My vaccinated dog is wheezing and coughing. How can I make him feel better?

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection. There are different upper respiratory tract infections possible and unfortunately kennel cough is only one (although the most common) of them. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi Nadia. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Chances are Tortuga has kennel cough. The vaccine is not 100% protective (just like our flu vaccine) so even if a dog has been vaccinated they can still get kennel cough. The symptoms are usually milder and the course of the disease is shorter in dogs that have been vaccinated versus those that haven't so giving the vaccine is definitely warranted. I suggest you just monitor him for now since he seems to be acting normally. If the coughing gets worse or he starts showing other symptoms then get him to your vet for an exam: * ocular and/or nasal discharge * vomiting/gagging/retching * not eating * lethargy Of course, if you are worried you should take him to your vet for an exam now. There is no harm in doing that. Sometimes it is better to be safe than sorry. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Unfortunately it's impossible to know the underlying cause of the coughing without a physical exam and possible radiographs. Pets can cough due to allergies, infections or something more sinister. Even vaccinated pets can get kennel cough though it tends to be less severe (just like humans can get the flu even though they have the vaccine). Treatment is different for each of these conditions. At home you can try rest for a few days so no running or anything to cause panting. Keep her from barking as well. If you don't want to wait you can certainly have her examined today. Otherwise if the coughing doesn't improve after a few days or if it gets worse at any point, I recommend to have Sadie examined by her veterinarian. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Kennel cough is an upper respiratory infection which sometimes can even affect the lower respitatory system or lungs. It is sometimes due to bacterial or viral infections. This is a relatively common disease in puppies especially if not vaccinated. It is contagious and usually dogs get it from other affected dogs. Coughing can of course happen due to other pulmonary conditions like pneumonia for example. I recommend that you have Naja evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may take thoracic radiographs and may prescribe antibiotics. Good luck and have a good day!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Daisey is having problems. I have seen some dogs break with very mild signs (sneezing, coughing) after being vaccinated with a bordetella vaccine. This is a very rare occurrence but can happen. Usually, these signs are self-limiting and resolve in a few days to one week. I would continue to monitor her and make sure that her signs resolve and do not worsen. One side effect of vaccines (although not common) is causing a very mild form of the disease. I have only seen this with bordetella vaccines and it is very rare based on how doses are given daily around the world. If her signs persist, worsen, or other signs develop, please call your vet and have them advise you. Good luck with Daisey.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While antibiotics can cause vomiting and nausea, a cough can definitely be due to aspiration pneumonia. However, other conditions unrelated to possible aspiration such as heart disease, infectious pneumonia, or heart worm infection can cause coughing as well and may just be a coincidence. If you are concerned about Chester’s cough, I recommend having him seen by his vet to rule out the conditions above. They can perform bloodwork and x-rays to make a diagnosis and begin the appropriate treatment. I hope this helps and that all is well with Chester!

Poor guy. If the coughing is lasting more than 12-24 hrs, then there is a good chance Toby has a bit of an upper respiratory infection (i.e. Kennel cough). I would highly recommend taking him in to your local vet to get treatment, which usually consists of a short course of antibiotics to clear things up. Pet vaccinated with the Bordetella vaccine once every 6-12 months are protected up to 87% from contracting URI's, so this would be best to do once Tobby is feeling better. : ) I hope that your fur baby feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.