Article Surfing Archive

If you own a puppy or adult dog that was purchased from your local pet stop, and he is coughing incessantly on a regular basis, then there is a very strong possibility that your new pet has brought home what is known as "kennel cough".

With kennel cough, a dog will usually have intense periods of non-stop coughing and even end these sessions with throwing up. Although this spasm of coughing looks like a terrible experience to your dog, kennel cough does not affect his energy levels and he may still seem very alert and upbeat after having a full-blown cough attack.

Kennel cough is very contagious

If your dog is indeed showing the above signs of coughing problems then you need to accept the possibility that he has a case of kennel cough. The technical term for this disease is called "infectious tracheobronchitis" and is very contagious. It is a respiratory malfunction that is most common in dogs that have spent time in pet stops where they are closed up with other dogs and pets. Kennel cough is a mixture a variety bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma.

The most common symptom of kennel cough in a dog is when he gives out a dry and rough sounding tracheal cough or what I like to call the 'rumble effect'. Your dog may gag and even choke often in the attempt to clear his air passageway.

Kennel cough in dogs is very similar to the common cold that humans get. Kennel cough symptoms can last anywhere from 5 to 10 days. His kennel cough may pass after that time but then return to bother your dog, much like the common cold comes back to infect human bodies.

A few steps you can take to help your dog's kennel cough

Like any health concern, the first thing you should do when your dog begins to cough incessantly is take your dog to the vet. The veterinarian will be able to appropriately examine your dog and find out exactly how bad the symptoms are, as well as advise you on a few possible solutions.

The veterinarian may administer cough suppressants and he/she may even suggest antibiotics depending on how sever your dog's cough is. Some dogs have a deeper health issue due to kennel cough which can be the configuration of pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused because bacteria has penetrated to your dog's air sacs.

You may also want to consider looking into preventative measures such as intranasal vaccines. This is an excellent way to help prepare your dog to avoid infection of kennel cough if he ever has to be placed in a kennel at any point in his lifetime. These types of vaccines have been shown to offer stronger immunity than injectable solutions because they actually help stimulate both the upper and lower airways with strong immunity. So, if you think that your dog may be suffering from a bad cough, it could very well be kennel cough.