do the vets have liability for this?

Unfortunately the vet will care less if you think your dog came down with kennel cough in their office or not.

There is no way to prove where he could have contracted it. Although you and I know that more than likely he could have picked it up while being at their office.

There is an outstanding veterinary specialist near where I am, he is the best of the best for my breed of choice, the boxer. However it is well known to everyone that 99% of the time, if you have a pup or dog there for any amount of time, and your dog has not been vaccinated for kennel cough then more times than not the dog will end up with it. However it is not an instantaneous illness and as stated above has an incubation period of 5-10 days.

Since there is no way to prove where a dog may have contracted the illness being that it is airborne, you are SOL.

If you are going to take a pet somewhere that you know there is a possibility that other dogs are or have been you have to assume that kennel cough among other illnesses may be present.

Not that it helps now but, next time make sure your dog is vaccinated against kennel cough. Thankfully it only lats a few weeks but you may have to get him on antibiotics so he doesn't end up with pneumonia.

As for your last statement " they cant really deny it now?! " Actually they can ...

Kennel cough has an incubation period and they can say that he had contracted it before he ever set paw in their building.

You will have to take this as a lesson well learned to always have your dog vaccinated against kennel cough.

The kennel cough vaccine is either administered by an injection or by a spray administered into the each nostril.

Oh, but they certainly can deny it. There's really no way to know where your dog got kennel cough from. True, it's very likely he got it from the clinic while there but there's no real way to know. It's also something you risk when you bring your dog anywhere there are other dogs.

It is possible as well that your dog is still coughing from the intubation tube that was placed during surgery. It is often a side effect that they will come home with a slight cough but if it lasts longer than 48 hours after surgery, it's something that should be examined.

I haven't yet read all of your question, but it would NOT be kennel cough if he was in Friday and coughing Saturday. The incubation period is longer than that as it is with people and colds and flu.

What this is caused by is the tubes put down their throat when they have a GA which of course he did. It can actually cause a little ulceration mark at the top back in the throat. If he is panting then you will see it.

I wouldn't even be taking the dog for this. Get him straight on honey to help sooth the throat.

Going to read the rest of your question and see if there is anything to add.

Add on - totally agreeing with MamaBas, and still say get on the honey.

Nothing else to add other than regarding kennel cough anyway, people who think their dogs may have it should tell the receptionist so when they book. Some vets will put them last and ask you to leave them in the car until the other dogs are gone. It isn't fair to infect everyone else there.

Caution - before you scream Kennel Cough, it's far more likely that the cough is due to the intubation needed to administer the general anaesthetic! I'm surprised the vets didn't tell you about this possibility, although actually, if this is done carefully, temporary damage, which this is, shouldn't happen. I've had mine cough a little after surgery, but it normally stops after a few days.

You can vaccinate against KC (again why hasn't your vet told you this!!) but as KC is a virus, it mutates, like the human flu, so vaccination won't necessarily prevent a dog from catching it, it should just mean the dose it gets is mild, and quickly shaken off.

Add - Kennel Cough needs time to incubate .... you WON'T see a reaction to picking this up, the next day!!
Add 2 - Post op checks are normally gratis, unless something extra is needed (medication, painkillers would have to be paid for)

why don't you vaccinate for kennel cough? Especially after it having happened with one dog already.

It is difficult to prove that your dog got it there.

Ok, kennel cough goes around. And they can get it anywhere. It's more likely to pick it up from a high volume dog place. It could be irritation from the trach tube too - that causes some sore throat and coughing.

But kennel cough is no biggie! Unless your dog develops a secondary infection (green gunky nose and not eating) no treatment is required. Its like a common cold in people.

You can vaccinate for KC, and I do, but I've had dogs get it anyhow, even when vaccinated.

Chill out, kennel cough is no biggie, the vet can't help it if he caught it there, and truely you can't prove where he caught it, as it's all over the place. But it's just like a cold in a person. Would you expect the day care to pay for the doctor if your kid got a cold? Same thing

Treatment for kennel cough, just give robitussin DM -- see link:

http://www.valleypetnews.com/venerable_vet1.htm