this morning, but no foaming mucus which is great. I am keeping bulk of the pills hidden from husband as I want to monitor the situation as vet said that usually full blown KC will strike on day 3 which will be Sunday. Thankfully the note on the pills indicating they could be mildly sedating worked for Elmo - not so for my hounds when they were alive. And he did need his rest after no sleep at all Sunday night. But how he didn't cough for one hour at vet's is annoying. When he had an attack when we got home I phone clinic so receptionist could hear the hacking so he stopped as if he "knew". Cathy, I know what you mean about some parks. There is one across from us that I have asked my husband not to walk by any more - besides it is NOT an off leash park - something most people ignore and we have had to run like heck to get my tantalizing little guy away from would be attackers. Others have not been so fortunate. But no one cleans up the poop etc. so best not to take Elmo there. I am really hoping it is Kennel Cough because if it isn't they will be testing to see if maybe there is grass up his nose (or even his own fur as Eskies groom themselves as cats do) or worse a cardiac problem - which is my major concern. He will be getting his teeth cleaned probably in about 6 months - I am terrified of the blood work - it can reveal so many things - good to know of course, but still. As I cough away I can't help but wonder if one of Elmo's cough pills would work for me! He won't be going to socialization next Thursday just in case.

Snowdancer, did you take him to Woofstock? My little guy was at the vets today, and he has kennel cough.

The incubation period is 8-10 days. 9 days ago we were at Woofstock.

So far it's not too bad, but seeing him coughing and hacking breaks my heart. :sad: I hope Elmo feels better soon.

Duke & Jasper didn't need the amount of hydrocodone that was given for kennel cough. Does anyone know what I can do for the leftover meds?

Cathy - Elmo won't use up his 15 pills either - we have used only 3 1/2 (so far) - but I intend to keep them under ideal conditions just in case he has a relapse. His pills were very expensive so would hate to have to refill. When I tried a prescription that did not work - there were 30 pills - I took only one - my doctor asked that I turn them in to her - which makes sense. She knows I didn't take them and while she knows I would not give prescription meds to someone else not examined and prescribed said pills - one less worry for her. She would have sampled me to begin with but this med was not available in sample form.