The expression "kennel cough" commonly indicates infectious tracheobronchitis, an infection that can be transmitted between dogs kept in shelters, from sick individuals to healthy ones, due to the sharing of spaces. More precisely, kennel cough encompasses a series of highly contagious respiratory problems in dogs; the most common agents causing this infection are parainfluenza viruses, bordetella bronchiseptica, mycoplasma, canine adenovirus (types 1 and 2), canine reovirus (types 1, 2, and 3) and canine herpesvirus.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing Kennel Cough
Step 1. Know the risk factors
Kennel cough is an extremely contagious infection. If the dog is playing with other dogs in a park or has spent time in a kennel, there is a possibility that he has been exposed to this disease.
Step 2. Watch for signs of a cough
When he contracts the infection, the dog can suddenly develop a cough, which can vary in severity from quiet, persistent "taps" to a severe and suffocating cough.
- The latter type of cough is often confused with the possibility of a foreign object obstructing the airways. If you can, open his mouth to see if there is anything there or if a bone is stuck.
- An alternative way to tell if a dog has something stuck in their throat is to offer them a treat to eat. If he has a blocked throat he will not be able to eat, so if you see him eating and drinking without difficulty, it is unlikely that a foreign body is present.
Step 3. Check for retching
Just as humans get sore throats with the flu, so do dogs with kennel cough. They can be led to continuously clear the throat, causing retching and vomiting episodes.
- For some dogs, this is so bad that they even vomit saliva or drool.
- If your dog is vomiting due to nausea (rather than excessive coughing), you should notice yellow bile or food coming out of the stomach. In this case it is probably some other problem.
Step 4. Observe the animal's energy levels
Some dogs with infectious tracheobronchitis show no signs of the disease except for unpleasant coughing. Others, on the other hand, may be slow, sluggish and without appetite.
It is always recommended to have a vet examined if your dog has a cough, but it is essential to do so if you notice that he suddenly loses energy or does not eat for 24 hours
Part 2 of 2: Treating Kennel Cough
Step 1. Isolate the dog
This is a highly contagious infection, because every time the dog coughs, it disperses microparticles into the air that can spread and transmit the disease. If you think your furry friend has kennel cough, it's important to isolate him from other dogs right away.
- If he has this disease, you don't have to take him for a walk.
- If you have other dogs in the house, be aware that they are potentially at risk. However, since symptoms have actually already been exposed by the time they develop, keeping them separate from the sick dog at this stage is of no benefit.
Step 2. Take your dog to the vet
It is always advisable to have him examined as soon as possible if he has a cough. The veterinarian can check if it is due to an infection or other causes such as, for example, heart disease. He will also be able to tell you whether or not the dog needs treatment.
- The veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination, including checking the animal's temperature, will feel the size of the lymph nodes in the throat, will check the mouth to make sure there is no foreign object and will listen to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
- If the dog does not suffer from heart murmur and the vet has a strong suspicion that he is suffering from kennel cough, he may suggest proceeding with a "treatment diagnosis" rather than having him undergo a blood test or other expensive tests. If the dog then fails to respond positively to treatment as expected, further investigation will be required.
- When you contact the clinic to make an appointment, tell the phone that you suspect that the dog has kennel cough. In this case, you will probably have to wait outside until you are called by the vet (to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to the other dogs in the waiting room).
Step 3. Give him antibiotics if needed
Sometimes the vet prescribes these drugs as a treatment for infection. If so, be sure to give them to the dog as directed or specified by the doctor.
- Antibiotics are not suitable for all cases. This is because, if the infection is viral, antibiotics do not help, as it is the immune system that has to fight and kill the infection. There is no way to tell if the infection is bacterial or viral based only on a physical exam.
- However, if the dog is unable to fight the infection on its own, or if the veterinarian finds that the animal has a fever or notices signs of chest congestion, these are all symptoms that may indicate a possible secondary bacterial infection resulting from a primary infection (which can be viral or bacterial). In such conditions, an antibiotic will probably be prescribed.
Step 4. Give him some steam treatments
Take a hot shower for a few minutes with the window and door closed. Sit with your dog in a steamed environment for five to ten minutes, being careful to keep him away from hot water.
- This helps loosen any mucus in the bronchi, which could stimulate coughing. You can repeat the treatment as often as you like, even several times a day.
- Never leave the animal unattended in the bathroom with hot running water, as it could get burned.
Step 5. Rest your dog
As far as possible, avoid engaging in any strenuous activity.
Don't take him for a walk. Not only does he run the risk of transmitting the infection to other dogs, but the effort (especially if he breathes cold air) can irritate his respiratory tract and aggravate the cough
Step 6. Give him cough medicine
Coughing plays the important role of clearing the bronchi of phlegm and keeping the lungs clean. Completely blocking the cough is not a good choice, because this way the mucus would remain in the lungs and make breathing more difficult. However, if your dog is coughing so much that he can't even sleep at night, it's okay to give him some medication to ease the discomfort.
- An adequate cough syrup is Robitussin DM for children. You can give your dog about a teaspoon of syrup for every 10 kg of weight.
- Never give the dog other cough drugs or flu remedies for human use without first consulting your veterinarian. If the dosage is wrong or the animal ingests some active ingredients present in the drugs that are not suitable for it, it could have serious health problems.
- Ideally, you should only give him cough medication once a day.
Step 7. Relieve the urge to cough
If your dog has a sore throat, you can find a simple home remedy to help soothe the discomfort. Give it a spoonful of honey with a teaspoon of lemon juice, mixed together in hot water.
- You can give him this blend every hour as well, if needed.
- Do not give it to him if he has diabetes, as honey is harmful in this case.
Step 8. Strengthen your immune system
To help your four-legged friend fight the infection, ask your vet if you can give him some vitamin C tablets crushed in water, wild bark berries, peppermint, raw honey, or Yerba Santa.
These treatments are not scientifically proven, but the data collected shows that they can bring some benefits
Step 9. Prevent future infections with a vaccine
If your dog is a high-risk dog (for example, he has spent time in a kennel, attends dog shows, or spends time with other dogs in parks), consider getting him vaccinated against kennel cough to prevent kennel cough. infection in the future.
- This vaccine is effective against the main causes of the disease and guarantees 12 months of protection.
- Infectious tracheobronchitis is usually not an irreversible disease, but it is a deeply unpleasant discomfort. It is worth getting your dog vaccinated, especially if he is elderly or has other health problems.
Advice
The infection manifests itself within 2-10 days after exposure and normally lasts about 10 days, if it is not complicated, or 14-20 days if there are more factors
Warnings
- Medicines for humans can have serious or even life-threatening side effects in pets. Consult your veterinarian before giving any of these medications.
- When the dog recovers from the kennel cough it is unlikely that he will get sick again with this infectious agent. Exposure and recovery is the principle on which vaccination is based, so the dog is basically vaccinated against this particular disease. However, since there are many infectious agents that cause different types of kennel cough, there is nothing to prevent the dog from developing similar symptoms due to infection with different bacteria that cause the same problems.
- If you have several dogs, it is likely that if one has this disease, the others will also be infected. Always remain alert and check for the presence of the symptoms described in this article.
- Dogs that have been rescued from a kennel or shelter have a high probability of developing kennel cough after adoption.
