Kennel Cough Vaccination

[Beckyyy]

Duke is due his boosters towards the end of the month and I was considering asking the vet for a KC vaccination for him at the same time (I think it's the one up the nose?). Has anybody had any ill effects from it at all? I've hard that some dogs have what seems like a mild case of KC afer the vaccination.

[Fundog]

I've gotten my girls the KC booster (injection) every year, just for my own peace of mind. Annie had kennel cough when we adopted her from the shelter as a little puppy. However, neither of my girls have ever displayed any symptoms or complications from the shot whatsoever.

[wvvdiup1]

I had this done to my dog Karma not too long ago and I haven't seen any complications. I think that depends on your dog's immunity system though, but your dog should be okay, Beckyyy!

[Julz]

The KC vaccination over here goes up the nose... Tara's had it twice lasted 6months, each time after it wears off she ends up with a bout of it ..spoke to her vet today about the year long one... will get that next time, Tara's had KC four times now, and yet never been in kennels (I know they are thinking of changing the name as KC is misleading..they dont have to have been in kennels to get it.

[ladybug1802]

My friend's dog has had the KC vaccination, and he gets KC quite a lot! He has had at least 2 vets vists over the past few months because if KC>

I dont have it for Dylan, but that is mainly because he is SO scared and awful at the vet that he will not let them anywhere near him. And there is no way I would even TRY to get a vet near him with no muzzle on...so we have no choice really!¬ But I do know of someone else's dog who has had KC even when it has been vaccinated, so I dont mind that Dylan hasnt had it.

[runlikethewind]

My dog had it when he was a pup... A healthy adult dog can fight the infection without assistance I heard. My pup had antibiotics. He hasn't had the KC vaccine and hasn't had KC since.

[Mattie]

The best thing for kennel cough I have found is something I make myself, I also take it myself if I get a cough and find it better than what I can buy.

Break up a liquirice root and put into a jug.
Pour over 1pint of boiling water.
Leave to stand for about 10 minutues
Take out the liquirice root and leave to dry, it can be used again.
Add honey to taste.

Give 1 tablespoon for a medium to large dog 5 or 6 times a day, my dogs love it and will take it off the spoon.

For humans you can add whiskey or brandy to it.

It can't do your dogs any harm because there is nothing in it to harm the dog.

[Sarah83]

I was told the KC vaccination is pretty pointless as there are so many different strains of it and it's kinda like the common cold in humans. Never had it done and don't intend to unless it's required for boarding him.

[Nettle]

I was told the KC vaccination is pretty pointless as there are so many different strains of it and it's kinda like the common cold in humans. Never had it done.

That's my take on it too. I do stress I am NOT telling people not to vaccinate, simply saying that's what I do with mine.

[Beckyyy]

Thanks for the replies everyone, after reading more about it I think I have the same view and will leave it unless there's a good reason to get it in the future.

[wvvdiup1]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I LOVE Mattie's recipe, because it's great for coughs, colds, and the dreaded Flu!

[Julz]

I may try that recipe if i ever get another cold. I cant take over the counter medicines as im asthmatic and everything makes me wheeze.. so it's usually just huge doses of Vit C and zinc for me.... Like you say, cant do any harm.. where do you buy liqourice root?

re the KC vaccine.. it only protects against the most virulent strain.. like flu there are many strains, some that arent as harmful as others and then there's the one that could kill.

Tara's had it four times now and medicated for two of them as those times she was really ill, the other two she just shook off herself. It depends on how it affects your dog, the last time Tara had a high temp and just wanted to crash out all the time even if she'd been for a 2min run in the garden for a pee.... then she'd come back in and disappear to her bed. Very unlike her.

[Mattie]

I may try that recipe if i ever get another cold. I cant take over the counter medicines as im asthmatic and everything makes me wheeze.. so it's usually just huge doses of Vit C and zinc for me.... Like you say, cant do any harm.. where do you buy liqourice root?

You can get it at any health shop.

[Nettle]

Only a fully developed immune system can put up a full immune response, which is why most vets start a vaccination programme for puppies at ten or twelve weeks. Prior to that, the puppy should have 'maternal immunity' that it took in with it's mother's colostrum (first milk, which is different from later milk) but that assumes that the mother had immunity to pass on in the first place. If there is maternal immunity, the pup's immune system will not respond because the body does not 'recognise' an immune response to be necessary as the pup is immune at that time in any case. 10/12 weeks is still too young for a proper immune response which is why vets recommend a second vaccination soon afterwards and another at a year old.

Most dogs have a fully-developed immune system at six months, but if we delay vaccinating for six months, that is a long time for a pup to be exposed to infection without the protection of vaccination.

So - as so often in life - it's a series of options, none of which is perfect.

[emmabeth]

Bah Nettle, you got caught by a spammer! (And this one actually had 'SEO Specialist' in its profile - SEO being Search Engine OPtimization - aka, link spamming!)!!!