People are not the only ones who become sick with respiratory infections that cause distress and weakness. Your pup can become ill with respiratory infections too. One of the most common ones being kennel cough,which is an illness animals in shelters catch often. Some of you may know it as, “canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
What exactly is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough comes in two forms. There is bacterial kennel cough and viral kennel cough. Typically, dogs that contract this illness start off with having some sort of health issue such as becoming infected with a virus that weakens its immune system. When the pup’s immune system is weak it is easier for the bacterium known as, “bordetella,” to infect the dog with the illness. Viruses that make the dog more susceptible to contacting the bordetella infection are the adenovirus, distemper virus, herpes virus, reovirus and parainfluenze virus. If you suspect your dog is ill, it is best to take them to the vet for proper treatment so their condition doesn’t worsen.
What are the symptoms?
The way a pup contracts the kennel cough illness is by inhaling the bacteria or virus particles from the air into their respiratory tract. When this occurs, inflammation in the dog’s respiratory tract become inflamed causing the pup to cough in away that sounds like a goose honking. Other symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose and continued eye discharge. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough it is important you keep it home because the infection can be spread from dog to dog. The worse thing you could do is bring your pup to play with other animals in shelters or to doggy parks.
How is it treated?
Once your furry friend is diagnosed with kennel cough by a vet, it will be placed on an antibiotic and cough medicine to help cure your pal. Within a couple of weeks of being on the medicine, your dogs health should improve. Without treatment, your pup’s health could worsen leading to pneumonia, which could cost your pup it’s life. To avoid this from occurring, see a vet immediately if you notice your dog is coughing or having difficulty breathing. Catching your pup’s illness early is keep to either preventing kennel cough or treating it as soon as possible so your furry friend can be loving and playful again. After all, a healthy pup is a happy pup.
