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Sent to March 21, 2006 12:10 a.m.

My name is Jamie from Waco, TX. My question is in regards to my 9 month old coonhound. I left him in a kennel for 5 days while I was out of town. When I went to pick him up, the kennel worker said Amos (my puppy) had lost his voice this morning, and that he was howling and barking and whining constantly the whole time he was there. Since Amos has been home, he has been sleeping all day. He has gotten up twice to go outside to potty, and to eat. He hasn't made a sound since he's been home. He had the hiccups earlier and still no sound. The only sound I have heard him make was something resembling a cough, and he's done that a few times. My problem is that this dog is a VERY active dog. He never sleeps the whole day away. He has shown no interest in my other dog or myself. And he is also a very vocal dog. He's always barking and whining. He had his kennel cough vaccination about 4 months ago. Any ideas on what is going on?

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Age: <1; Male; Breed: redbone coonhound

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March 21, 2006 12:21 a.m. (11 minutes and 13 seconds later)

It is not unusual for a dog who does an excessive amount of barking while kenneled to suffer some laryngitis. Coonhounds are generally a bit high strung and so I suspect the barking continued not only during the day but well into the night as well. He probably didn't get a lot of sleep (hence his lethargy) and may not have eaten very well either.
I would not be surprised if he broke with a bout of "stress colitis"- diarrhea characterized by increased frequency of defecation, straining, and often fresh blood and mucus. If he does, contact your veterinarian for a dose of Pepto Bismol or other anti-diarrheal and feed a bland diet (boiled hamburger or chicken with rice) for a few days.
He is still young and so may eventually adjust to being boarded. But, if possible, it would probably be best if you were able to get a pet sitter or leave him with friends.
If you are not noticing any protracted coughing (usually a dry hacking couch that racks the whole body), then kennel cough is probably not going to be a concern.

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