Kennel Cough -- any advice?

[OnionPatch]

I'm not even really certain it's kennel cough although the symptoms sound like exactly that. (I've been googling dog illness.) My poor dog has been hacking for several days now. The other one has had the bordetella vaccination but it's been more than a year ago. She seems fine so far, though. The weird thing is that my two dogs have not been to any kennel or anywhere around any other dogs! We live out in the country. There is a dog next door, but he rarely even comes near the fenceline. Where did Maude get kennel cough? Is it possible to get it from coyotes? Or any other wild animals? There are tons of rabbits around here.

The problem is that my whole household (the people) are also down with a horrible flu or I would have taken the dog to the vet. I couldn't drag a sick five-year-old out to the vet and my husband was at work. Now we're all home and all have this horrible flu with, coincidentally, a horrible cough! Yikes! Is it possible that we could have the same thing the dog has or vice-versa? I doesn't sound like kennel cough is infectious to humans, but what a weird coincidence that we're all sick and a cough is the main symptom.

So it's Saturday, hubby's home to stay with daughter and I'm willing to drag my sick body to the vet if I can find one open today, but won't that risk other dogs there catching whatever it is? Is it even worth taking her? The stuff I read on the internet said kennel cough goes away by itself most of the time. Is there anything else I can do to help her? I feel bad that she has to stay in the garage. (My husband is allergic to dogs, plus, our two dogs are HUGE. They live outside and in the garage most of the time.) Would a heater in the garage help her get better faster?

Thanks for any help or advice. Yikes. I feel like I need to put a quarantine sign outside of our house.

[Kota]

1. I gave my dog cough medicine. If you took him to the vet they

would give you a perscription. Try calling them and asking what over the counter cough syrup you can give. I just gave my dog robitussin.

[OnionPatch]

5. Thank you!

I will do that pronto. We certainly have cough medicine here right now. About five different kinds. :)

[RebelOne]

2. I had to board my dog at her vet's one time.

He gave her a vaccination for kennel cough, but she got it anyway. I just let it run its course and it went away. It is my understanding that you cannot catch a cold or cough from a dog, but dogs can get a cold from humans. I would definitely put a heater in the garage. I mean, how would you like being in a cold garage if you were sick?

[OnionPatch]

6. Geez, I sure hope

she didn't catch our flu from us!

Like I said in the other reply, we're in southern California and it doesn't get that cold here, really, but I was still worried because she was sick. The problem is that my husband is allergic to her and he has this awful flu, too.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Make sure their bed is off the cold floor

[OnionPatch]

4. I have down a thick sheet plywood

under 6 inches of quilts for their bed. I'm not sure how else I could get them up off the floor any more than that. Like I said, they are big dogs; 80 and 100 lbs. Also, the bed is under a table with tablecloth sides to make it like a tent. And they love each other and cuddle together all the time. I think they should be pretty toasty but I worry. My husband laughed at me for all the effort I put into making their cozy bed; It is southern California. It doesn't get all that cold here. :shrug:

[ernstbass]

7. Robitussin DM

that's what my vet recommends

[OnionPatch]

8. Thanks and I happen to have some, too

I've been taking it myself. I swear I have bronchitis or something.

As for the dog, she's doing better. She's not coughing nearly as much or for as long and seems more chipper. Her appetite has returned in full force as well.