Is Your dog coughing so much? It might be the sign of Kennel Cough, an infectious respiratory disease. It is highly treatable in common but can be severe sometimes. This disease is curable, but your dog needs proper care and treatment to deal with this issue. Like you hate being sick. Your dog also hates being sick! So, be careful about your dog’s health. Read this blog and get complete information about this disease. We’ll tell you about this disease’s symptoms, causes and cures.
What Is Kennel Cough?
It is an infectious or contagious disease in which your dog coughs; this is the primary clinical sign of kennel. Your dogs might get this when it comes the contact with other canines, which may be possible in the case of dog training groups, dog parks and daycare facilities. These are the places where groups of dogs gather.
Some Quick points related to Kennel Cough in dogs:
- Both viruses and bacteria cause this disease. These viruses and bacteria include adenovirus type-2, parainfluenza virus, canine coronavirus and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica.
- This disease, also known as Canine Infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease.
- It is also referred to as infectious tracheobronchitis. The word tracheobronchitis describes the site of the infection in the trachea or windpipe and bronchial tubes.
- Several pathogens also cause it, thus, referred to as Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC).
This disease communicates to one another via airborne droplets, direct contact (e.g., touching noses), or contagious surfaces (including water/food bowls). It is curable in many cases, but puppies younger than six months may face some difficulty.
How It Named Kennel Cough
This infection spreads when dogs cohabit. During cohabitation or being housed together, they live in Kennel. Therefore, this disease gets the name Kennel Cough.
‘The Cause’-Why Does Kennel Cough Happen?
Don’t think so much if you are worried about how and when this disease happens to your doggy. We have answers to all your questions. Do you know? The leading cause of this disease is a debilitated immune system. Yes, when your pet’s immunity is down, and he loses his natural defence, virus or bacteria may attack them quickly.
In the case of Kennel cough, two or more two bacteria or viruses can attack your dog’s immunity at the same time. The most common bacteria that cause Kennel cough is Bordetella bronchiseptica. But there are some more on the list:
- Canine parainfluenza virus (CAv-2)
- Canine Influenza Virus (CIV)
- Streptococcus Equi subspecies zooepidemicus
- Canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)
- Canine distemper virus (CDV)
- Mycoplasma species
- Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCov)
- Canine pneumovirus (CnPnV)
So, as you can see that, there are many things causes Kennel cough. Thus, observe your dog. To spot your doggy, you need to know the symptoms of this disease, which are introduced in the next part of this blog.
Sign ‘N’ Symptoms To Look For
Your dog may cough occasionally, but if they do this frequently. Then look for the symptoms of Kennel cough. This could be the symptoms of this disease. Noted down it to look for these in your pet:
- Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Lethargy
- Loss of Appetite
- Low Fever
- With the “honking” sound, a strong cough.
Warning: For your dog, coughing could be severe, so report any issue to your vet as soon as you figure out your dog is seriously coughing.
How To Treat Kennel Cough?
A well-known animal photographer, Roger Caras, said, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” That’s why we need to care for our pets. Here, in this part of a blog, we’ll tell you about the treatment of Kennel cough.
Some points to be noted are:
- If kennel is mild, it can be treated within a week or two. But it would be best if you visited to vet for antibiotics to prevent another infection.
- Nebulizers and vaporizers utilizing inhaled antibiotics or bronchodilators are also beneficial for the treatment. But, before applying this, contact your pet’s dog first.
- It is suggested that owners use a harness rather than a collar to walk a dog with Cough because irritation of the tracheal can irk the cough and damage the trachea.
Kennel Cough Vaccination
If you take your dogs to daycare, they will ask you for a Kennel vaccination. But does it work? Does it safe for your dog? You will get answers to the questions mentioned above by reading this blog. These days all vaccines are modified versions of lived vaccines.
It brings risks for your doggy. This is because it contains bacteria or viruses modified for clinical use. Also, it is said that using modified vaccines means that viruses will stay in your dog’s body, which causes illness later. In this case, other dogs can catch Kennel cough via your dog even if your dog does not cough. However, vaccines stimulate the immune response. Since cough is not that much affected, giving your dog an injection 2-3 times a year is suggested.
Here is what immunologist Ronald Schultz said about the vaccine for Kennel Cough:
- Many animals receive “Kennel Cough” vaccines that include Bordetella and CPI and/o CAV-2 every 6-9 months without evidence that this frequency of vaccination is necessary or beneficial”. “In contrast, other dogs are never vaccinated for this disease is not seen.
- CPI Immunity lasts at least three years when given intranasally, and CAV-2 immunity lasts a minimum of 7 years parenterally for CAV-I,” says Schultz.
- It is often a mild to moderate self-limiting disease. I refer to it as the canine cold.
This is said about Kennel disease, which is not that much risk. If your dog has good immunity, it can cope with this disease. There are ways through which you can naturally treat this disease.
Natural Agent To Cure Kennel Cough
Now, if we don’t trust vaccines, what path should we choose to treat our dog for kennel cough? Don’t be impatience. We have brought some natural ways to prevent kennel cough.
Here are two ways to read them carefully:
- Medicinal Mushrooms: Several medicinal mushrooms contain immune-boosting components. It would be best if you fed your dog this. They also prevent your doggy from cancer and repair their damaged cells.
- Nosodes: It is also a very safe alternative for your pet. It is a specialized homoeopathic remedy for the prevention of disease. It is made from diseased tissue from a sick animal. But, they don’t contain any toxic substances.
Kennel Cough Home Remedies
Home remedies are the best and most trustworthy because they possess no harm. So, if your dog is suffering from Kennel Cough and it is in a mild stage, then you can try these home remedies:
- Honey Water: Add honey to warm water as love is best to cure cough. It will help to soothe your dog’s throat. You can add one tablespoon of honey to a bowl of water.
- Humidifier: You can also use a humidifier. It will moisten the air that your dog will breathe.
- Garlic: It contains antioxidants like vitamin A and minerals like sulphur and zinc. It also provides vitamin B, which improves gut health. Take a piece of garlic, peel it, crush it properly, and mix it into your pet’s food.
- Steam Therapy: Give your dog steam therapy. It will decrease irritation.
- Ginger: It is a herbal medicine that stimulates the immune system. Also, it exhibits the feature of anti-viral and antibacterial.
- Proper Rest: Make sure your dog gets plenty of rest, as it guarantees speedy recovery.
Types Of Kennel Cough
Based on their effect, kennel cough is categorized into two types:
- Mild Cases of Kennel Cough
If your dog is suffering from mild kennel cough, it only needs rest and proper care. Take care of their diet and nutrition. Hydrate your dog correctly as it helps them to fight the disease.
Do you know? It takes only one to two weeks for your pet to recover from mild kennel cough. Some dogs recover independently, but some need a doctor’s help.
- Severe Cases Kennel Cough
Meanwhile, severe cases of Kennel cough can be dangerous for your pet. Your dog will mostly cough, act very lazy and not want to eat or drink something if they suffer from severe kennel cough.
Do you know? In case of serious compilation, you may need to hospitalize your doggy. It needs $1000 depending on the number of days your dog will spend in the hospital.
How Do Vets Diagnose Kennel Cough In Dogs?
In most cases, a hypothetical diagnosis is made based on clinical signs, history, and response to therapy. However, diagnosis is required for dogs suspected of pneumonia or dogs who do not respond to supportive care.
Some of the tests done by the vet:
- Bloodcount: A completed blood count can sometimes reveal an elevated white blood cell count in those dogs with pneumonia as a complicating factor.
- Chest Radiography: Chest radiography is generally standard in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of this disease. However, it is helpful to identify the issue in case of pneumonia or some severe problem.
- PCR: PCR, also known as polymerase chain reaction generally used for viral spotting. Through nasal or oropharyngeal swabs, samples are obtained. But, in this case, false and positive results are possible.
Some other tests include transtracheal washing and bacterial culture in cases of constant or current coughing.
Is Kennel Cough Contagious To Humans?
Several bacteria and viruses cause this disease. There is a chance that most of this may pass to human beings. The primary bacteria which can affect human beings is Bordetella bronchiseptica. However, it could be the case when your immune system is weak. It is rare.
Can Kennel Cough Kill A Dog?
In dogs, Kennel Cough is not usually dangerous. But, the symptoms may affect the dog’s health badly. Usually, dogs survive without treatment within three weeks, but in some cases, it can last up to six weeks. However, in severe cases, it can cause death.
Can Cats Get Kennel Cough?
Yes, this is a common respiratory disease affecting dogs and cats. Like the familiar cold affect humans, Bordetella affects pets similarly. Sounding cough, dry hacking and or a biz sneeze are the common symptoms of Kennel in cats.