Kennel Cough

[Rookie]

So currently sprocket and I forced to live at my parents as we transition from the old apartment to the new house…this means living with dog. The set up is that Sprocket is upstairs while Sasha the dog is downstairs so they don’t interact. But I obviosuly do interact and cross paths with the dog.

The dog was just diagnosed with kennel cough and a quick Google search freaked me out already that Sprocket too could get it…. Nooooooo…..i really don’t want him to get sick. But I really don’t have means to get him away and out of the house either. I already generally wash my hands when goinf upstairs but I’m worried its not enough.

Is there anything I can do to get ahead of this thing? Is it super contagious and inevitable that Sprocket gets it? How do I know if he already has it? HELP!!!!

[Bam]

Not all kennel cough is caused by bacteria. The type we have here is caused by a flu-like virus. Viruses don’t readily cross the species-barrier. They can do so, under special circumstances as with the 1918 Spanish Flu and the H1N1 flu of 2009-2010.

If the kennel cough is caused by bacteria, it’s most often bordetella bronchiseptica. Has the dog been put on antibiotics? Bordetella bronchiseptica is sensitive to Baytril (enrofloxacine) and to doxycycline. If the dog is being treated, the cough will persist longer than the infectious bacteria.

Chances are your bun already is a carrier of this bacteria, because it is very common among rabbits. B. bronchiseptica can cause illness in a bun, but a bun can also become an asymptomatic carrier and never show any signs of illness. Why some individuals get sick and others don’t, is not quite understood.

To be safe, direct contact with secretions from the dog (for examples droplets from sneezing or coughing) and the rabbit’s nose is best avoided. Keep the bun isolated from the dog, wash your hands carefully before you handle the rabbit and his cage and food etc. You can use a hand-sanitizer that has 70% ethanol (alcohol), because bordetella is sensitive to ethanol.

Bordetella bronchiseptica can cause snuffle-like problems. Symptoms are for example runny nose (mucus can be quite runny and clear, or thick, white and gloppy), coughing and sneezing, eye drainage, loss of appetite. If your bun gets sick, contact a vet for antibiotics and tell them about the dog’s kennel cough. Baytril is a bunny-safe antibiotics.

[Rookie]

Yeah the dog is antibiotics. We only found out a few days ago.

Sprocket and the dog don’t interact or cross paths as Sasha is a German Shepherd and a 1yo puppy and I don’t trust her with Sprocket at all. So we have a cage built that closes off the stairs to the upstairs where Sprocket is and Sprocket does not yet know how to use stairs either.

We are moving into our new house in 2 weeks so I hope we can make it without any issues. Sprocket is due to be neutered on the 16th of August and if he gets sick then it will need to be delayed….again….

But I simply just don’t want him sick. I saw him sneeze once but he was face down in a bowl of hay so I will give him the freebe for now. Appatite appears good especially when it’s pellets…little crack addict. I checked his nose no discharge.

Fingers crossed.

[Bam]

Fingers crossed! It’s good they haven’t had direct contact, and the antibiotics will make the dog less contagious. A bun will sneeze now and then from hay dust, it’s excessive sneezing that’s worrisome.

I hope the dog will get well soon and also that little Spricket won’t be affected at all.

[Rookie]

Also…question….bam you are really good advice giver…

Sprocket is due to be neutered on the 16th….i have 2 days off post neuter for him so that I can care and monitor him… and then I won’t move him to the new house till a week after that so that he doesn’t have to adjust to a neuter and a new house at the same time.
My dad thinks this is a mistake.
Do you think it would be better to neuter him a on the 26th but then he would also he going to the new house at the same time… my problem is that I think that’s too much stress for him…on the 26th I will have a week off to be with him and be home when he is moved to the new house. I don’t plan on moving him to the new house till around the 26th regardless of his neuter.

Thoughts?

I think my dad just hates the idea of a neuter regardless when it is done.

[LBJ10]

I don’t think it will make much difference either way. Unless there are complications, of course. If all is well, then boys tend to bounce back pretty quick.

[Rookie]

No complications please! Lol
I just want him to be able to be excited about the new house freely as opposed to be limited by a fresh neuter. He will have his own room!yay!
I also just ordered a new car so it’s much quieter than the one I have now so driving is less stressful for him.

[Rookie]

question…again….

I think I do myself more harm than good by reading some of these threads…I get super hypochondriac for Sprocket…

he has discovered that he can jump on the bed and can do super fun binkies on the mattress. so he loves it on the bed. Now…when on the bed I see his head tilt ever so slightly to his right….now I am not sure if he is looking as I know bunnies don’t look straight and he is keeping an eye on me and the edge of the bed or should I be more worried. when not on the bed I have not noticed the tilt but he also is barely ever sitting still….

He is due to the vet on the 16th for his neuter so he will get a full check up there. but my question is …should I worry or am I just over reacting? are there any other signs I can look for perhaps?

[Author]

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