How is kennel cough treated?
Treatment normally centers around controlling symptoms, such as cough suppressants (for an unproductive cough), antipyretics (fever-reducers), fluid therapy, and/or appetite stimulants depending on the severity of the disease. Antibiotics are only useful if the disease is caused by a bacterium and not a virus, so do not be surprised if your veterinarian does not prescribe antibiotics.
Remember to never give your pet medications labeled for human use unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Many human medications can contain ingredients that are toxic and fatal to our pets.
If my dog doesn’t go anywhere, do I need to worry about kennel cough?
Most dogs go outside to urinate and defecate, and as much as you may like to think your backyard is safe from infectious diseases, you are not able to control the situations your neighborhood pets are exposed to or their own vaccination protocols. Airborne transmission can easily travel into your yard or home to infect your pets. Another point to make, is when you take your dog for their walk around the neighborhood, park, or elsewhere. The spot your dog is so intent on getting his nose up in and sniffing is a possible site for indirect transfer of pathogens.
Upper airway viruses and bacteria- Think of this as the common cold for a dog. It may cause some discomfort for a little while, but it is relatively short-lived with no lasting problems. Just like Bordetella a pet may be started on a cough suppressant and an antibiotic. One such virus that is not always short-lived is the flu. Dogs have their own strains of influenza and can be vaccinated for it. If your pet frequents boarding, dog parks, or grooming – bi-strained canine influenza should be a part of his yearly vaccines.
Most coughs will pass with little or no care in a day or two, but if a cough continues more than a few days then your pet should be seen by a veterinarian. The best way to prevent a cough is to keep a pet up-to-date on vaccines and heartworm prevention. Preventions can go a long way in keeping your pet healthy!
Heart disease and failure- When the heart is unable to pump fluid can build up in the lungs and leads to a cough. The heart will also stretch and can cause compression of the lower airways. Often dogs in heart failure will also be tired, get out of breath easily, and have pale gums. Heart failure is managed with medication to minimize the signs associated with heart failure. Often times a pet with heart condition will have a murmur when your vet listens to your pets heart. Your veterinarian should recommend chest radiographs and a heart ultrasound along with an ECG and blood pressure reading. They may recommend a consultation with a cardiologist.
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)- Bordetella is very contagious and usually starts causing signs 7-10 days after a pet is exposed. This is a bacteria that decreases the function of the mucocilliary apparatus in a pets respiratory tract. Think of the mucocilliary cells as an escalator that moves debris from the lower trachea and lungs out to the mouth. Without these cells, bacteria and debris builds-up and can cause more severe bacterial infections. The good news is that in a healthy pet kennel cough is usually self-limiting and the pet will be just fine. In the older pets or puppies, kennel cough can be life-threatening. This is usually treated by a cough suppressant and sometimes an antibiotic. Bordetella is a part of a pets annual or semi-annual vaccines and can be prevented.
We all cough from time to time. Usually it is an uncommon occurrence and there is a tickle in the throat. We cough once and it’s over. Dogs are the same way. If a dog coughs once and then goes on playing or cuddling with you, it’s perfectly normal. A pet should see a veterinarian when the cough continues or there are other signs in addition to the cough, like fever, tiredness, or not eating. These signs are concerning that there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.
How To Spot and Treat Kennel Cough In Dogs | Vets4Pets
One of the most dreaded calls any groomer can get is that of an owner saying they got kennel cough from the grooming salon. I want pet owners to understand what kennel cough is and why it is mostly seen on humid, hot summer days.
This contagious upper-respiratory infection tells you that kennels or any place where dogs are kept in close contact, such as shelters, dog parks, grooming salons and vet offices are the breeding grounds for the bacteria and viruses that cause dogs to cough. As with the flu, it spreads through airborne droplets produced by sneezing and coughing but also from contact with any contaminated surfaces. What surfaces do they come in contact at the grooming shop? Mainly the holding cages (especially the front door), the floor, the common water bowls and the grooming table and equipment. There are two main ways that kennel cough is transmitted that pet owners dont think about: the dryers and the groomers themselves.
Most groomers that are tidy and practice good hygiene will spray disinfectant each time after finishing using the drying cage. They will change and clean the dryer filters daily as well. These practices will keep those germs out of your fur babys nose. They will also wash their hands after grooming your pet or even after petting any dog. I keep several bottles of hand-sanitizing gel over my working area to make sure I disinfect constantly. I also wear a groomers uniform apron made of a special material that is nonporous and dries quickly, which makes it easy for me to spray myself with disinfectant in between dogs.
Another way that we keep germs at bay is by changing the air conditioning filters regularly and using the right equipment and materials to keep a very clean work place.
Sadly, even though we as groomers do our very best, on occasion we could get a pet or two that, despite all precautions, will get the coughing spell. Why does that happen? Mainly because a pet can come for a grooming and look perfectly healthy, but in reality, they are incubating the virus already. Some pets can spread the disease and have very little, if any, symptoms. As a matter of fact, some pets that recover from an episode of kennel cough could be spreading the disease in their saliva for months afterward. The reality is most pets will be exposed, but protected by their vaccines and their healthy immune system. Unfortunately, puppies and the elderly pets can easily catch this disease. What is a dog owner to do? Vaccinate your pet . Even if its not 100 percent a sure thing, it will protect them in case they do get it and your dog will recover much quicker.
If your pet starts coughing 3-5 days after being groomed, call your groomer and inform him/her. Take your pet to the veterinarian and be understanding with the groomers — they try hard to keep your pet healthy.
— Tiffany Santos is at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. She can be reached at [email protected].