My Dog’s Whooping Cough Nightmare
Have you ever had a dog with whooping cough? I had, and it was scary. You see, I always keep my dog’s shots up to date, (even when I don’t always agree with the excessive vaccination that dogs are exposed to-where I live it is required by law).
A while back I adopted a mixed hound dog, Bailey, we named her, from a pet shop. I paid the $75 fee they requested, bough her some new toys, a leash, a nice collar, and took her home.
Here is the rest of the story:
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Title: My Dog’s Whooping Cough Nightmare
Author: Dr. Mayra Alfonso
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At the time I had three other dogs at home, and I tough I could give Bailey a nice home full of “doggy” love.
A couple of days after Bailey came home, one of my Shih tzu’s, Abbie, started to cough. I have never heard something like it before, so I though Abbie had something stucked on her throat. So, I immediately took Abbie to the emergency clinic.
When the vet examine her, she does not notice anything wrong with her, and Abbie has just suddenly stopped coughing. The vet assured me that nothing was stucked on Abbie’s throat, therefore we went back home.
As soon as we got home, she started coughing again. Since the vet have just told me that Abbie did not have anything in her throat, I waited until the following day, to take Abbie to her regular vet.
By the following morning, not only was Abbie coughing, but my other two Shih tzus, Madi and Benjie, where coughing too. Luckily, Bailey was not. Since I had to take Bailey for her initial vet exam, I decided to take Abbie and Bailey to the vet together.
I shared with the vet the whole story about Abbie, and how my other two dogs that where at home also, where coughing, but not Bailey.
The vet examined Abbie, and immediately told me that she had whooping cough. How could that be possible? I asked the vet. They all have their shots The vet explained to me, that even after dogs have been vaccinated for whooping cough, they can still get it. The most scary thing was that whooping cough is very contagious and my other two dogs at home, have already acquired it.
I asked the vet, how come Bailey didn’t have it, and his response was: “She does, she is the carrier”.
Take a look at my next newsletter, to read the rest of this story, and how you can protect your dog against whooping cough.
Wishing you a great cool dog day!
Dr. Alfonso
