We got a new dog recently and her name is Duckie.  Duckie is a shelter dog.  She is just 8 months old and has already been in two shelters.  We got her at Bishop Animal shelter which is an ASPC shelter here in our town.

We got her this past Wednesday.  She is adorable and loving if not crazy and playful.   Just a doll.   We loved her at first site.

This past Saturday night I was walking the two of them just before it got dark and  Duckie was just nuts with the play and tackled Marty more than once on the walk.  When we returned home  and they settled down Marty started coughing.  It was completely scary.  He sounded like a seal.  Honking away.  I let it ride until the am when he didn’t stop coughing and looking like he couldn’t inhail during those coughs I took him to the emergency vet.  Turns out he has contracted kennel cough.

Kennel cough or infectious Cainine Tracheobronchitis is a highly contagious respiratory disease.   As the name suggests, it is typified by inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. This disease is found throughout the world and is known to infect a high percentage of dogs at least once during their lifetime. It is also sometimes referred to as bordetellosis.

Some of the most common microorganisms that contribute to infectious canine tracheobronchitis are Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, canine adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and mycoplasma. Any of these organisms can cause the symptoms of this disease, alone or in combination. Infections with multiple organisms tend to cause the most severe symptoms.

So now both Marty and Duckie are on antibiotics, and Marty has a cough suppressant.  Poor babies.