After visiting the dog park for a few days, you notice a difference in your dog’s behavior. Something went wrong. He coughed badly. It almost sounds like goose chirping!
oh ohyou think. Could this be kennel cough?
Every year, thousands of puppies and dogs get sick from kennel cough, also known as “canine tracheobronchitis” or “bordetellosis.” According to the American Kennel Club, it’s a highly contagious upper respiratory infection. We humans usually call it a cold.
But unlike the common human cold, pets cannot self-medicate or drive to a doctor for a prescription. That’s why they have you – their lovely owner!
Today on the Groomit blog, our canine experts will find out what you need to know about preventing and treating kennel cough.
What exactly causes kennel cough?
“Kennel cough” is enough to perk up the dog groomer’s ears. No one likes a sick puppy, and infectious diseases require a targeted approach to ensure the fewest animals get sick. Kennel cough can be viral or bacterial. However, bacterial species are the ones dog owners are most likely to encounter.
So, how do dogs get kennel cough?
Imagine a sneeze. When a dog says “ahoo!” an infinite number of water droplets are released and fly through the air. The same goes for coughing. If a dog gets a kennel cough, it leaves behind droplets containing Bordetella. This can be in the air or on objects like food bowls, toys, shared beds, collars, belts, etc.
Dogs are known to love sniffing each other! Nose-to-nose contact is hard to avoid. Dogs exposed to kennel coughs are at risk for bacteria entering the upper respiratory tract.
If it sticks, unfortunately, your puppy could get sick.
Where do dogs usually get kennel cough?
Despite our best efforts, any dog can suffer from kennel cough. Since it is contagious, the infection can spread like wildfire. That being said, certain settings are more likely than others to have positive cases of kennel cough.
For example, kennel cough can also occur in areas with large numbers of unvaccinated or rescue dogs. It is for this reason that animal shelters find it challenging to deal with kennel cough. It can be difficult to control the new dogs that come and go every day. Likewise, the shelter operates with minimal space. This makes isolating infected puppies trickier.
Most of us already have a dog at home. In this case, your puppy may experience a kennel cough at a doggy daycare, dog park, pet store, in-store grooming salon, or veterinarian’s office.
Hear the dog coughing?
leave now! Do not let your dog interact.
Red Flag Kennel Cough Symptoms to Watch Out for
As mentioned above, kennel coughs come with a distinctive noise. The most common symptom of a kennel cough is…well…cough!
Pet MD recommends looking for both:
- retching
- sneeze
- runny nose
- fever
- lethargy
- white foam around the mouth
- loss of appetite
When in doubt, Groomit recommends calling your veterinarian.
How to Treat Kennel Cough
Depending on the severity of the infection, there are a few different ways to help soothe your puppy’s throat and help them feel better. Rest and hydration are essential. Give your dog plenty of water. Try to let them relax. Providing nutritious food and adequate periods of restful sleep will speed up their recovery.
In rare cases, a kennel cough can be severe. Your veterinarian may prescribe cough suppressants or antibiotics. Conversely, kennel cough may require hospitalization (although this is more likely in immunocompromised dogs).
Of course, it can be heartbreaking to see our dog feeling sick!
But keep in mind that kennel cough doesn’t last long—usually 1-2 weeks. With your love and care, they will be fine soon.
How Dog Groomers and Pet Owners Can Prevent Kennel Cough
Living and working with dogs means you may be exposed to kennel cough at some point.
At Groomit, we take every precaution! Mobile dog grooming means our highly qualified dog groomers can only see one puppy at a time, greatly reducing contact with other animals and bacteria. Plus, an at-home dog grooming appointment means no need to wait in a crowded pet store for an unknown dog.
Owners can also prevent kennel cough by vaccinating against Bordetella. Prevention is the goal.
Are you interested in safe and hassle-free dog grooming classes?
View Groomit’s list of services here.
