"Kennel Cough is an Air-borne Disease"
Kennel Cough: Can Last for 10 to 20 Days
Kennel Cough occurs when your dog’s upper airways become inflamed. It’s a virus most commonly contracted when dogs are confined in a closed area with other dogs such as in veterinarian hospitals and rescue facilities.
Because Kennel Cough is currently affecting some of the dogs at dog day care and some of our clients have been asking questions about its origin and complications, I’ve decided to write this article to help my K9-Bits subscribers better understand what Kennel Cough is about.
The medical term for Kennel Cough, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual, is Infectious Tracheobronchitis of Dogs. “It is a mild self-limiting disease but may progress to fatal bronchopneumonia in puppies or to chronic bronchitis in debilitated adult or aged dogs.”
Kennel Cough is a form of bronchitis in dogs that is recognized by symptoms of harsh, dry coughing followed by retching or gagging, wheezing, a rise in body temperature, anorexia (loss of appetite), or nasal discharge. You may notice the spasms of coughing when your dog first gets up from resting, at the start of exercising or from a change of environment.
If your dog has been in a veterinary hospital, recently brought home from a rescue facility, placed in a kennel while you were away, or attends dog day care, you should watch for symptoms of Kennel Cough. A suddenly developed cough 5-10 days after exposure is characteristic and should be checked by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Kennel Cough generally reduces greatly within the first 5 days, but can last for 10-20 days. Because the disease is highly contagious, your dog won’t be hospitalized. Providing top quality nutrition, keeping your dog’s food and water bowls clean, and allowing plenty of rest in a low-stress environment will help speed recovery.
Vaccinations for Kennel Cough are recommended by many veterinarians but it’s important to note that there are many different strains of Kennel Cough and the vaccination may not prevent your dog from contracting the disease.
Your veterinarian may recommend cough suppressants, to be used as needed. Antibiotics are sometimes used in more severe cases. Immunization may be an effective prevention method but won’t necessarily work due to the various strains of the disease.
Kennel Cough in dogs is much like a human contracting a strain of bronchitis from being in contact with other humans. As a dog owner it’s up to you to decide if your dog should continue to attend dog day care, dog training classes, or other dog social events.
Like children, they benefit from the interaction of other dogs and the ability to run and play throughout the day. The owner, who has been working all day, doesn’t return home to a highly energetic dog anxiously waiting to go out for a long walk or to play in the yard. The dog is usually tired and restful.
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