You have just discovered your dog has kennel cough, and you are wondering, “How do I get rid of kennel cough?” Or, “Is kennel cough contagious?” The good news is that it is not contagious. The bad news is that it can be serious, life-threatening, even fatal. Plus kennel cough can cause serious, life-threatening side effects such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and breathing problems.
First, understand that kennel cough is caused by bacteria entering the lungs. Veterinarians prescribe antibiotics to fight these bacteria. Unfortunately, these drugs cannot stand alone against all forms of bacteria. Second, kennel cough often comes in stages rather than one large outbreak. And third, while your dog may survive the initial stage of infection, he likely dies without treatment, because there is nowhere to get the bacteria that caused the disease.
How long does kennel cough last? Usually, the symptoms will disappear within three weeks or less. But sometimes, the disease can linger for up to a month or more. The average span of symptoms is three weeks. Some dogs can be sick for as long as six months.
Symptoms of the disease include coughing with or without wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain and discomfort, and fever. These symptoms mimic those of a respiratory infection, and they are a perfect way to spread bacteria to other areas of your dog’s body. Once the bacteria enter the airways, it can quickly grow into a severe respiratory infection. If the cough doesn’t go away in three weeks, you should visit the vet to get diagnosed.
The usual cause of poor ventilation in dogs is poor diet and insufficient exercise. Dogs who spend most of their time confined to a small space are particularly vulnerable. Common causes of an infected dog include infections of roundworms, parainfluenza, distemper, and a variety of viral viruses. Some of these pathogens are able to infect dogs even when they have been fully immunized, and some require a vaccination to be passed along to the next generation.
To prevent this disease, you should keep your pet’s environment clean and make sure that he has continual access to fresh air and clean water. To prevent exposure to infectious agents, you should clean the anal area regularly with an anti-biotic solution, using an approved disinfectant. Some potential culprits for a dog cough include viruses and bacteria that live in and on the dog’s skin. To deal with parasitic organisms such as the roundworm, you should feed your dog an approved all-natural, probiotics supplement. It’s also a good idea to give your dog an annual checkup at your local vet to ensure that he is healthy and does not have any parasites.
How long do you expect your dog to be contagious before you take him to the vet? Since infections can be caused by a variety of pathogens, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. You’ll likely need to wait at least three weeks after the onset of symptoms before you can begin treatment. Keep in mind that the earlier you start treatment, the better your chances of successfully treating the disease and preventing additional complications.
Is your dog currently experiencing a moderate or severe case of kennel cough? If so, you should contact your veterinarian immediately to discuss possible ways to treat the illness. Treating the illness quickly will also help to protect your dog against other diseases that can be brought about by its close relationship with its owner. The next time your dog coughs, he should be promptly evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure that he is healthy and not suffering from another ailment that could be harmful to him.
Recent Comments