Kennel Cough

I hope someone can help my friend with a 6 mo. old, 5 lb. Morkie (sigh). She has had kennel cough for about a month now and her vet has taken her off antibiotics, says to bring her in in JUNE. She was given nothing to sooth her throat. Biscuit is to be kept quiet. Does anyone have an idea what the novice owner can give Biscuit to soothe her throat? I think the vet wasn't very helpful but after three trips to him, the owner is discouraged about her little black baby. Biscuit has to be one of the cutest dogs in existance but why do people breed and buy these tiny tiny squirts? Oh yes, the vet spayed her when she was only 2-3 lbs. and 3 months old. This is a typical puppy mill product, I believe, and the vet said something about later going in for some kind of a surgery on her throat. In the meantime, Biscuit continues to cough. Thanks for any advice!!!

She could ask her vet about giving Robitussin DM (the cough suppressant kind) at a dosage of .5 to 1 milligram per pound every 6 to 12 hours as needed. It should quiet the cough and allow her throat to heal a bit. But definitely double-check with the vet before giving any kind of over-the-counter medication.

My vet recommended it when my last foster's kennel cough was particularly bad, and it worked wonders -- he was barely sleeping because of the coughing, and he was finally able to get a good night's sleep, which I think speeded up his healing.

Time for a new vet.

Seriously??? Absolutely time for a NEW VET!!! If someone/particularly a vet could not help my Puppy Julian, for KC, after I raised holy hell I'd be at a new vet!

It is a virus and if there is no infection the antibiotics won't help anything. The people over the counter Robitussin does work and I have given it to may a pug who had kennel cough. Works pretty good, depending on the severity, you may have to dose 2/3 times a day to soothe the cough enough to allow the irritation to lessen.

I've had good luck with Robitussin too. I just sucked it in a syringe and dribbled it into their mouths. It did help the coughing.

I would find a new vet immediately. If the coughing is bad, it could be that the little one needs some narcotics to help calm the muscles in the throat. Also, if the baby continues to cough, and infection in the throat can occur. Also, there could be a more serious reason for the coughing. Either way, the current vet does not seem to care very much.

Any vet who would tell me to wait until June would be an ex-vet real fast.

elisemarie wrote:Any vet who would tell me to wait until June would be an ex-vet real fast.

No kidding. All that vet would ever see of me is the back side going away. Leslye is right, this is not something that can wait for two months.

"Come back in June" is unreal advice from a supposed professional care giver. At least the vets attitude has been exposed with a less serious issue.

I've used honey and had that help with coughing. And IF the KC has become bacterial, I've found Baytril worked when most antibiotics don't, but others are right--KC can be viral or bacterial and if it is viral, antibiotics won't work.

I'd think about may be trying to boost the dog's immune system a bit as well.