Natural Pet Health

Basically cough is a body’s natural way of indicating that there is something wrong inside the body and especially in the respiratory system. Dogs, like humans, cough due to many reasons. The type of cough is often, but not always, sufficient indication of the cause. A dry hacking cough is a typical symptom of kennel cough in dogs.

Kennel cough is an infection that dogs usually acquire when exposed to other dogs with a similar infection. Dogs that have been recently boarded or those that have returned from dog shows are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Kennel cough is commonly caused by parainfluenza, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and mycoplasma. Other possible infectious agents include adenovirus, reovirus and the canine herpes virus. In majority of the cases it is a disease caused by a combination of bacterial and viral infection.

Parinfuemza and Bordetella bronchiseptica commonly appear in conjunction with each other in most cases of kennel cough. Symptoms usually develop within a week of exposure. The main symptom that is indicated is a dry hacking cough. The dog strains to vomit and usually coughs up a white foamy discharge. The disease is actually self-limiting and disappears on its own if unattended. But severe cases manifest themselves as an inflammation of the windpipe, conjunctivitis and nasal discharge.

The typical symptoms and knowledge of recent exposure are enough to confirm that the dog is suffering from kennel cough to a veterinarian. If the dog produces a dry hacking cough on pressurizing the windpipe, it is a sure sign of inflammation of the trachea. It is only in complicated and severe instances that a veterinarian will advise complete blood tests and bacterial cultures or a chest x ray.

A simple infection will automatically resolve on its own within ten days. Complicated cases, however, require professional intervention.  If a bacterial agent is identified, the preferred kennel cough treatment is antibiotics. Antibiotics, however, are ineffective against viruses. Most vaccinations that dogs receive as part of the normal prescribed course of vaccinations provide only partial protection against viruses and bacteria. Vaccinations also require to be followed up half yearly or annual booster doses depending upon the type of vaccination.

Preventing kennel cough in dogs, especially puppies, involves limiting the exposure to other dogs. This may not be possible to adhere to strictly. The next best prevention is to start giving a time tested kennel cough home remedy right from the beginning. Home remedies and herbal treatments help to increase a dog’s immunity against disease and the body is able to ward off mild infectious invasion on its own.

We Recommend:

KC-Defense is a natural, safe and effective remedy for the treatment of acute Kennel Cough and other respiratory infections in pets; as an oral natural vaccine to immunize your pet against Kennel Cough and other viral respiratory infections; as a preventative just before a visit to the vet, to kennels or a cattery to protect against infection. KC-Defense is safe, pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards and causes no side-effects.

Reference:
http://www.chathama...rg/kennelcough.shtml

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