Recognizing and Treating Kennel Cough - News

Has your beloved pooch been coughing lately? If the cough is high-pitched or “honk-like,” your canine friend may be suffering from acute infectious tracheobronchitis, which is a highly contagious disease that is typically spread when numerous dogs are kept together in close quarters. Since the disease typically occurs when a dog is kept within a high-density population, such as when kept in a boarding kennel, the illness is typically referred to as Kennel Cough.

Recognizing Kennel Cough

In addition to the coughing, there are several additional symptoms associated with this illness. Some of these include:

• Depression

• Difficulty Breathing

• Fever

• Irritated Eyes

• Loss of Appetite

• Runny Nose

• Sneezing

Coughing, however, is the most prominent symptom associated with the illness. Although your pet may cough while it is resting, those with Kennel Cough typically experience worse coughing symptoms when they become excited or when they engage in physical activity. Your pet may even act as if something is caught in its throat or may actually cough up some fluid.

Diagnosing Kennel Cough

If your pooch exhibits any of these symptoms, you should be sure to take it to your veterinarian right away. Otherwise, more severe problems may develop. When you take your pet to the vet, he or she may use a variety of techniques to diagnose the condition. Some of these include:

• Chest X-rays to check for the development of pneumonia

• Lab blood tests

• Fecal flotation to test for intestinal parasites

These tests are generally conducted in order to eliminate other possible causes of the coughing rather than to actually diagnose Kennel Cough. If all other conditions are eliminated as the cause, you may begin a treatment program for your pet.

Treating Kennel Cough

The treatment plan used for Kennel Cough may vary depending upon your pet’s condition. Since the condition is generally caused by a viral infection, antibiotics will not be effective treating the condition. Just as with a human who has a cold, treatment of Kennel Cough is more about treating the symptoms than it is about attempting to cure the actual condition. As such, some treatment options may include using the following:

• Cough Suppressants, which may come in pill form or may be injected

• Antibiotics, which may be used if the vet believes the condition was caused by a bacterial infection

• Additional medications to address other conditions that may have developed due to the Kennel Cough

You will also need to take steps to prevent spreading Kennel Cough to your other pets, if you have them. To help prevent the spread, you should limit the amount of exercise your pet gets, as activity will result in more coughing. Not only will this coughing increase the likelihood of spreading the disease, it is also quite uncomfortable for your pet. To help your pet remain comfortable and quickly fend off the illness, you should also make certain it gets plenty of liquid and you should also consider removing its collar if it wears one. This way, you will reduce the amount of irritation your pet experiences while it recovers from this painful condition.

Recognizing and Treating Kennel Cough

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