Canine Kennel Cough

Canine kennel cough needs to be attended to at the sight of the first symptom....just what is this sympton? Read on to find out how to treast this bacteria or virus thats your dog has picked up...

What is canine kennel cough? Simply stated canine kennel cough is kennel cough in dogs or wolves.

Infectious tracheobronchitis is the term used most and refers to kennel cough in any animal. To be specific to dogs you need to preface it with the word canine.

No matter what animal comes down with kennel cough there is a tendency to not take it seriously and treat it like a simple cold.

Nothing could be farther from the truth as kennel cough is usually caused by more than one bacteria or virus combining to create the symptoms and if the animal’s immune system is weakened enough the disease could turn to pneumonia leading to an early death.

In most simple cases of kennel cough it really does sound much worse than it really is.

As long as your pet is eating the same way they were before and is sleeping the same amount of time and behaving the same way (being playful, running and walking) then you do not have much to worry about as the disease will take about ten to fourteen days to subside.

If your dog was not vaccinated for kennel cough the symptoms may be worse and you have to watch out for further signs of respiratory distress (signs of impending pneumonia).

Pay attention to their eating habits, activities and how much they are sleeping. If any major changes occur notify your vet immediately and make an appointment to have your dog looked over.

Like coughs and colds in humans, kennel cough symptoms will increase at night and when lying down.

One way to determine if you dog has contracted kennel cough is to place pressure on their throat just below the jaw but above where his collar should be. If your dog has kennel cough, this pressure will produce a cough right away.

Dogs can contract kennel cough if exposed to any of the viruses or bacteria in the following list: reovirus, canine adenovirus, canine herpes virus Bordetella bronchisepta, parainfluenza and microsepta.

You may ask your vet what canine kennel cough really is. But vets can not actually diagnose kennel cough in a single animal as most of the symptoms of kennel cough replicate canine influenza symptoms.

However,if there is a pattern showing up among dogs that were at a particular kennel or dog show then kennel cough can be prevented in the future in those venues by astute vets.

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.