As my pug,
Pixel, is currently suffering from kennel cough, I thought I would find out a
little bit about the disease for this blog.
Kennel
cough, otherwise known as Infectious tracheobronchitis, is
an infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by the Bordetella
bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus and is extremely infectious,
spreading through the air. It can be
spread through even the slightest contact with another dog, and so it is
advised that if your dog is infected, you keep away from other dogs until it is
better, to avoid passing on the disease. It can also be spread through sharing
objects, such as toys and water bowls, with an infected dog.
The symptoms include a persistent cough that
sounds as though the dog has something stuck in their throat. This will develop
3-10 days after initial infection. The symptoms will get worse with exercise or
excitement, so it is advised only to take your dog on short walks, to places
they will not meet other dogs.
There is no test for kennel cough, and so
instead the vet must rule out other causes of the cough, such as a collapsed
trachea or cancer. The vet will also be able to rule out lungworm, provided
that your dog is up to date on their flea treatment (Advocate also prevents
lungworm, as well as other parasites, and should be administered once a month).
The treatment is a course of antibiotics, but
this is not always effective as there is a viral strain, which is not susceptible
to antibiotics. Some bacteria may be
resistant to broad spectrum antibiotics, so a different antibiotic may have to
be administered. In any case, the disease is self-limiting, and so will clear
without assistance within 7-14 days. If the symptoms increase, you should take your
dog to be re-examined. Kennel cough can
sometimes lead to pneumonia,
although this only usually occours in older dogs or puppies, both of which have
a weakened or inefficient immune system.
There are three vaccinations
available for kennel cough:
-
an intranasal
one which is simply squirted into the dog’s nose
-
an
injectable form
-
a new
oral form.
None of these provide complete
protection, but they significantly reduce the chances of infection in your dog.
