Kennel Cough is a highly infectious disease. It is caused by a mixture of bacteria/viruses all at the same time. It can be picked up from anywhere dogs congretate such as dog shows, training classes, grooming parlours and even vet surgeries and not merely in boarding/rescue kennels as the name would imply. The disease is transmitted in infected coughed breath and via feeding utensils. If you have more than one dog in your “pack”, remember to ensure the unaffected dogs have a different water bowl to drink from, just in case.
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About 3-4 days after exposure, the dog will develop a cough. It is usually a dry, loud cough which is worse on excitement. The bouts of coughing may be quite extensive and occasionally cause the dog to retch clear fluid or foam and can make owners think the dog has something stuck in his throat. There may also be a mild nasal discharge but other than this, in MOST cases, the dog is well in himself otherwise – usually serious cases are restricted to very old, young or sick animals, or animals who suffer with respiratory or heart problems.
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Generally diagnosis is fairly easy as, provided there is no reason to suspect distemper, most dogs will have been in contact with a coughing dog within the previous week or so. Gently touching the windpipe usually produces a bout of coughing.
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It is unusual for the dog to require medication for this condition although it may take a few weeks for it to resolve although you can use cough syrup such as Benylin (check with your vet regarding the dosage as this will vary from breed to breed and the age/weight of the dog) or you could even try applying some Vicks Vapo Rub to a bandana for your dog to wear to help ease his chest. If coughing is severe and frequent, drugs to suppress the cough can be administered to make the dog more comfortable. As pressure on the windpipe can trigger a bout of coughing, it is often a good idea to switch to a harness or head collar for walks until the dog has recovered.
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Another more natural aid to consider is Coltsfoot which I am reliably informed works well for kennel cough. Simply use the tincture and put a few drops in the dogs’ water bowls.
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NB Please remember that this is a highly contagious disease and the animal should be kept away from other dogs until he is completely well.
