Does My Dog Have A Respiratory Infection?
If your dog has kennel cough, there will usually be several telling symptoms to keep an eye out for. Does your dog have a persistent, dry cough? Does your dog keep gagging? Can you see nasal discharge? Do the symptoms worsen when your dog exercises or you are pulling at the collar? Has your dog’s appetite decreased and does he appear lethargic? All of these could be indicators that your dog is suffering with kennel cough.
But what causes kennel cough and how could your cat transmit the infection? The two most common causative agents of kennel cough are the Parainfluenza virus and the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria. These viral and bacterial agents can be spread through direct contact with contaminated animals or objects, like your cat. Usually though, your dog will contract kennel cough from a kennel, animal shelters, dog spas, dog parks, or other boarding facilities. In order to diagnose a respiratory infection, your vet will undertake a physical examination, where they will listen to the lungs and coughing. They will also look for signs of fever and nasal discharge. They will also want to talk through their history with you to identify when exposure likely took place. For further information about respiratory infections, check out our guide to Parainfluenza Virus Infection in dogs.
If you’re concerned that your pet is sick or might become sick, make an appointment today to discuss this with your vet.
As with humans, some pet colds can be cared for at home, while others will need a vet’s care. To care for your pets at home, keep plenty of water available, wipe off discharge to keep your pets comfortable, let them rest as much as possible, and provide warm, humid air if they seem congested (you can let your pet into the bathroom while you shower, or put your pet in a room with a humidifier). If possible, isolate sick pets from healthy ones, as colds can be very contagious.
But if your cat or dog shows trouble breathing, stops eating or drinking, becomes overly lethargic, or seems to be in pain, go see your veterinarian right away. The symptoms of a cold can also look very similar to more serious diseases, so you’ll want a vet to do a full checkup.
Dogs and cats do catch colds, and their symptoms are just like humans. Both may have discharge from their noses, “wet” or labored breathing from congestion, sneezing (especially wet sneezes), watery eyes and lethargy (napping more, showing low energy). The cold symptoms will likely last 5-10 days.
It’s that time of year again – colds, sniffles and even the flu start taking over schools and offices. It seems like almost everyone is carrying tissues and spending a few days in bed. With such a prevalence of colds in humans during winter, it’s easy to wonder if and how such viruses pass to our pets. Can dogs and cats catch a cold?
For mild cases, your vet will typically prescribe plenty of rest and separation from other pets and any immunocompromised family members. Your vet may prescribe a series of antibiotics if there is any concern that a secondary infection might occur, or if an infection is the root cause for the kennel cough.
Kennel cough is the common name for infectious tracheobronchitis, a highly infectious respiratory illness that can affect both dogs and cats. One of the most common causes for kennel cough is bordetella; it affects pets in a similar manner to the common cold in humans. Like a cold, it can lead to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia, if left untreated. It is typically caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is spread through airborne particles as well as direct contact.
A vaccine for bordetella is available for cats and dogs and is generally recommended if your pet is going to be exposed to a large number of strange pets. If you plan to board your dog at a kennel or place him in doggy daycare, a bordetella vaccine will typically be required.
Not only is this illness highly contagious, but it can be transmitted across different species. Your cat and dog give this illness to one another as well as to you and the other humans in your household, although the chances of this happening are slim. Regardless, a sick pet should be kept away from very young children, the elderly and anyone in the household with a compromised immune system.
Although this is usually a self-limiting illness, meaning that it usually clears up on its own with plenty of rest, its important to have your pet checked by a veterinarian if you notice any signs. One reason is that severe cases may require treatment with antibiotics to prevent the condition from progressing.