Kennel Cough Prevention And Treatment

Tags: dogs, pets, diseases, kennel cough

A cough for a human isn't something to be worried about because there's always a cure available out there that can make it go away in a matter of days. But sometimes if left to worsen, the condition can become more severe and harder to treat – especially if you have no idea what exactly is causing the cough.

Today I'll be discussing Kennel cough: the possible types it may come in, the symptoms, treatment and preventive measures to take. This infection basically comes in two types, the first type is caused by bacterial infections and the second is caused by viral infections. Both work in the same way, starting by attacking the lining of the bronchi and windpipe.

Eventually, when little critters are left to do their jobs, the lining becomes thinner and thinner. In a matter of days, the nerve endings located there will be exposed – these nerve endings are very sensitive. When your pet inhales and exhales, the air will brush against the exposed nerves and cause it to cough – which becomes more frequent as time passes.

The symptoms can last up to 3 weeks, depending on the type of infection and how well your dog combats the infection. Usually, pooches are capable of getting better on their own, but in some cases, they aren't. The viral type can actually prove to be fatal if your pet doesn't receive proper treatment.

For those not familiar with the term kennel, it's a shelter used for housing or dog breeding. They call it Kennel Cough because a kennel is a fantastic place for breeding the disease, and usually is usually where it originates. The infection is easily transmitted through the air – coming in direct contact with a sick dogs cough or sneeze is a sure way to contract the ailment.

In a closed environment, like a house or a kennel full of dogs, the viral or bacterial infection spreads a lot faster. If you suspect your pet to have this disease, it's best that you take it to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment immediately - you wouldn't want to take the chances of losing your beloved pet.

Treatment of the bacterial type of Kennel Cough is usually done with antibiotics - this will help speed up the recovery of your dog. Agents that will aid in minimizing the frequency of coughing will also be needed. As for the viral type, it's usually the same treatment course as the bacterial type, but may need a longer duration of dosages.

Proper diagnosis of the type is important – this will aid the veterinarian in identifying the seriousness of the disease and rule out other cough related disorders that could need a different course of remedy. The Kennel Cough prevention is possible: to do so you'll have to get your pet to take regular and updated vaccines.

If your pet has Kennel Cough and is undergoing treatment, it's best that you keep it separated from the other pets for at least a month or as recommended by your vet. Preventing the disease from happening in the first place not only saves you money but safeguards the well-being of your pet as well, and could save its life.

About the author

Alex De La Cruz is a successful Dog Trainer who has been advising and coaching dog owners for many years. Alex now decided to share his knowledge through this site, Doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free weekly newsletter and learn how to keep your dog healthy and happy.

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