Kennel (Canine) Cough and Vaccinations?

Question

I was wondering:
I was informed that if a puppy is found to have Kennel Cough and is treated while in the process of being vaccinated for (example the 8week puppy vaccination) that the treatment for Kennel Cough counters the puppy's vaccinations and in fact the puppy should be treated for the Kennel Cough and a wait period of 10 day after the vet clears the Kennel Cough only then should the pup receive puppy vaccinations. I wonder if anyone can help clear and verify this info in literature or sites I can research this information. The help is greatly appreciated.

Let's say the pup was vaccinated and then it was established that she had Kennel Cough and needed antibiotics. Should the pup have been revaccinated as the antibiotic could have offset the vaccinations as vaccinations are virus strains to help the immunity develope resistance?
And if so--is there literature or sites to confirm? Again any directions and information is helpful. Thanks in advance.

If the pup is sick and a vaccination is given does that make them more susceptible to becoming sick simply from the vaccination or other environmental causes? If so is there documentation on this topic?

Answer 1

Vets usually will not vaccinate any animal that is sick enough to need medication. They want to make sure that the 1st problem is gone and will not cause additional issues when given the vaccinations. This is especially true with puppies - because they are given a battery of vaccinations over a period of time - since it is the first time that they are receiving these shots you want to make sure that the pup is healthy and if they have a reaction to the vaccinations it is clearly the vaccinations and not something else.

Answer 2

In general you don't want to vaccinate a dog that is ill. You don't want to add more stress to the already stressed immune system. If you vaccinate a sick animal, they may not develop as strong of an immune response as a healthy one. Kennel cough is caused by several infectious agents. The ones that the dogs get vaccinated for are bordetella brochiseptical, adenovirus and parainfluenza. However there can be different strains and just because your dog is vaccinated does not mean it will not get kennel cough (it does decrease your risk though). Also mycoplasma and other bacteria are not covered by the vaccine. Animals with kennel cough are usually given antibiotics to help prevent secondary bacterial infections or the bordetella. Antibiotics do not kill viruses.

Answer 3

Kennel cough is pretty much like the common cold. It must run its course and extra antibiotics don't really necessarily help. Watch for signs of pneumonia, but the bordatella vaccination is useless. It covers a very small handful of the 30+ strains out there. Over half the dogs I foster from the local shelter have kennel cough, I don't vaccinate my dogs for it, and my dogs don't come down with it. Typically, stressed out dogs are the most prime candidates for it (in a shelter, in a boarding kennel, etc) just like people are more likely to get sick when they are stressed. Giving an appropriate amount of ester vitamin C helps. I give up to 2000 mg for a 50+ lbs dog. 250 mg twice a day should be plenty.

Answer 4

I work at a dog kennel. That is true for the most part. To treat canine tuberculosis (kennel cough) requires antibiotics. The plus five shots are a live virus vaccination. The antibiotics will "cure" the live virus and the puppy will not gain any immunity. I don't know about a 10 day waiting period, but that may be correct. Your vet should know for sure.

Answer 5

HUH? What have you been reading, that says these are side effects of a kennel cough vaccine? I own five dogs, and they have never had any side effects from kennel cough. You aren't going to put the dog in a boarding kennel, your parents are. I would never go for cheap. I very rarely need to leave a dog in a boarding kennel, but when I do, I leave them at my vet's kennel, which is not cheap. Price doesn't matter, because my vet's office has my dogs' records, and if there is a problem, while I am gone, I can trust them to take good care of the dogs.

Answer 6

8 week pups only get 1st distemper usually. If the pup has kennel cough it can be treated without problem. It will not gain the immunity from the 1st shot. The pup does need to be treated with antibiotics witch nullify the ditemper shots. I think the 10 days they speak of is to allow the pup to clear its system of the antibiotics. Pups almost always get 3 sets of distemper. 6-8 weeks then about 10 weeks and then about 12 weeks.They only need one but the others are incase the the 1st did not take. Pups dont get rabies until theyre older. So dont worry