Dog Coughing Snorting

Understanding Kennel Cough

They sure do. And it is commonly known as kennel cough. It is also called canine cough. The former though, is the more popular term for it.

One of the most common diseases to infect your Pet Dog, or puppies is kennel cough. It is a highly contagious illness, leading to inflammation of the respiratory tract, especially its upper part. It is quite similar to the chest cold in humans. In fact, just like in humans, it even starts with a viral infection usually, which can eventually progress to a more severe bacterial infection too.

Medically known as 'infectious tracheobronchitis', this canine disease spreads rapidly through air borne virus and bacteria, when you're pet is exposed to an already infected dog. It can also transmit through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surface, such as the ground or the sidewalks. Kennel cough is so named because it usually spreads among dogs confined in close quarters, such as in kennels. A dog can carry the infection causing virus and bacteria for as long as three months after catching the infection.

Dog cough is diagnosed on the basis of its symptoms that usually start showing in a dog 3-5 days after exposure to infected surroundings. The symptoms include:

The condition has symptoms that are very similar to when someone catches a cold. Nobody likes runny noses. Dogs get them too. They also get runny eyes when they get infected by the disease. There is a great deal of coughing that happens when a dog contracts bordetella. It can get pretty annoying sometimes. And the coughing gets more frequent and louder in the evening or when the pet is lying down.

• Frequent, dry, harsh coughing, that sounds like something is stuck in the dog's throat.

• Nasal discharge in some cases.
• Fever is usually not seen, but may show up in more severe infections.
• The dog generally remains active and displays normal appetite. Lethargy and listlessness may be visible in severe infections.

The condition can last for as long as a week up to three weeks depending mainly on the dog's immune system and age. The possibility of having a secondary infection is also present. If this is the case, then the secondary infection can hamper the dog's recovery.

Lots of rest, clean, hygienic surroundings, and plenty of water is all that is needed by your dog during this time. But, if the viral infection is accompanied by an infection of the Bordetella Bronchiseptica bacteria too, antibiotic kennel cough treatments may also be required, along with some cough suppressants.

If you thought the essay was intriguing you might also wish to be more topics about Signs Of Parvo.

Snorting a noodle and coughing it back up