How Dangerous is Dog Kennel Cough?

Dog kennel cough or canine cough is an infection to your dog’s upper respiratory system. Kennel cough is a non scientific term that applies to both bacterial and viral infections contracted by dogs. Due to its contagious nature it is usually contracted in areas where close proximity to several other dogs is common place such as dog kennels which is how it got its name.

Infectious tracheobronchitis and bordetellosis are two very common forms of kennel cough. These are not deadly, neither are any of the other forms of this condition however, it can make your dog quite miserable. The cough is persistent and can last for several weeks. The infection exposes nerve endings in the windpipe and bronchi which causes the irritation resulting in a rough, dry hacking cough. The cough releases the germ into the air and can easily be transmitted to other dogs that are close by and is therefore not exclusive to kennels.

Most dogs can recover without medication however a vet can give him or her a cough suppressant to relieve the annoying hack and to protect other dogs that may be living with or play with your dog. Antibiotics can be prescribed to speed up the healing process but they are not necessary.

There are other diseases that manifest as a hacking cough and can be mistaken as kennel cough. Some of these diseases are quite serious. If your dog has a cough you should definitely get him or her checked out by a veterinarian to be sure. Also, be sure your dog gets all the proper vaccinations, especially if you’re planning to put him or her in a kennel or in close proximity to many other dogs.

This by no means should be taken as a warning against the sanitary conditions of all kennels in general. On the contrary, pet kennels must adhere to strict guidelines in order to gain and retain their license to do business. However, it is impossible to control how their customers care for their animals previous to being admitted. Nor can they accurately test each dog upon its entrance to the boarding kennel.

Besides proper dog grooming, vaccinations and good dog care, one thing a dog owner can do to help keep his or her animal safe is to be sure that when they return home from the dog kennel, they return to a clean environment. In the event that your dog did catch something you wouldn’t want it to spread to any of your other pets.