Natural Pet Health

Kennel cough or tracheobronchitis is bronchitis that is marked by dry spasmodic cough, retching, sneezing, snorting or choking. It is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. It can be caused by either a viral or bacterial infection.

Tracheobronchitis is highly contagious and occurs when dogs are kept in crowded places with poor ventilation and lot of warm air – places like boarding kennels, vaccination clinics, hospital waiting rooms or any other such place where other infected dogs may be present.

Kennel cough in canines is equivalent, in some aspects, to common cold in humans. The symptoms are characteristic and obvious enough for diagnosis. And just as common cold caused by a virus requires no treatment, kennel cough in dogs also does not require any treatment if the condition has been caused due to a viral infection.

Kennel cough is an illness that infects mostly canines and sometimes cats also. The condition is very similar to that of the common cold in human beings and the best treatment for this condition is to let it run its course.

The problem, however, is that the symptoms of kennel cough are extremely painful and can test the patience of many dog owners. The dry, honking cough can keep you and your dog awake through nights for more than 15 to 20 days at times.

Many people suggest cough suppressants as a remedy to check the cough, but cough suppressants actually keep the phlegm from coming out increasing the number of days of misery for your pet. And the longer the kennel cough stays, the chances of it developing into pneumonia or any other infectious illness increase.

Tracheobronchitis or kennel cough in canines is mostly caused by exposure to an infected dog or dogs. It is characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract, which causes symptoms like a dry cough, sneezing, snorting, and sometimes nasal discharge.

The infection usually occurs in crowded places where infected dogs may be present.

Unless it is a severe condition, kennel cough in dogs is a self limiting condition and the symptoms tend to disappear within a fortnight. However, it is better to take preventive measures since kennel cough can lead to serious conditions like pneumonia.

Although a bit impractical, the best prevention is to limit exposure to other dogs that may be infected. The next best option is vaccination.

Kennel cough in dogs is an infection that can be caused by a number of agents. These agents work together to damage and irritate the lining of trachea. Though kennel cough is commonly associated with a bacterium known as Bordetella bronchiseptica, two other viruses, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus and parasitic bacteria (mycoplasma) can also lead to kennel cough in canines.

The condition is self limiting and the duration of kennel cough in dogs is short. However, that does not mean that it does not cause discomfort to the dog. The condition can cause your dog to cough continuously for several minutes. His cough may sound like a ‘honking’ sound as if trying to expel something out from his throat. The continuous sound of the cough can be extremely irritating to the owner as well; not to mention the discomfort that it causes the dog.