If you've never heard a dog with kennel cough, it is shocking. A previous generation of our Labs caught kennel cough but Shyla's cough was louder and deeper than anything I'd ever heard before in my life. So, we went to the emergency Vet on Sunday, just to make sure that it wasn't something worse than kennel cough.
No one, canine or human, slept much on Sunday night as high-decibel and heart-wrenching dog coughs filled the air. Our regular vet got us some meds today to help control the coughing and maybe defeat this illness sooner.
The worst news of it all was that the Vet School where R had an appointment refuses to see him until he's better. Unfortunately, it's extremely hard to get appointments there so that will probably be in January. Our awesome regular vet is trying to accelerate the process for us. One of his masses is in a spot (on his right adrenal gland) where it will invade a major blood vessel if it's growing quickly so we want to get started on this process sooner rather than later.
Shyla and I are still seeing sunrise together each morning. She is amazingly happy during the interludes between bouts of coughing! Dogs have such incredible outlooks on life. I keep on trying to learn from them but it's hard to mimic their optimism.
Sending big POTP for all of you.
ReplyDeletexo Astro
Be careful letting Shyla breathe the cold air or to breathe heavily. That worsens the cough. Oh my goodness, I will pray for both your furry family members to mend quickly. And that R gets a QUICK turn-around appointment. (((((((((hugs))))))))) When it rains, it storms! :-(
ReplyDeleteOH MY WORD! so sorry to hear this. i thought they could only catch it from other dogs, like a cold virus for people. i wonder where they got it... our vet always ask if we want the shot and we say no because they see no other dogs... prayers for all of you, when our babies are sick we are sick...
ReplyDeleteOh My, I'm so sorry. I read a while ago that there are so many strains of kennel cough, it's impossible to vaccinate against all of them. So sorry, and I hope everyone feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteBlueberry is never around other dogs either - but one year she did get kennel cough. Since then I've had her vaccinated against it. She hikes in areas where other dogs have gone before and that's enough to catch it apparently. Hoping they both get better soon! That stinks that R isn't allowed to be seen until he is well.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteAs heck... another blogpal's pupster had kennel cough this month too. A strain which is different from the shots given. Just like human viruses, these ones mutate - the more we vaccinate, the more they shift sideways and still get us and our pets. Though I too was strongly of the impression that infection was by transmission... sending out healing vibes and POTP! YAM xx
We hope Shyla and R feel better real soon!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer this is :-( I was lucky that I never caught it from Mackie but mom did read on the intermuts that manuka honey is good for kennel cough and she did find it at our local health food store and Mackie did get a spoonful of it 3 times a day. Mackie didn't have the cough as bad as it sounds like Shyla and R have it though.
ReplyDeleteOh no we are so sorry. Geez there is human and k9 creeping crud everywhere. We hope the pups are feeling much better soon and that R can get his appt sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteHugs madi and mom
So sorry for the Rockies sick bay. Hope relief comes sooner than later and you are able to land an appointment with CSU soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd I was sure the apt for R would be today, your 12th. Maybe there is a very good reason( and how do we define that) for the reason R also caught the cough, and where would they both get it from? January will be here very soon, keep strong meantime and enjoy those gorgeous skies.
ReplyDeleteWe sure hope those sweeties are all better soon and that the R appointment gets bumped up.
ReplyDeleteKB, So glad you got something to ease the cough! I can tell you Hunter was up all night scratching from allergies-which means I didn't get to sleep until around 4:00 this morning. It's at these times, I wish I was a vet-I wasn't sure whether it was an ear infection or allergies. We saw our vet this morning-Hunter got a shot. Hope on those days when you are awake all night long, you get a nap. I'll be taking one this morning.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Noreen
A shame about the missed appointment. As we go into the kennel occasionally, we just get the vaccination every year.
ReplyDeleteWe had the canine flu going around about two years ago. It was terrible and we even had been vaccinated but Bailie brought it home and gave it to everyone. We coughed so hard we were throwing up, but with meds we were better within a day. Bummer was we were quarantined for about a month. Get well you two.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that both dogs came down with the cough. Hope they are both feeling better soon. And I agree with Nancy J, there could be a reason R's appt is on hold. Praying for all of you.
ReplyDeleteFernant, our lab neighbour and Tommy's best friend, had kennel cough as a puppy. His breeder brought him in to be euthanised at 3 months because by the time he got over it, he would no longer be a cute tiny pup to sell. The vet took him round the back, signed the papers, said goodbye to the breeder, then removed his microchip and put in a new one so he could not be traced, and took him home. My neighbours adopted him a few weeks later. He has been in splendid health ever since.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness that loving people stepped up to save that pup. Kennel cough is such a short-term issue... your story floored me.
DeleteWe can't imagine how they caught it! We sure hope that appointment for R gets pushed up and he is feeling better so they will see him!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
Just what you needed! Gosh, I don't understand how they could get it either. It must be a virulent strain. When we brought Luke home as a puppy (from a rescue), he came down with kennel cough almost immediately, and I panicked (and felt guilty) about the other dogs. The other dogs never contracted it (and our vet said even if they did, they would fight it off easily), and antibiotics helped Luke within a couple days. But I will never forget how awful that cough sounded!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you see improvements soon, but I am so sorry that this has messed up R's appointments. Thinking of you. ♥
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
I'm so sorry the labraduo are sick! Kennel cough is a major bummer for everyone! I hope they feel better soon and R is able to go to the specialist! ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteI am sorry the cough caught you at such a horrible time. Phod had kennel cough once, it is terrible.
ReplyDeleteSo weird that they would catch that since they don't see other dogs. I go to agility trials all the time and have never had an issue (and I don't vaccinate for it either!). Sorry they are sick and also so sorry about the terrible timing with R's appt.
ReplyDeletePoor Shyla and R and poor YOU! We know you must be so disappointed about the appointment for R, but we will keep him in our thoughts and prayers that he stays strong for his appointment. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Wags, and Prayers for healing.
ReplyDeleteThe Johnson's and Abby Lab
Sorry to hear about the kennel cough. We hope it clears up soon.
ReplyDeleteI had a dog with kennell cough in the 90's. It should clear up quickly. I don't know how long the virus lives out of the body. It could have come from sniffing an area that was coughed upon. This is very unfortunate news about R. You are doing a great job keeping things together. Prayers for you
ReplyDeleteOH NOES! Oh man guys, I hopes it clears up fast! I don't knows how you guys are handling the stress of all this, butts I bet the beautiful surroundings are helping ☺. Sendin' lots and lots of POTP and healin' vibes and AireZens and margaritas (hey, it couldn't hurt the humans....heheheee)
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Ruby ♥
we send lots of POTP your way... and a special big hug to R...
ReplyDeleteI hope the kennel cough improves quickly so R can get the treatment he needs. I'm so sorry you are going through yet another health crisis.
ReplyDeleteEvery minute we are sending healing vibes,,, and a million healing magic bubbles!
ReplyDeletelove
tweedles
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this. Our dog Soldier got it after Errol rescued him. They were in Los Angeles still and I was up here, so I never experienced it, but I know it was really bad. There is a vaccine for it and mine get that every year. My vet recommended it because Samson has a compromised immune system and he goes to the groomers a couple of times a year. And that is one spot where he could catch it. I am so sorry about R not being able to see the specialists as soon as you had hoped. I hope your vet can work something out.
ReplyDeletemany years ago we had a bout of kennel cough after boarding our pugs for a few days. The oldest came down with it and then the other 3. We have never boarded again
ReplyDeletehope it clears up quickly and you can get R rescheduled soon
hugs
Hazel & Mabel
Sorry that everyone is sick! All of the dogs from our shelter have kennel cough because they're so overcrowded that they just can't get it under control, so my foster dog last year had kennel cough and he was in such rough shape from other issues that he'd sneeze and fall over! It was heart breaking. Then my new dog Rye had it, too, and had to be quarantined for 2 weeks so that Barley didn't catch it. I have never gone through so much Lysol in my life. Rye, of course, didn't mind at all and was ready to romp and play all day and just take quick time outs for coughing and sneezing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that R gets his appointment sooner rather than later!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, I hope they will be feeling better soon! Sending hugs....
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