is it okay to hunt a dog with kennel cough?

[hoghunterdfw]

Looks like one or 2 of my dogs may have come down with kennel cough.  I heard it will clear up in 7 days or so but I want to hunt them this weekend if possible. I dont want to spread it but Im thinking if I just hunt the dogs that have it by themselves then it wont be an issue contamination wise but I am wondering how the kennel cough will affect the way they hunt.  The dogs all look like they have alot of energy still so I dont think they will act lethargic but I am still not sure if it is a good idea or not.  Have you guys hunted your dogs while they had it and if so did it affect their performance at all? all thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

[tonyamm30]

i would give them benedryle every night til I went.  1  capsule a day as a antibotic to help them out.  It will spread to every dog you have if left untreated, cause when one clears up, the others may still have it and they will keep passing it back and forth.  A shot of penicilan wont hurt em either. We havent had it but when one of ours start that coughing mess, I give em the benedryle and they dont cough again. I almost use benedryle as a cure all, cause it helps with so much.  Snake bites especially.  Just my thoughts, good luck.

Tonya

[shawn]

yeah its gonna spread like wildfire around your kennels or house unless they had the shot for kennel cough, i got it a couple years ago in my pack, hunted em though, they did fine.

[Cajunjag]

HHdfw- they need the weekend off to allow them to kick this very contagious bug. Once the dogs start working and begin the "panting" to try to cool themselves, they will irritate the trachea and lining of the upper respiratory tract. Thus, the coughing will increase, then they will not be hunting - just running, then the coughing gets worse, then the cycle begins. Besides the fact that it is contagious as all get out, they need to be rested to heal.

Benadryl is a very good drug that I carry with me at all times, but it is not a antibiotic. It is a antihystamine and works well for allergic reactions or insect/venom stings. However, it does have some benefit this time of the year due to all the pollen. Just like humans, dogs will have bad days where the pollen of the spring trees and shrubs gets the best of them.

Most vets administer antibiotics, but it needs to be confirmed to know which one to administer. Cephlexin is a good one and a normal dog in the 35-45lb range gets 250mg twice a day.

I ain't no vet, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn last night! LOL - I hope this helps somewhat, but if you have any questions, call the vet! 

[tonyamm30]

I stand corrected... benedryle is not an antibotic, but will help! 

[hoghunterdfw]

thanks for the advice... Guess we will have to take the B squad dogs instead cause they look uninfected so far. I will try to give the sick dogs some bendryl and take them out next week instead.