KENNEL COUGH – The Common Cold in Puppies

May also be referred to as URI (upper respiratory infection) or Tracheobronchitis
 

- Kennel cough has many different strains. Even vaccines and the best sanitation cannot prevent it, similar to not being able to prevent a cold in a classroom or daycare.

 

- If any puppy shows signs of kennel cough while at Puppy Love, the puppy is separated and treated until it is deemed healthy by one of the licensed veterinarians at Noah’s Ark or South Salem Animal Hospital.

 

- Occasionally a puppy may develop symptoms after it is brought home even when symptoms were not evident at the time of sale. IMPORTANT!! If you see any of the following symptoms, take your puppy to the veterinarian promptly so they can prescribe an appropriate antibiotic.

 

- Coughing (Hacking sound)

- Does not want to eat

- Lethargic or depressed

- Green or yellow runny nose

                                                                        

*Pneumonia can develop without proper antibiotic treatment*

 

**PLEASE NOTE** Based on extensive veterinary research, it has been found that Beta-Lactam antibiotics such as Clavamox, Amoxicillin, and Cephalexin DO NOT successfully treat Bordetella (kennel cough) because they do not reach therapeutic concentrations in airway secretions.

 

Other antibiotics like Doxycycline have been found to be more effective. If you or your veterinarian have any questions, you're more than welcome to contact one of the veterinarians that examine and treat Puppy Love puppies. Dr. Jeff Hubsher can be reached at 914-763-3123 or 203-431-VETS. Dr. Pia Hiekkaranta can be reached at 914-763-3123.

 

• Go to the veterinarian at the earliest opportunity, the earlier the puppy receives treatment, the sooner the puppy can recuperate.

• It is important to call the veterinarian again if your puppy’s symptoms worsen or do not improve quickly within 2-3 days.

 

Ways to lower the chances of kennel cough from developing in your new puppy are:
 

• Prevent your dog from becoming exhausted from too much playtime. Kennel cough is more likely to affect puppies that are not getting frequent enough rest periods!

• Let your puppy spend most of its time in its crate or playpen like a baby does in a crib.

• Avoid introducing your puppy to other dogs until your veterinarian completes puppy vaccines and the puppy has developed a stronger immune system.

• Do not bring your puppy to dog parks or pet stores where they can be exposed to animals that may not be vaccinated or carrying infections.

 

I understand that I have the option to contact Puppy Love and bring the puppy to Puppy Love to have it treated under the supervision of Puppy Love’s veterinarian at no additional charge.

 

COMMON PARASITES- Coccidea, Giardia & Other Intestinal Worms

 

• 95% of puppies are born with some type of internal parasite or worm.

• Inform the veterinarian if your puppy has diarrhea or little drops of blood in the stool. This is a common sign that your puppy needs deworming and not a cause for emergency!

• As long as they are not being re-infected by their environment, most parasites require deworming twice, two weeks apart.

• Transmission of parasites to other animals or to people cannot happen unless infected stool is consumed.

• While your puppy has been previously treated for worms and parasites, your veterinarian may perform a stool test 1-2 times a year. An ELISA test will see if a puppy is negative or positive for parasites. Because antibodies may still exist from previous exposure, puppies may continue to test positive for a month or more. Your veterinarian may elect to solely treat based on an ELISA test but performing an O&P test is important as it tests for active cysts (eggs) to know if there is an active infection.

• I understand that my puppy has been previously treated for worms and parasites, but it is NOT unusual for a puppy to be symptom-free until periods of stress caused by changes in environment and travel, cause symptoms to appear and may need to be treated again.

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