About Kennel Cough
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel Cough is a very common and contagious disease mostly contracted by dogs, but can also be transferred to other pets such as: cats, birds, and bunnies.
Your pet will be constantly hacking and coughing, sometimes spitting up bits of phlegm. Over exertion can trigger it and make it much worse, so limiting your dogs amount of exercise is recommended while suffering from kennel cough. An immediate vet check up followed by rest and relaxation is the best course of action to take.
Kennel Cough can be compared to the human flu, and generally caused when your dog is bombarded by a mix of bacteria and viruses at the same time, similar to influenza in humans.
In most cases Kennel Cough is not serious, and will only last up to a week or two. However, in more serious cases it can last up to several months, and can be extremely uncomfortable for your dog (and extremely annoying for the dog owner). It’s important to have your dog checked out as soon as it begins showing signs of Kennel Cough as it may be symptoms of another more serious condition it is suffering from.
How Your Dog Can Get It
The more time your dog spends around other dogs, the higher the risk of contracting Kennel Cough.
The top bacteria and viruses that cause kennel cough are:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica - This is the main bacteria behind Kennel Cough once it has found it’s way into your pets body. It’s able to reproduce and break down your dogs immune system making it sick. Once this happens the persistent cough will begin.
- Canine parainfluenza 3 & Canine adenvirus Type 2 - These are the main viruses behind Kennel Cough. Parainfluenza infects the cells of the respiratory tract, damages the trachea, and can also cause canine distemper. Adenovirus lodges itself deep within your dogs lungs and is also the transmitter of canine colds.
How You Can Prevent It
The good news is that kennel cough is preventable, the key being to monitor your dog as closely as possible. All dogs need to be social, but better with other dogs that you are familiar with. Keep your pet away from strays, or unknown animals.
There is a vaccination shot for bordetella, however it does not protect against all forms of kennel cough and research has shown that this vaccination has been known at times to actually trigger kennel cough in dogs. There is an injectable vaccine as well as one that is inhaled through the nose which offers quick protection.
If your planning on taking your dog to a kennel, day care, or somewhere else where it will be around many other dogs you may want to consider the vaccine. However, many breeders and pet owners don’t believe in these vaccines and prefer to let their dogs natural immune system protect it. There is no right or wrong answer, it is ultimately the pet owners decision.
The best way to prevent kennel cough is to simply be aware of your dogs surroundings, company, and watch for any signs out of the ordinary.
Did You Know?
Kennel cough is preventable by closely monitoring your dog, and watching to make sure it only plays with familiar dogs.
