Kennel Cough

[sandymere 8,263]

There are often queries around this subject after people have been to see the vet but want a little more background, the replies follow a similar pattern so it seemed sensible to write a synopsis that could be cut and pasted as an easy answer. Please feel free to suggest additions that anyone feels are appropriate.

 

Please note I'm not a vet and so the advice is from a layman's prospective and anyone not familiar with Kennel cough should seek a vet's advice at the earliest opportunity, there are a number of problems that have a similar presentation but more serious outcomes.

 

Kennel Cough (tracheobronchitis).

 

Kennel cough is a term used to describe a broad spectrum of infections of the upper airways of dogs much as a "common cold" is in humans. In the majority of cases in a healthy adult dog these easily caught and spread infections will settle in their own time. A warm bed, good food and rest are the best treatment with perhaps the addition of a simple linctus type cough medicine. Not every dog coming into contact with an infected animal will become symptomatic but infection risk is increased if an animal is stressed i.e. in boarding kennels etc in a similar way to a human catching a cold when they're a little run down.

 

Dogs may become infected but not obviously symptomatic in that they do not get a cough but may have inflamed airways and so need recovery time also will they will be infectious to others, so if one dog becomes infected it's worth treating your others as having it and give all appropriate rest and recuperation etc. The infection can be passed for up to a couple of months after a case but is at its most infectious whilst an animal is actively coughing. The commonest symptoms are the presence a “hacking cough culminating in retching that may produce a little foam, fluid and is often exacerbated with exercise and may present anywhere from a couple of days to weeks after exposure. In the cases of some of causative bacteria they may last for some time in the environment, especially in damp conditions, ready to case infection to any dog coming into contact.

 

There are inoculations, nasal or injection, against this but they are not full proof as they do not give resistance to all of the viruses, bacteria that can cause it and may reduce symptoms rather than stop infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed if things don't settle but in the majority of cases of simple Kennel cough they should not be required but rather used if secondary more serious infection follows leading to pneumonia. In most cases symptoms settle in a week or two but if the cough is getting worse rather than better then see a vet.

Regards sandymere.

Edited December 20, 2018 by sandymere

[MissRhianL 70]

There was a case of a few dogs round by me a while back who caught kennel cough. My 2 had it. Both of them were given normal household antibiotics, along with warm water with honey and normal medicine for dry coughs that you can pick up £1 bottle down at the chemist, and that cleared it right up.