My rescue dog left the shelter. Does he still need kennel cough shot?

Congratulations on bringing Kaiyah into your household! Yes, it is possible she has kennel cough. The vaccine helps to decrease the strength of the infection in most cases but it may not fully protect. It’s just like how you can still get the flu even though you get the flu vaccine but you don’t usually get us sick. I recommend to call the shelter. They will likely want to see her again or refer you to a veterinarian. There are other causes of coughing as well including allergies. The veterinarian will conduct a physical exam which may give them some clues as to the origin. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, I would have Charley vaccinated as well. The kennel cough vaccine doesn't completely protect against the disease, but it makes the symptoms less severe if the dog gets it. This is because there are a number of different bacteria that can cause kennel cough. Mayzie could still get it, and yes she could bring it home and infect Charley.

If he is sick, he shouldn't be vaccinated until he recovers. Kennel cough is typically self limiting. This means it resolves on its own whether treatment is administered or not. Antibiotics may help treat secondary infection. Since kennel cough may be caused by more than one organism, Dreko should still be vaccinated in the future.

Yes , it is possible that Theo can still get kennel cough, even though he was vaccinated. Kennel cough is a respiratory disease complex that can be caused by a large number of various bacteria and viruses. The vaccination only covers Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is the bacterium which is the main cause. So if your dog catches kennel cough he can still get infected with the other bacteria and viruses, but he will be immune against Bordetella. This then usually causes the kennel cough to be milder. Because Theo has a oozing eye I suggest you take him to the vet for an exam. If he has a fever as well and should he have an eye infection he will need antibiotics, If he has a bad cough your vet can also give him some cough medicine. Usually kennel cough is self-limiting and goes away within 3-4 weeks, but sometimes a dog needs medication to help it get over it.

I generally recommend waiting about 2 weeks after recovery from kennel cough to give a dose of the kennel cough vaccine. As long as your vet feels that Dallas has a clean bill of health, it should be perfectly fine for him to get the vaccine anytime now. I'm glad to hear that he's made a full recovery and is doing well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would agree with you that this could be something like kennel cough. This is something that most dogs when supported can get through. I would recommend you have Khali evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and treat accordingly. Antibiotics are usually prescribed as part of the treatment protocol. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dogs. Kennel cough is a generic term for an upper respiratory tract infection. While Bordetella is a common component of the infection, you are correct in that there are other causes. I do recommend the vaccine though as I seen respiratory infections very frequently. The vaccine can either prevent the disease or will lessen the effects of the infection. I hope this information helps!