Kennel Cough

[Kris L. Christine]

Of the 5 dogs we've owned in the past 15 years, the only ones who developed kennel cough were the 3 who were vaccinated against it. The 2 who were not vaccinated against it never caught kennel cough, despite several 2 week stays at boarding facilities.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

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Regarding the Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine, on Page 2 of the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines and Recommendations, it states that "Optional or 'noncore' vaccines are those that the committee believe should be considered only in special circumstances because their use is more dependent on the exposure risk of the individual animal. Issues of geographic distribution and lifestyle should be considered before administering these vaccines. In addition, the diseases involved are generally self-limiting or respond readily to treatment. The committee believes this group of vaccines comprises distemper-meases virus (D-MV), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), Leptospira spp., Bordetella bronchispetica, and Borrelia burdorferi."

Further, on Page 14 of the AAHA Guidelines, it states: "Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica): Bordetella bronchiseptica is another cause of the “kennel cough” syn-drome. Infection in some susceptible dogs generally causes a self-limiting, upper respiratory disease and rarely causes life-threatening disease in otherwise healthy animals. Clini-cal disease resolves quickly when treated with appropriate antibiotics. Vaccination does not block infection but appears to lessen clinical disease, and vaccines provide a short DOI (<1 year) [table 2]. It is also unknown whether current vac-cine strains protect against all field strains."

Combination Vaccines, Multiple Shots--on Page 16 of the 2003 AAHA Guidelines under Immunological Factors Determining Vaccine Safety, it states that: "Although increasing the number of components in a vaccine may be more convenient for the practitioner or owner, the likelihood for adverse effects may increase. Also, interference can occur among the components. Care must be taken not to administer a product containing too many vaccines simultaneously if adverse events are to be avoided and optimal immune responses are sought. "

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/

[abray]

When I was in my 20's I had a dog that was a cross between a Shepherd, Sheltie, and a Husky. I had never heard of Kennel Cough or Bordetella. She got a nasty cough a few months after I got her, around four or five months of age. I took her to the vet when it didn't subside after a few days...kennel cough...Has she had a Bordetella vaccine? They quarantined and treated her, then she got the vaccine yearly for the rest of her life, but still got kennel cough at least once or twice a year...never gave it to my other dogs either. The vet said she caught chronic kennel cough. She lived about 16 years, never ill in any other way until she passed...she had a tumor by then and at her age I let it go until she became uncomfortable and put her down. I since learned while working at vet clinics that Bordetella is only effective for six months. When boarding, they required a Bordetella nasal vaccine if one had not been given within the last six months. (I should note that I saw more than one case of kennel cough anyway). Also, she's the only dog I ever vaccinated against kennel cough. Even the other three she shared her space with never had a vaccine and never had kennel cough.

[Kris L. Christine]

Interesting, it makes me wonder if some dogs get kennel cough from the vaccine.

Kris

[abray]

My thought exactly. I've always known they use strains of viruses to make vaccines. I, myself cannot get a flu vaccine without getting the flu for the next year. I haven't had a flu vaccine in ten or twelve years and may have gotten the flu twice or three times in all that time. (I don't get sick often). Vaccines are a double-edged sword. They serve a great purpose in the human and animal worlds, but first they are overdone, and second they are not good for all recipients. And the FDA and insurance companies and sadly, vets and doctors too, are about making money on the public's ignorance of what they are receiving. It is, unfortunately, the world we live in. All we can do is educate ourselves and try to increase public awareness.

[Kris L. Christine]

Abray,

I agree with you and believe that the best way to save money and have a healthy dog is to be as informed about pet vaccines as possible -- that's why I actively distribute data to the pet-owning public.

Veterinary trade publications have frankly addressed the issue of the link between vaccines and income.

A related story Improving Veterinarians' Income a Top Goal of AVMA President-elect candidate Childers. can be found at http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/mar04/040315g.asp.

In an August 2004 cover story in Veterinary Economics entitled Targeting Changing Vaccine Protocols by Roger F. Cummings, they state that: "In the 1970s and ’80s many veterinarians derived a substantial percent of their total incomes from vaccinating dogs and cats. .....And in many practices today, the vaccination reminder is the one thing that drives visits from healthy pets. So changing your vaccine protocols could have a significant affect on practice finances."

Dr. Alice Wolf, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, stated in an address (Vaccines of the Present and Future http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB...00/PR00141.htm) at the 2001 World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress that: “some veterinarians use the recommendation for vaccinations as a way to ensure client visits for yearly examinations and, least appropriate, as a ‘profit center.’”

In an October 1, 2002 DVM Newsletter article entitled, AVMA, AAHA to Release Vaccine Positions, http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=35171, Jennifer Fiala reports, "The statement stresses AVMA's stance on education, a reduction in the profession's dependence on vaccine sales, which account for a significant portion of practice income, ..........Veterinarians must promote the value of the exam and move away from their dependence on vaccine income. "

DVM's July 1, 2003 article, Developing Common Sense Strategies for Fiscal Responsibility http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=61694 declares that, "The purpose of this article is to focus on the third of these essential cornerstones: the economic realities of protocol changes, and how medical and surgical standards including reduced frequency of vaccination can be compatible with financial viability; and, yes, even success. ........For a real eye-opener of potential revenue loss, research practice records for the most recent 12 months of client activity to determine the estimated number of adult canine patients that were seen for annual vaccinations. Multiply this number times the revenue loss calculated above on an individual patient basis to determine the total potential lost income. "

From a July 1, 2003 [b]DVM article entitled, What Do We Tell Our Clients? , http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/a...l.jsp?id=61696, "It has finally happened. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released canine vaccine guidelines. Some practitioners may dread it and consider the recommendations as a 'practice buster.' ......The concern of course is the loss of our 'vaccine hook.' "

On Page 18 of the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, the task force declares: "However, the ethical issue that our profession struggles with today is whether economics justifies giving an animal a drug (vaccines are biologic drugs) that is not necessarily required. As a minimum, we should allow pet owners to make this choice rather than make it for them."

If anyone would like copies of the American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines, the 1992 French challenge study demonstrating that dogs were immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, the 2003 Italian study documenting fibrosarcomas at the presumed injection sites of rabies vaccines in dogs, as well as Dr. W. Jean Dodds' papers on vaccinal adverse reactions, please e-mail me at ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com.

Excellent information on veterinary vaccine is available at the sites below:

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/

[FlyingSquirrel]

Hi Kris -

I happen to have a dog who is in the midst of kennel cough. We attended the recent OC Expo Splash Dogs event during the obscene 95-degree weather and the week afterwards she started showing signs. We are out training and trialing more than we're not, so there's no way to know how she could've been exposed or what exact stressors made her susceptible. Emmy's never been sick in her 3-1/2 years, so other than a difficult training session (in a scent class no less) the week prior, then tweaking her neck the weekend of diving on a hot-hot-hot weekend, I'm kind of at a loss.

I was wondering if an assault on a dog's nasal passages thru accidentally inhaling water (thru a bad dock jump) could've had any effect? Since the “mucociliary escalator” safeguard can be damaged thru stressors making a dog susceptible to bacterium, perhaps "water up the nose" could cause the same type of environment? Just curious...

My big question is how long she - and my other dogs - are contagious? (Started coughing on Thursday and today - Tuesday - no coughing so far). Neither of my others are showing any signs (knock on wood) but I have no way to separate them so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. Also, we had a bitework training at our Schutzhund club the night Emmy started coughing. (Didn't recognize it at the time.) Do we need to disinfect the sleeve? Keep it out of use for awhile? I realize KC is caused by virus and/or bacterium, but what are the recommendations for that type of thing??

FWIW, I haven't vaccinated for Bordatella for about 10 years and haven't had a case in that time despite many dog park visits and a high frequency of training/trialing in multiple venues and coming into contact with a variety of dogs. My oldest (now 12) got KC as a puppy when he and his brother were purchased from the Animal Shelter. That's a no-brainer and he's always been easily stressed anyhow. The other two came many hours by plane and/or automobile and neither have ever had it - until now. I also titre for the rest of the vaccines - except Rabies, of course. Can't wait until your study results in better Rabies vax protocols!

Thanks,

Kim

[Kris L. Christine]

Kim,

You would have to ask your veterinary care provider those questions. Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine says that bordetella (kennel cough) is not a vaccinatable disease and that conditions in boarding kennels are the problem. I suppose it's rather like vaccinating against the common cold.

My own experience was that the dogs that we vaccinated against kennel cough for were the only ones that ever got it. The 2 who were never vaccinated against it, never came down with it despite mutiple stays at boarding facilities.

Some dog owners have had luck with the coughing by giving their dogs honey (it works with my kids when they're sick), and
The Whole Dog Journal had an article about honey and dogs http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/iss...s_15967-1.html in which Juliette de Bairacli Levy says she believes dogs derive the same health benefits from it as humans.

I hope your dog is feeling better soon. One of our vaccinated dogs had a terrible case of kennel cough, it was no fun for him or us.

[FlyingSquirrel]

Thanks, Kris -

She's doing much better, thanks, it's just an unexpected hassle. In the whole scheme of things, it's a very minor inconvenience, tho'.

Kim

[bstolton]

Hi everyone
Newbe to this website and have been reading some of the posts with much interest.I took my dog to the vet today for kennel cough, she was vaccinated in april as she had just turned two years old.On memorial day weekend we went to the bass pro shops event, first timers and I`m proud to say we got third place in the pro finals? I`m pretty sure she would of had to have gotten infected there, because she`s our only dog and does`nt come in contact with other dogs on a regular basis. I was looking forward to taking her to other competions in the future but now I`m a little gun shy. My vet said she reccomends getting vaccinated every six months if your dog is going to be exposed to alot of other dogs on a regular basis, or she said you can get a booster shot a few days before a competition.Please let me know what experiences and or thoughts you guys might have.
Thanks Bill

My personal opinion is that kennel cough is like a human cold. Most of the time not that big a deal. Definitely a pain though. Like a human cold occasionally turns into bronchitis or pneumonia, the same can happen with a dog. My dogs have had kennel cough on a variety of occasions and it usually is just a few days of coughing and then they're back to normal. I used to vaccinate for it when I worked at a dog daycare that required it (since I took my dogs to work). I found that one of my dogs who has a bad immune system still caught it all the time and the other never did. In fact, I'm pretty sure he caught it off my clothes after I taught a puppy class one time (found out later that one of the puppies came down with it the next day, but my dog was not at class that night). Now that I've stopped vaccinating, my low immune system boy still gets it once in a while, the other two still never get it. I personally haven't had any of my boys catch it at a dock jumping event, but it definitely is a possibility. That said, the fun my boys and I have at the events far outweighs the risk of catching a cold in my opinion.

That said, I would hope that anyone who knows their dog has kennel cough would keep their dog home that day!

Just my two cents...