Okay, so we decided it was time to get the dog updated on his shots, you know, the usual stuff. Kennel cough was on the list because we were thinking about maybe boarding him later this year, or at least taking him to the dog park more often. Seemed like the responsible thing to do.
Getting the Shot
Made the appointment, went down to the vet’s office. Pretty standard visit. The vet tech came in first, did the weight check, asked the usual questions. Then the vet came in, gave him a quick once-over. We talked about the kennel cough vaccine. They offered two types, the shot or the nose spray thing. We went with the nose spray this time, thought maybe it’d be less uncomfortable for him. He wasn’t thrilled, obviously. Squirmed a bit, sneezed a couple of times right after, but that was it. Paid the bill, went home.
The First Day
Got home, and honestly, he seemed totally fine. Bounced around like usual, ate his dinner, chased his tail. I thought, “Great, easy peasy.” No big deal. Didn’t really think much more about it for the rest of the day. He slept normally that night too, maybe a little quieter, but nothing that really set off alarm bells.
Uh Oh, Something’s Up
The next morning, though, things were a bit different. He woke up and sneezed. Like, really sneezed, a few times in a row. Then came this little cough, kinda like a dry hack. My ears perked up right away. Throughout the day, it got a bit more frequent. Not constant, but definitely noticeable. He also seemed a little more tired than usual. Instead of following me everywhere, he just wanted to lay on his bed. His appetite was okay, maybe slightly less enthusiastic, but he still ate.
- Sneezing spells
- A dry, hacking cough
- Lower energy, more sleepy
- Slightly reduced enthusiasm for food
Watching and Waiting
Alright, so now I’m watching him like a hawk. Every little cough or sneeze made me jump. Was this the actual kennel cough? Or just the side effects the vet mentioned might happen? They did say mild symptoms like sneezing or a slight cough could occur because the nasal vaccine uses a live (but weakened) virus to stimulate immunity right where infection often starts – the nose.
Honestly, it was a bit worrying. You get the vaccine to prevent the illness, not to cause it, right? But I remembered the vet saying it should be mild and pass quickly. So, I decided to just keep a close eye on him for another day or two. Didn’t rush him on walks, made sure he had plenty of water, kept things calm around the house. No dog park, no visitors, just rest.
Things Get Better
Sure enough, by day three, the sneezing was almost gone. The cough was still there a little bit, but way less frequent and not as harsh sounding. His energy levels started picking back up too. He brought me his squeaky toy, which was a good sign. By day four or five, he was pretty much back to his old self. Eating normally, demanding walks, annoying the cat. The whole episode lasted maybe 72 hours, tops, in terms of noticeable symptoms.
Never did call the vet back, since it seemed mild and resolved on its own, just like they suggested it might. If he’d gotten worse, stopped eating, or seemed genuinely sick, I definitely would have, but it just felt like his body reacting to the vaccine.
So yeah, that was our little adventure with the kennel cough vaccine side effects. A bit stressful for a couple of days, mostly for me watching him, but he pulled through it fine. Just something to be aware of if you go for the nasal spray version, I guess. Every dog’s different, but that was our experience this time around.
