I found this for you

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/kennel-cough-in-dogs?page=2

I'd add keep the dog on lead and not let him do any strenuous exercise.

As you've been told, the vaccine(s) are not 100% effective and not all dogs need that vaccine. Out of curiosity, does your dog get the vaccine and if so, which form?

SaltiDawg I don't really know except its called DA2PPV 3 year vaccine and she's due for one in January 2016 and a wellness check up.today she got injection of cefazolin antibiotic and cerenia for nausea also will be taking clavamox another antibiotic oral. she had pneumonia a few years ago so she also go a chest xray. she's on a bland diet for a few days to quiet her tummy down . you are right about leash walking , running can initiate coughing. she's my grand dog, so human grandma is making chicken and rice for her. thanks for your comments, i appreciate that.

christine, i did see that article. thanks

jn91871,

DA2PPV covers Distemper, Parvo, and a couple of other terrible diseases. But does not address Kennel Cough.

A few of us could post our various explanations of Kennel Cough, but I suggest you simply Google it.

In a paragraph, Kennel Cough is highly contagious, generally not a serious disease, and frequently cures itself with rest and a few weeks. (However, it is sometimes a serious disease.) The long-time philosophy regarding which dogs should get Kennel Cough vaccinations included dogs that generally came in contact with many other dogs. Examples, dog that go to dog show competitions, young dogs going to Puppy or Obedience Classes, dogs that are to be boarded... well, you get the message.

When I was showing my (English) Bulldogs, they got a Vet Physical every six months and a Kennel Cough Vaccination at those visits. I never boarded my dogs. I now have but one dog, a retired track racing Greyhound and because we go to a different Pet Store every week with our Rescue group I get her a Kennel Cough vaccination.

If your dog does not often come in contact with other dogs, I would seek advice from your Vet. If I did not take my Greyhound to those "meet and greets" I would not get the vaccinations for her.

saltidawg your comment is very informative, our dog has just started with a dog walker within the last 6 months, prior to that i walked her but she needed more active exercise like running off leash and socialization with other dogs, i will ask the vet about regular kennel cough vaccination since she plays with more dogs now. her dog walker did just text my son that another group at the park had mentioned one of their dogs had the cough, i guess its going around

All my dogs were shelter dogs, except my current one. After adoption, they were diagnosed with cough which resolved with antibiotics. Interestingly, none of my vets ever recommended the vaccine OR limited activity during recovery. Since it seems that your dog has underlying issues, so I'd certainly heed your vet's advice.

I certainly hope nothing I've posted suggests veterinary advice. I ALWAYS defer to my Vet as to treatment. I'm just an experienced breeder and exhibitor - ZERO veterinary training.

The cough that was resolved with antibiotics MAY have also resolved WITHOUT antibiotics. Also, the Kennel Cough immunizations are not curative, only (sometimes) preventive.

I tried.

I hope no one uses this forum in lieu of veterinary advice.

Bortedella shot is the vaccine for kennel cough. It is a preventative shot supposed to be good for one year. I do kennel my two dogs usually about once a year and get the shot about a month prior to kenneling. Once they were at the kennel and had had the shot 11 months prior. I thought they were safe, but my schnauzer came down with kennel cough. So now I try to get them vaccinated a month prior to kenneling.

The vaccines, either oral, injectable or intranasal, are all we have against this disease, but the disease has yearly variability, sort of like the human flu, and the vaccine is always the same (unlike with the human flu vax). No where near enough funds or seriousness of disease for any one group to modify the vaccine yearly, particularly since there are many geographic variations as well... so some years the vaccine will work pretty well, while during others it will not. Vaccine MAYBE lasts 6 months... doubtful any of the forms last a full year (particularly the intranasal). But the disease does tend to be a relatively mild one, unless you're a puppy or ancient brachiocephalic breed- those can sometimes go one to develop pneumonia (same for just about any severely affected dog that exercises a lot... REST is important). Cough suppressants can be helpful, particularly for dogs that do not sleep well at night (and for owners who's coughing dog is keeping them up at night as well). CAN mimic more serious coughing disorders, so if pet seems ill, or symptoms last more than a few weeks, may NOT be kennel cough- get your pet checked out! Treatment with antibiotics can sometimes hasten the healing... but sometimes seems to make no difference.

In, hope your dog is feeling better by now.

The place my dog is boarded requires the Bordetella vaccine every six months.

thank you everyone for the advice and suggestions. her visit to the vet : she got chest x ray, blood test (CBC) antibiotic injection, anti nausea injection. oral antibiotics, this was last thursday or friday, she is coughing less which is great and last night she was quiet and sleeping well. she is an 8 year old french mastiff so when she coughs everyone knows it. her appetite is fine especially since i have to bribe her to take her oral antibiotic twice a day. as for her vaccines, she is due for her yearly and will be getting bortedella.

as a retired "people" medical professional, I can take care of people but get zero for dogs

And I thought medical school was hard! Can't imagine the rigors of vet school…..