What Is Dog Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a condition in which a dog’s windpipe and upper bronchi are irritated and damaged by infectious microorganisms. Kennel cough can be caused by both bacteria and virus. Dog kennel cough is named variously like canine cough, infectious tracheobronchitis and bordetellosis
One of the first warning signs of kennel cough in dogs is a rough and dry, hacking cough that will show up with in a week of the dog having the initial infection. The damage is done through the bacteria and/ or viruses damaging the lining of the windpipe and bronchi, which exposes the nerve endings. The cough is caused when the dog breathes in and out and air is exposed to the endings of the nerves which irritates them.
Viral Kennel Cough can be prevented by ensuring that your dog’s immunizations are up to date. The viral version can be deadly in extreme cases and is one of the biggest reason why it’s so important for your dog to keep his immunizations up to date. The alternative is not acceptable to any dog lover. Bacterial Kennel Cough can be treated with antibiotics. As long as antibiotics are started early then the prognosis is good. To help calm a cough that can be irritating for your dog, your vet may prescribe a cough suppressant to keep the cough from getting out of hand.
Prevention is still the best cure for kennel cough. Keep clean areas where your dog frequent in your house and boarding kennels, in particular, need to be hygienic too. If your dog requires interaction with other dogs in places such as parks, kennels or training schools, this is a call for you to vaccinate your dog against kennel cough.
Doing precautionary measures for your dog’s health, even before an infection starts to develop or symptoms to occur, is worth it to save you, the dog owner, from experiencing all the hassle and trouble that might result when your precious dog would be infected and experience kennel cough.
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