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Kennel Cough (also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Dogs commonly contract kennel cough at places where large amounts of canines congregate, such as boarding and daycare facilities, dog parks, training groups, and dog shows. Dogs can spread it to one another through airborne droplets, direct contact (e.g., touching noses), or contaminated surfaces (including water/food bowls). It’s highly treatable in most dogs but can be more severe in puppies younger than six months of age and immunocompromised dogs.
What Is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough, also known as canine infectious respiratory disease complex or canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a contagious disease that causes inflammation of the dogs trachea and bronchi, the tubes leading to the lungs.
Infectious bacterial or viral agents damage the cilia (tiny hair-like projections) within an infected dogs airways, causing a cough. Cilia normally protect the respiratory tract by clearing away irritants like dust, bacteria, and other microorganisms with wave-like motions. When they are damaged, the protective mechanism breaks down, which increases the chances that one or more infections will develop.
Kennel cough got its name from one of the most likely sources of disease transmission: crowded boarding kennels.
Are There Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs?
For mild cases of kennel cough, there are a few at-home remedy options. However, keep an eye out for signs that the kennel cough is getting worse or not getting better.
Honey can be a great home remedy for kennel cough as it can help soothe your dogs throat and minimize coughing.
You can give your dog 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with a little warm water in a bowl. This can be offered up to three times a day depending on how often your dog is coughing.
A small humidifier can be placed near your dog while they are resting.
The humidifier will moisten the air that your dog breathes, which can help with irritation of the respiratory tract.
How To Spot and Treat Kennel Cough In Dogs | Vets4Pets
Is your dog coughing more than usual? Is he making a hacking sound (like he has a hairball stuck in his throat)? Has he recently spent time around other pups? If so, he could have kennel cough — also called canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
In most cases, kennel cough isn’t serious and will clear up without treatment. However, in some dogs, the disease can be more severe. Learn more about the symptoms, when you should seek veterinary care, and how you can reduce your dog’s risk of contracting this highly contagious illness. Table Of Contents
Kennel cough is a respiratory tract infection that causes your dog’s upper airway to become inflamed. It can spread deep into the lungs and cause pneumonia in severe cases.
Dogs can contract kennel cough in several ways, such as inhaling infectious bacteria or virus particles in the environment, direct contact with an infected dog, or contaminated surfaces (e.g., food and water bowls, toys, bedding, or kennels).
The most common bug that causes kennel cough is the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. In most cases, dogs infected with Bordetella are also infected with a virus simultaneously. These viruses can include canine adenovirus, canine respiratory coronavirus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus, and canine herpes virus.