Be Kind To Pets, Vet case studies, Photography tips, Travel Stories: INTERN An unusual case. A 5-month-old Yorkshire Terrier has "kennel cough" for over 2 months

Sep 14 2017

HOOK

The owner showed a video clip of her puppy coughing and coughing 2 months ago.

Coughing like an old man with lung disease after purchase from a pet shop in Singapore. Hacking cough. Dry cough. Nothing coughed up.

Uncomplicated cases recover around 14 days. Complicated case in this Yorkshire Terrier - seen Vet 1 two times and given antibiotics and anti-histamine in the past 2 months. Still coughing daily when seen at Toa Payoh Vets in Sep 13, 2017.

What cause this Yorkshire Terrier puppy to cough and be itchy for over 2 months?

This video discusses an uncommon case of a puppy suffering from dry coughing for more than 2 months.
KENNEL COUGH RESPIRATORY DISEASE and SKIN DISEASE.

PART 1. KENNEL COUGH RESPIRATORY DISEASE.

PART 2. SKIN DISEASE
This sister referred this her sister to Toa Payoh Vets to get the itchy skin disease treated.

CONCLUSION

Many new puppy owners are not aware of the need to do a post-purchase veterinary examination of their puppies. Some reputable puppy sellers in Singapore do advise a 24-hour veterinary examination after purchase of the puppy to check its health.

This Yorkshire Terrier puppy was purchased at 3 months of age. She was coughing and had been scratching her whole body since purchase. The owner had consulted Vet 1 twice to cure her coughing. Vet 1 took X-rays and said there was no pneumonia. Anitbiotics and anti-histamines were prescribed, but the cough persisted for over 2 months. The owner
.

X RAYS by Vet 1
Cloudy areas around the lungs and heart indicate inflammation and fluid accumulation. This is known as pleural effusion. The inflamed lungs not as black as in normal lungs.

Auscultation at Toa Payoh Vets. No acute pneumonia. The following tests were done to assess the health of the puppy.

1. BLOOD TEST
Leucocytosis with neutropenia and monocytosis.

IMAGE OF BLOOD TEST HAEMATOLOGY
There was an increase in total white cell count 2 months after purchase. (SHOW BLOOD VALUES). So the dog had an infection for a long time.

2. INFECTIOUS DISEASE TESTING
2.1 DISTEMPER ANTIGEN TEST KIT
Distemper causes coughing. Test Kit. Negative.

2.2 PARVOVIRUS AND CORONAVIRUS TEST KIT. Negative.

CONCLUSIONS.
The puppy was not vaccinated against kennel cough. Other viruses like canine distemper, parvovirus and coronavirus could have had infected the puppy but did not cause disease. This is evident from negative test kits to the above-mentioned viruses. (VIDEO FOOTAGE).

ADVICES
KENNEL COUGH VACCINATION SCHEDULE
SC or IM. Inactivated vaccine. Pneumodog.
Intra-nasal. Live modified vaccine. Broncho-Shield III

PUPPIES
2 vaccinations for puppies

1. Puppies born from vaccinated bitches
First dose at 6th week
2. Puppies born from non-vaccinated bitches
First dose from 4th week
Booster vaccination 2-3 weeks and yearly after the lst vaccination

ADULT DOGS for boarding. 7 days before boarding prevents respiratory infection. Some owners had complained that their dogs cough after boarding. Well managed boarding kennels in Singapore require current vaccination to avoid such complaints.

PART 2
Itchy skin seen purchase 2 months ago. Why?
Ringworm and bacterial infections were present as evident by round skin lesions and bacterial pustules on the body. .

UVL - flourescence +ve
In-tray test. 7 days needed to confirm.

Enforced cage rest
Antibiotics
Good quality food

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2 types of vaccines are available at Toa Payoh Vets. Pneumodog is an inactivated vaccine that is given under the skin or into the muscle, but no dropped into the nostril unlike Broncho-Shield III..

Broncho-Shield III
is a modified live virus vaccine
Nasal only. Not for injection SC or IM
lst vaccine from the 8th week. Repeat 2-3 weeks later. Annual booster.
7 days before boarding for adult dogs