kennel cough

[cathardy]

I have a nine week old newfoundland pup that started with kennel cough as soon as we brought him home. The breeder has confirmed that none of the litter have this problem and my pup seems to be the only one. My vet has put him on a very mild antibiotic because anything stronger could affect his bones and growth. However after nearly two weeks he doesnt seem to be improving. I have him in a small room at night and have just started to put a menthol vaporiser in there to help with this problem. He isnt showing signs of being ill, just the opposite, he plays and runs and eats well. However I am concerned about the coaugh and wondered if anybody had any ideas such as herbal remedies, etc

[KOPsRobyn]

Hi there

There is a huge variety of herbal remedies available that are being used to treat kennel cough in dogs, although you have to be very careful in which one you choose as the efficacy varies widely and some may even be harmful for your dog. People hold different opinions about the efficacy of herbal remedies, so if it is something that you are interested in trying, the best way to find out is to put it to the test and see if there is any improvement in your dog. If you do have a product in mind, it would be a good idea to ask your vet to check over the ingredients list first to make sure there is nothing there that would be harmful for your puppy.

If you are unhappy with the results of the antibiotic prescribed, your vet should be able to provide you with alternative therapies. There are quite a few antibiotics that won't affect his growth which could be tried. Other forms of treatment can also be used in combination to improve the efficacy of the therapy. These include anti-coughing medicines, soothers for the throat, medications to help clear the mucus, as well as those that make the airways wider to allow your puppy to breath easier.

Keep in mind that the symptoms of kennel cough will persist for quite some time, so often it is just a matter of being patient and providing TLC for your puppy whilst waiting for the infection to clear up.

I hope this helps and your puppy gets over his infection quickly!