Kennel Cough is Usually Not Serious
Kennel cough is a disease that causes minor irritation to the lining of a dog's trachea.
Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, the official medical term for kennel cough, causes a frequent cough in a dog, commonly every few minutes.
This disease is caused by an airborne bacteria or virus and tends to not be a serious disease in most dogs.
However, the disease can be quite serious in puppies, older dogs, or dogs that may already be ill.
Kennel cough is contracted through close contact with other dogs, thus the term kennel cough was coined as many dogs do become exposed when they are being boarded.
The most common and noticeable symptom of kennel cough is a dry, hacking cough.
The dog will usually hang its head and also may make retching or choking sounds.
The coughing can sometimes be associated with vomiting due to the intense cough.
When you first hear your dog begin to exhibit these symptoms, you make think he has something hung in his throat.
Symptoms seem to affect the dog worse during the night time hours and also when it is lying down.
Commonly, symptoms will subside after ten days or so and normally disappear within two to three weeks.
Now the question is should you take your dog to the vet if you suspect it has kennel cough.
Most of the time, if the symptoms are as described above, the answer is no as the disease can usually be managed and treated at home.
There are over the counter treatments available and will help relieve the symptoms in the dog.
However, if the dog begins to cough up phlegm or food on a regular basis, or appears to be somewhat listless, a trip to the vet will become necessary.
Vets will prescribe a cough suppressant to relieve the cough and sometimes an antibiotic in order to attempt to hasten the healing of the disease.
Many veterinarians recommend vaccinating your dogs against kennel cough and this is really a good idea if you commonly board your dog at kennels or he is around strange dogs on a regular basis.
Otherwise, try not to allow your dog to share toys or food and water bowls.
Also, cleaning and disinfecting his food and water bowls on a regular basis will help to decrease the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.
Taking these few precautions should lessen the chance your dog will acquire this disease.
However, if he does still contract a case of this infliction, do not panic.
Your little prized companion will likely recover nicely and be back to his old self in no time.
Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, the official medical term for kennel cough, causes a frequent cough in a dog, commonly every few minutes.
This disease is caused by an airborne bacteria or virus and tends to not be a serious disease in most dogs.
However, the disease can be quite serious in puppies, older dogs, or dogs that may already be ill.
Kennel cough is contracted through close contact with other dogs, thus the term kennel cough was coined as many dogs do become exposed when they are being boarded.
The most common and noticeable symptom of kennel cough is a dry, hacking cough.
The dog will usually hang its head and also may make retching or choking sounds.
The coughing can sometimes be associated with vomiting due to the intense cough.
When you first hear your dog begin to exhibit these symptoms, you make think he has something hung in his throat.
Symptoms seem to affect the dog worse during the night time hours and also when it is lying down.
Commonly, symptoms will subside after ten days or so and normally disappear within two to three weeks.
Now the question is should you take your dog to the vet if you suspect it has kennel cough.
Most of the time, if the symptoms are as described above, the answer is no as the disease can usually be managed and treated at home.
There are over the counter treatments available and will help relieve the symptoms in the dog.
However, if the dog begins to cough up phlegm or food on a regular basis, or appears to be somewhat listless, a trip to the vet will become necessary.
Vets will prescribe a cough suppressant to relieve the cough and sometimes an antibiotic in order to attempt to hasten the healing of the disease.
Many veterinarians recommend vaccinating your dogs against kennel cough and this is really a good idea if you commonly board your dog at kennels or he is around strange dogs on a regular basis.
Otherwise, try not to allow your dog to share toys or food and water bowls.
Also, cleaning and disinfecting his food and water bowls on a regular basis will help to decrease the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.
Taking these few precautions should lessen the chance your dog will acquire this disease.
However, if he does still contract a case of this infliction, do not panic.
Your little prized companion will likely recover nicely and be back to his old self in no time.
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