Kennel Cough? Need to See the Vet?

Q: I just got a puppy within the last week or so. The last two days hes been coughing a lot at night. I did some research on what it could possibly be and i narrowed it down to kennel cough. Is this something that is curable without having to go to the vet, or should I schedule an appointment with them asap.

A: Respiratory infections in puppies from group settings are fairly common just like colds in kids at school. The term "kennel cough" has actually become a catch all phrase for any of a number of infections so the course can be quite different from case to case. If your puppy is active and eating well there are some measures you can take at home. One is to use a humidifier or steamy bathroom 15-20 minutes 2 or 3 times daily and also ask your pharmacist to point you to guaifenesin syrup, I will need to know your puppy's weight to provide a correct doasge. If your puppy's attitude is not good or if the cough starts increasing you should notify your vet.