4 Things to Know About Kennel Cough in White Bear Lake, MN

Kennel cough is one of the most recognizable canine respiratory ailments, and it can be quite common in dogs that have not been vaccinated. This is an illness that dogs of all ages can catch, and while it is not fatal, it is one of the many respiratory ailments that dog owners should be aware of. This is one of the primary conditions that can be shared around a kennel or boarding facility, hence the name.

If your dog has to be boarded frequently or you drop them off at dog daycare each day, you need to know more about kennel cough in case your dog should catch it. There are usually lots of precautions that are in place to prevent this illness from making the rounds at these kinds of facilities, but there can still sometimes be outbreaks. Knowing about kennel cough is important as a dog owner so that you can get your dog to the veterinarian right away if they get sick with it.

Things to Know About Kennel Cough

If you are ready to learn some more about kennel cough in dogs, read on!

1.     It Can Be Caused by Various Things

Kennel cough is a catch-all term for respiratory illnesses in dogs, and it can actually be caused by a variety of different bacteria or viruses. The most common culprit behind kennel cough is the bacteria Bordetella bacterium. This is most common in puppies, but adult dogs can be susceptible to this version of the illness as well. There are also viruses that might be causing your dog’s coughing and discomfort, like adenovirus type 2, canine parainfluenza virus, canine respiratory coronavirus, and mycoplasmas.

These various germs or viruses can lead to similar symptoms like coughing, an irritated or inflamed throat, fever, and overall malaise. More advanced cases will have lung involvement that can lead to pneumonia. Kennel Cough is usually a very mild ailment, but just like colds in humans, it can cause other secondary health problems.

2.     Kennel Cough is Very Contagious

Kennel Cough, which is a lot like a cold or flu in humans, is also very contagious. This is the kind of illness that is spread through nasal discharge as well as saliva and particulate from animals that are sneezing. You can also pass this illness to other dogs when you come into contact with a sick dog and then touch others. Places where dogs congregate can become huge vectors for infection, and this is why most public locations require that all dogs that come to visit are vaccinated.

The incubation period of this illness is about 14 days which is part of the trouble related to its contagious nature. This means that your dog could be sick and shedding the virus for many days before they show symptoms. Kennel Cough might not be deadly overall, but the fact that it takes so long to show symptoms can make this ailment hard to control.

3.     Kennel Cough Can be Prevented in Most Cases

Kennel Cough is commonly vaccinated against by giving the Bordetella Bacterium vaccine. This will not help with the viral version of the illness, but you can also vaccinate for canine parainfluenza and canine adenovirus. This series of vaccines can help make sure that your dog does not get Kennel Cough.

You will always need to check on the vaccine requirements for each public place that your dog visits. Usually, vaccinations will be required to be able to bring your dog to stay. If this is not required, you will want to reconsider taking your dog to this location. You will want to be sure that dogs that are not vaccinated cannot make your dog sick.

4.     Dogs Only Stay Contagious For About Ten Days

The maximum time that your dog will be contagious is about ten days. You will want to make sure not to bring your dog to any public place or expose them to other dogs until ten days have elapsed since your dog started to show symptoms. Kennel Cough is usually best treated at home by keeping your dog away from other pets in your home and washing your hands after each time you take care of them.

These kinds of viruses or bacteria are not contagious to humans, but you still don’t want to accidentally make other animals in your home sick or risk exposing other people’s animals to Kennel Cough. Dogs might run a small fever and feel a bit off, but they usually will only show these symptoms for three to five days.

Make sure that you keep track of your dog’s temperature and pay attention to its symptoms. You will want to be sure that you are aware of early signs that your dog is not improving so that you can take them to the veterinarian.

Kennel Cough Is Something All Pet Owners Should Know About

If you have never had to care for a dog with Kennel Cough, that is good news! That being said, you will want to be sure that you are familiar with this illness in case your dog should ever contract it. This is not often a serious ailment, but it can be very contagious, and you do not want to be careless if you have other animals in your home that could be exposed or if you might make other animals sick.

Kennel Cough is more likely to impact puppies, but it can also make older dogs sick as well. The more that you know about this common illness in dogs, the less likely it will be that your dog will get very sick or make other animals ill. Always remember that you can take your dog to the vet if you have concerns that they might have contracted Kennel Cough. Your vet can diagnose the microorganism that has caused your dog’s Kennel Cough and make sure that you have the tools that you need to treat it.

Birch Lake Animal Hospital is here for all your dog’s health needs. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough be sure to give us a call at (651) 426-2246 or book an appointment online!