For “Cobb County Crud” and similar highly contagious coughing diseases of the upper (and lower) airway.
A steroid (usually the shortest possible course) with a cough suppressant and or exxpectorant, with an antibiotic with minimal chances of resistance (not used in people) and an antihistamine can be expected to resolve coughs that are contracted in crowded, or overpopulated kennels or dog pounds. This protocol is how I treat “Cobb County Crud” when encountered.
“Yerdoingitwrongs” will say the antibiotics are arguably unnecessary. And they will defend that over the next several weeks to the owners of pets that are NOT recovering. The steroid will cause some immune suppression but there are still impressive pieces of the immune system still at work. Increased vulnerability to infections is cited as a reason to avoid reducing inflammation in the swollen, painful and irritated airway. The pets WITHOUT remedy for inflammation in the airway can cough themselves into secondary ailments including bloody sputum and ribcage pain. Steroids should hit high, and hard and recede rapidly. Cough suppressants are currently hard to get but are of tremendous value. I prefer Tussigon. The expectorant ‘mucinex’ and or Robitussin DM contain guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. Inexpensive, safe and effective at reducing cough but ALSO making cough more successful and productive, shortening the overall arc of disease.
