Learning More About Kennel Cough

Dog kennel cough, also known by names such as canine cough, bordetellosis and infectious tracheobronchitis, is a condition in which a dog’s windpipe and upper bronchi are irritated and damaged due to an infection caused by either bacteria or viruses.

What is Kennel Cough All About

A dry, hacking cough that lasts appears within a week of initial infection is the main symptom of kennel cough. This is caused by the bacteria or viruses that line the windpipe and bronchi in the dog. This exposes the nerve endings. These are irritated when the dog breathes, due to the air passing over them. This is what results in the persistent cough.

How Long Does Kennel Cough Last

The majority of dog kennel cough cases tend to be mild and aren’t detrimental to the dog’s overall well being. Typically it does not present a fever or cause loss of appetite; however the cough presents itself throughout the day with the dog coughing every few minutes. Most cases will clear within one to three weeks without using medication, though antibiotics can often speed the healing process.

How is the Disease of Kennel Cough Transmitted

Dog kennel cough transmits much like the human cold. The germs that cause kennel cough is carried in the air and inhaled in the air by other dogs. This causes the infection. This is common especially in dogs that are susceptible to the microbes. Even though any dog anywhere can be affected by this disease, it is common when there are multiple dogs infected in a kennel.

Treatment And Prevention

While antibiotics are sometimes prescribed to treat a case of dog kennel cough, most dogs recover on their own. However, as the illness is accompanied by a persistent and bothersome cough, a veterinarian will often recommend cough-suppressing drugs to help the dog deal with that.

A dog that is not frequently in contact with other dogs already has a low chance of catching kennel cough. It is important to have the dog examined by a vet because symptoms similar to kennel cough are also caused by other serious respiratory diseases. In case of vaccination, the dog should be given the vaccine at least a few weeks before taking it to a dog show or out in the company of other dogs. Vaccinating the dog against infectious organisms may prevent dog kennel cough.