Vet gave my dog kennel cough...

[roliepolieoliefan]

As a responsible dog owner, there is truth in what has been said above.. It's really your obligation to know what shots your dog should have at any given time and keep them up to date.. However, I have more to say that hopefully won't sound harsh..






Unfortunately - as you have learned - this is not a valid reason for not having the necessary shots on a given time table.. Although you never intended to "board" the dog, a circumstance arose where you had to.. (Similar to a home school parent thinking their child will never be exposed to chicken pox, so they choose not to vaccinate..)

But - I do feel that the vet wasn't (and hasn't been) truthful with you about the circumstances and therefore I would request (okay - maybe "demand" - LOL) a 50% discount.. That would be fair in terms of how and where the responsibility lies - 50% in their lap, 50% in your lap..

I hope your doggie gets well soon..

I too have never boarded my collies up until 3 weeks ago. My collies are 5 and 7. They have never had a bordatella shot. Why would they?

My vet informed me as well as the kennel that the shot had to be given at a minimum of 2 weeks prior to boarding and its only good for 6 months.

I do not feel this is the OP's fault. She trusted her vet to give her correct information and he obviously did not.

I could stand being corrected, but I believe the dog was up to date on all his other shots. Its just the kennel cough one in question.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

With all due respect, i think people need to remember that animal services can only deal with the hand they are dealt. If the public would take personal responsibility for the pets they have by vaccinating and providing proper care, then illness wouldn't run about the facilities like it does

Vaccinations don't cure heart defects.

Less than 24 hours after adoption, she was diagnosed with a heart condition that would/should have been caught by the shelter vet.

I didn't fault ALL shelters. Ours is having issues and I will no longer adopt from THEM. There are several other places to adopt a dog needing a home. We technically adopted 2 cats from them the day after one of our cats had died. But only b/c they were at our vet and had remained their for 3 months awaiting a home. They were from the sheler, but our vet was actually caring for them.

The dog was also not properly aged. Prior owner said she was 10 but they only had her for 1 year. Our vet said it was IMPOSSIBLE for her to be that old and at best she was 7, but probably closer to 5.

I can't trust any animal that comes from that facility otherwise.

Like a used car that you take to a mechanic--shelter pets need immediate vet attention to get their health checked. That's all I was saying.

 

[horseshowmom]

Kennel cough is hard to prove... like catching the flu at a hospital/clinic emergency room, are they liable?

IMHO, they are when you question them (as the OP did) about these specific circumstances, and they assure you that there won't be a problem.

 

[C.Ann]

I too have never boarded my collies up until 3 weeks ago. My collies are 5 and 7. They have never had a bordatella shot. Why would they?

My vet informed me as well as the kennel that the shot had to be given at a minimum of 2 weeks prior to boarding and its only good for 6 months.

I do not feel this is the OP's fault. She trusted her vet to give her correct information and he obviously did not.

I could stand being corrected, but I believe the dog was up to date on all his other shots. Its just the kennel cough one in question.

DD has her dog get this shot every 6 months - "just" in case.. The last time she boarded her dog was last October.. It's extremely rare for her to have to board her dog, but it's a chance she's not willing to take.. You never know when you may have to board your dog (emergencies do occur), so why take unnecessary chances when the vaccine is readily available?

There was an explanation given by the OP as to why she didn't think it was necessary prior to this incident - no reason to think she would ever need to board the dog.. She took a gamble (for lack of a better word) and lost..

I don't hold her 100% responsible in any way, shape, or form.. Her vet was not truthful with her - and therefore shares in the responsibility.. That is why I suggested a 50/50 split.. I don't think that is unreasonable.. Also - in light of the way the vet has handled this situation, I would ditch him after the issue is resolved..

 

[EveDallas]

Whatever happened to the concept of personal responsibility? It is your dog. It is a requirement of most kennels to have kennel cough vaccine prior to boarding the dog (your dog, remember?). Generally, vaccines need to be given prior to exposure to give the immune system an opportunity to work. It is like a parent upset because their child gets chicken pox or (Heaven Forbid) meningitis or cervical cancer because the parent didn't want to bring their child in for the recommended shot. The immunization for kennel cough has been available for years. You didn't get it for your dog. You took your chance, and unfortunately, you lost this time. Learn your lesson and move on. Personally, I would be greatly offended if I offered a patient a vaccine, they opted not to get it, and they later came down with the illness and blamed me for the exposure. It's like playing with matches in a fireworks warehouse. Common sense would tell you that isn't a good idea, but, common sense, unfortunately, is uncommon.

A voice of reason. Vaccines take time to work. Common sense should tell you this.

 

[TnTWalter]

I'd specifically asked about kennel cough before leaving her there b/c she'd never been boarded anywhere before and would just be vacinnated that day instead of having time to build up an immunity.

.

I know I had to get the bordatella shot at least 14 days before boarding our dog at VIPPets in Orlando and had to show proof of date. I'm surprised your vet a) let you board the dog and b) didn't take extra precautions if dog was boarded.

I'm on the fence. I do think you are primarily responsible. But I am shocked the vet didn't mention that it takes 14 days for bordatella....CRAZY.


How's your dog now? So sorry you had to deal with this.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

DD has her dog get this shot every 6 months - "just" in case.. The last time she boarded her dog was last October.. It's extremely rare for her to have to board her dog, but it's a chance she's not willing to take.. You never know when you may have to board your dog (emergencies do occur), so why take unnecessary chances when the vaccine is readily available?

There was an explanation given by the OP as to why she didn't think it was necessary prior to this incident - no reason to think she would ever need to board the dog.. She took a gamble (for lack of a better word) and lost..

I don't hold her 100% responsible in any way, shape, or form.. Her vet was not truthful with her - and therefore shares in the responsibility.. That is why I suggested a 50/50 split.. I don't think that is unreasonable.. Also - in light of the way the vet has handled this situation, I would ditch him after the issue is resolved..

I hear what you're saying Anne, but I don't give my dogs IMOP, unecessary vaccines, "just in case" they may be boarded. Since just like OP, mine have been kenneled once in their lifetime.

I don't buy it. I wouldn't even consider giving my "girls" a bordatella. Sorry . I guess fine for some, like your daughters case, if she feels comfortable doing that OK, but I don't.

I don't think the OP "gambled". I think she thought she could trust somebody who gave her bad and wrong advice. Unfortunately her poor doggie is paying for it.

 

[C.Ann]

I hear what you're saying Anne, but I don't give my dogs IMOP, unecessary vaccines, "just in case" they may be boarded. Since just like OP, mine have been kenneled once in their lifetime.

I don't buy it. I wouldn't even consider giving my "girls" a bordatella. Sorry . I guess fine for some, like your daughters case, if she feels comfortable doing that OK, but I don't.

I don't think the OP "gambled". I think she thought she could trust somebody who gave her bad and wrong advice. Unfortunately her poor doggie is paying for it.

I understand.. Everyone has to do what they believe is the correct thing for their particular pet.. DD's dog has another ongoing health issue that would likely make KC fatal - in a very short period of time - so that's a chance that she's not willing to take..

And I still think the OP should ditch that vet - ASAP!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I understand.. Everyone has to do what they believe is the correct thing for their particular pet.. DD's dog has another ongoing health issue that would likely make KC fatal - in a very short period of time - so that's a chance that she's not willing to take..

And I still think the OP should ditch that vet - ASAP!

I agree Ann. Your DD's pup definetly needs all the protection him/her could get. Poor baby!

Yes, the OP needs to ditch the vet. I would never be able to trust him again.

 

[quentina]

We had an outbreak around here. It turned out is was Canine Influenza not Kennel cough.

According to the newspaper, the bordatells (?) vaccine prevents the KC however, the influenza can hit them with or without vaccines and there is not a vaccine for it.

 

[lexib]

OMG I have been reading all of your comments about your dog and I am sick, Ihave 2 yellow labs which are babies, if anything ever happened to one of them it would be total devastation. YOU SHOULD NOT PAY THAT VET ANYMORE MONEY!!! Your vet clinic has acted irresponsible, you should get some compensation back they did not keep up with their end of the bargain. When I take my dogs in to the vet it is always a couple hundred dollars for something,heck our cat had a bad tooth and it was extracted by the vet for $250.00, and I livein rural america on a farm. Vets are expensive and your vet did keep up with the commitment to keep your dog healthy, he should have known that vaccines should have given earlier, that is what you are paying for professional advice.

I would stop the charge on the credit card and put it into dispute.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I kinda of see it like this. would you sue your Dr. office if you got sick there.

that is what I was going to post.. and I have lost count how many times I took my children when they were little for their well care visits & they came in contact with a sick child.. and bam, they ended up sick. Once when my youngest went for her 1st year check up ended up in the hospital... a week after the visit.. and she was perfectly healthy at her check up. This was years ago before they started the "sick room" and "other room"
I did not send the doc our hospital bill, nor all the bills leading up to the hospital stay... and that was my child, not one of my dogs.. (I have 5 soon to be 6 dogs that is, not children....)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Regardless what the outcome is on the vet bills.. I do hope OP's DD's dog gets well..... and soon...

 

[kacaju]

((hugs)) our collie had pneumonia about 1 1/2 years ago, it is no fun (he is doing just fine now)
I hope your dog is doing better now.

 

[stitchlovestink]

that is what I was going to post.. and I have lost count how many times I took my children when they were little for their well care visits & they came in contact with a sick child.. and bam, they ended up sick. Once when my youngest went for her 1st year check up ended up in the hospital... a week after the visit.. and she was perfectly healthy at her check up. This was years ago before they started the "sick room" and "other room"
I did not send the doc our hospital bill, nor all the bills leading up to the hospital stay... and that was my child, not one of my dogs.. (I have 5 soon to be 6 dogs that is, not children....)

I don't think in general you are comparing apples to apples. Now I can't speak for the place where original poster took her dog....but at our vet's office, there is an area for animals that are there for medical attention, post surgery and the like. And there is clearly another area for those pets being boarded. They are pretty much on opposite sides of the building.
I think we all are aware that there is an inherent risk of catching a 'bug' when we go to our Dr's office. More people are there for illness that not most of the time. But the dog was at the vets to be boarded, he should not have been around other sick animals but with the other ones that were also there to be boarded. Clearly the vet's office put all of their clients' pets at risk when they chose to take 'exposed animals' from another boarding facility. I believe this was negligence on the part of the vet's office. They purposely put her dog at risk. I mean, come on here, the original outbreak came from outside of this facility. So what did the OP do wrong? She got the required shots and under their direction. She questioned what she thought seemed 'odd' but was reassured it was fine. What else could she have done? While I think the vet 'earned' the fees for the shots and boarding, I think everything else should be on their dime. And Dancemom,truthfully, if this were my pet, I would be looking for a new vet. Even though the actual vet did not give you the bad info, they're too lax in their practice. But that's just my .02.
So how is the furbaby doing? Any updates?

 

[undertheradar]

Any update?

 

[Dancemom03]

Sorry, not much news yet... an update of sorts...We call to check on her 3-4 times a day. I think they're getting to know our voices. This morning she drank some water and will eat baked chicken & rice if hand fed. She isn't showing much interest in eating or moving yet but everyone comments and writes on her chart what a friendly sweetheart of a dog she is.

Her vital signs are normal, but she's still coughing, there's still discharge from her nose and a "crackle" in her chest. The chest xrays showed quite a bit of fluid in lungs. They're planning to do another xray today to look for improvement. Once a day we've been able to speak with an actual vet instead of just hearing what the chart says like on the other calls, and after DD19 got off work at 10 she was able to speak to the overnight tech who was just about to feed and take her out. It seems as though every time the call with the vet is going really good, DD and I get hopeful, then the vet shoots us down with some phrase like "we're keeping our fingers crossed" before she hangs up...

Worse though, was a conversation DD had when a different vet from the office called her last night and said that there was a possibility that it might be this new canine influenza instead of KC. She told DD they'd had a dog boarding there with that too who'd just died. Then she said that they "weren't very experienced treating this influenza" and the outlook would be much worse - as in she likely wouldn't recover.

When DD told me about the conversation last night the only thing I could say is that I feel as though I'm about to lose my mind. I want to take her somewhere else but I'm not sure where - or if she should be moved while she's so sick. Plus, heaven only knows what she might be exposed to in a new environment with her immune system already weakened.

 

[pixiewings71]

OMG, OP, I hope beyond all hope that your dog comes home OK and soon!!! I hope it's not the flu and is "only" KC. (((HUGS))) to you all....I think in your position I'd call other vets for advice, if they recommend moving your dog then do it, if not then don't. I can't even imagine how you must feel. I know how my DD would feel if her baby got sick.

 

[kacaju]

I am very *into* dogs, we show dogs and I am also a 4-H dog leader. If your dog does indeed have this doggy flu, I am so sorry. I have gotten many emails in regard to it and it can be a NASTY virus.
Here is the thing..if you trust your Vet then I would leave her there and pray for the best.
Another Vet may seriously not want to treat her in the risk that he/she would then be bringing that virus into their hospital.
What I would do is if needed, call and ask to make an appt to see her when the Vet is there so you can speak to him yourself.
I also used to work at a Vet. and if the owners ever came in to visit the Vets almost always made time to talk to them in person.

 

[jana616]

Hi, I'm the poster whose DH is a vet, and I just wanted to chime in as well. First, so sorry your dog is not showing faster improvement! Personally, if you feel like the dog is getting good care NOW (obviously separate from the issue of how she got sick in the first place), I would leave her. It can be traumatic to move someone who's sick, and a new vet would not know her history as well as the clinic that's been treating her since day 1 of the illness.

Secondly, if you want more time speaking to the vet, ask very specifically for it. I think talking to him/her one-two times a day is reasonable, but I know my DH has some very "involved" clients who talk to him all the time when their pet has a complicated case. From my experience watching him, the vets at his clinic (all 7!) are all unbelievably devoted to getting pets better, and want their clients to be as in the loop as possible.

Lastly, when they say they are not that experienced in dealing with the canine influenza (and I know nothing about that)...you may want to ask if they subscribe (they have to pay for a subscription) to VIN (Veterinary Information Network, I believe). It's a message board for vets, and my DH uses it anytime he has a case he's not too sure on or wants extra feedback. Vets specializing in all kinds of medicine are on there, and he has always gotten the info he wanted. They could post your pet's situation and specifics (even attach the x-rays), and get lots of answers from vets around the country who DO have experience with it.

Good luck; hope that helps a little!