Okay, so, my little buddy, my dog Max, he’s been coughing a bit lately. Not like a normal dog cough, but something that sounded a bit more… concerning. I did what any responsible pet parent would do – I worried myself sick and then called the vet. Turns out, it might be kennel cough. Ugh.
The vet recommended the kennel cough shot. Now, I’m not a big fan of unnecessary meds for myself or my furry friend, but I trust my vet. They explained it’s a vaccine to protect against Bordetella, which is a common cause of kennel cough. They also said it’s especially important if Max is gonna be around other dogs, like at the dog park or daycare. We do frequent those places, so it made sense.
So, we went ahead with the shot. Max was a champ, barely even flinched. I, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck, watching him like a hawk for any sign of trouble. I mean, you hear stories about side effects, right?
The first few hours, he was his usual goofy self. Running around, chasing his tail, trying to steal my socks – the usual Max routine. I started to relax a little. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.
- No noticeable changes. Still playful and energetic.
- Eating and drinking normally.
- Poop is normal. (Yes, I checked. Don’t judge.)
Day 1
Then, later that evening, he seemed a little more tired than usual. He skipped his evening zoomies session and just wanted to cuddle on the couch. He also seemed a bit less interested in his food, which is VERY unlike him.
- Definitely more lethargic. Sleeping a lot.
- Slight loss of appetite. Picked at his food but didn’t finish it.
- A little bit of nasal discharge, like a runny nose.
- No fever, though. I checked that religiously with a rectal thermometer.
Day 2
Okay, now I was starting to worry a bit more. I called the vet again, just to be safe. They reassured me that mild lethargy and a slight loss of appetite can be normal side effects, and to just keep an eye on him. They said to call back if he got worse or if he stopped eating entirely.
- Still a bit tired, but a little more energy than yesterday.
- Ate a bit more of his food, though still not his usual ravenous self.
- Nasal discharge seems to be clearing up.
Day 3
By day four, he was almost back to normal. And by day five, you wouldn’t even know he’d had a shot. He was back to his usual, energetic, sock-stealing self.
So, yeah, Max did have some mild side effects from the kennel cough shot. It was a little scary for a couple of days, but he pulled through just fine. I guess it’s like when we get a flu shot – sometimes you feel a bit under the weather afterward, but it’s worth it for the protection it provides.
Would I do it again? Probably. Kennel cough sounds pretty nasty, and I’d rather deal with a couple of days of a sleepy pup than a full-blown illness. Just make sure you talk to your vet, monitor your dog closely after the shot, and don’t hesitate to call them if you have any concerns. It seems that it was totally worth it in the end, so far, Max hasn’t had any kennel cough problems since then.
