Kennel Cough in Dogs: Know the Signs and Treatments

One of the most common diseases that a dog catches is kennel cough. People from the medical field actually knows this by the term, "tracheobronchitis," which indicates some sort of bronchitis that affects the trachea. This kind of disease is not really that serious and will eventually pass as the weeks go by.

Kennel coughs are induced by inhaling certain kinds of viruses and bacteria that is present in the air. The bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica is usually credited as the one which causes this disease but other viruses such as the canine distemper virus or CDV and canine parainfluenza, has also been associated with the disease. Among the veterinary medical community, it is agreed that an animal can only acquire this disease after it has been exposed to these multiple viruses for quite some time. Therefore, it is only those who usually spend a lot of time around other dogs and who stay in their kennels for a long time who are quite susceptible to this disease. Examples of these are those who participate in dog shows and those at the shelter or pet store.

Kennel coughs are not a source of serious concern as they are usually not life-threatening, but if you see the following symptoms of kennel cough in your dog, you may want to consult your veterinarian immediately. First of all, your dog will develop some sort of dry cough due to the inflammation of his bronchi and trachea. This wil cause your dog to cough up some white and foamy substance. In other dogs, they may develop an inflammation in their eyelids or what you call conjunctivitis. They may also develop pnasal discharges.

To diagnose this disease, the vet will do some simple physical examinations on your dog or conduct a simple medical history check on your dog. The kind of cough that is associated with this disease is very much characterized and massaging his throat to induce the coughing will reveal if he has acquired the disease. If your dog coughs up a discharge that is either yellowish or greenish in color, he may require other tests to be done so that he could rule out other possible diseases. Tests such as a complete blood count or a laboratory test to see if there is any bacteria or other microorganism in your dog's trachea would be needed to rule out canine distemper, pneumonia, or influenza.

Immunizing your dog is one of the ways in which you can prevent this disease from happening to your dog. This is usually done when you need to kennel your dog or before travelling. It will be needed before your dog can be admitted. The immunization may not possibly work sometimes as this can be caused by several different pathogens. So, to prevent this, you may need to do some active preventive actions in your part. Do not let other unfamiliar dogs to come near him or use his water and food bowl. If he is going to participate in some dog show, be sure that the area is well-ventilated so that the air is regularly flushed out of the room.

Antibiotics are frequently used in treating kennel coughs to prevent further infections that may arise from it. This will do him good as he recuperates from the kennel cough.

It's vital for owners to recognize these symptoms should they happen in their family dog.

Learn how to help dogs with arthritis by using all natural Synflex Glucosamine.