You have left your pooch into the wrong kennel or dropped him off with your friends for the weekend. But now you don’t find everything ok, as you suspect he was hanging out with the wrong crowd.
And what’s wrong do you find? Your dog letting loose with a dry, raspy noise that sounds like he has a smoker’s cough. And it isn’t something you should move away with. It is kennel cough.
Kennel cough a type of bronchitis caused by a highly contagious virus that’s readily passed from dog to dog. Moreover, if you have cats, don’t worry! Cats don’t get this condition.
What is Kennel’s Cough?
Kennel cough gets its name from the fact that at least in the past dogs staying in kennels were often exposed to germs from other dogs that had the disease. Today most kennels have become common and your dogs require immunization against the disease beföre checking in for the night. But in the outside world, kennel cough can occur whenever two or more dogs get together and swap germs.
Top 06 Preventive Steps to beat Kennel Cough in Dogs:
While you can prevent kennel cough with vaccinations, there are ways to keep your pet comfortable should she come down with it. Moreover, here’s what vets recommend to prevent kennel cough in dogs:
01. Keep the air clean:
For a pet with irritated airways, clean air is important, says the veterinarian. It means protecting your pet from fireplace smoke or smoke from cigarettes, as well as from such things as household chemical fumes.
02. Keeping air humid:
It is a good idea to keep the surrounding air humid. At least within your house, where dogs live. Keeping humidity high will help tame the cough by soothing your dog’s throat and airways. Again, the vets recommend running a humidifier or vaporizer during the course of the illness. Moreover, for temporary relief, you can also take your dog into the bathroom when you shower or bathe.
03. Reach for the cough medicine can be an alternative:
If your poor pooch is coughing more than once an hour, you may want to give her a cough suppressant. Vets recommend using a product formulated for humans that contains dextromethorphan, such as Vicks 441 or Robitussin. (Make sure the product does not contain acetaminophen, which can be dangerous to dogs.)
He recommends giving.
- 2 teaspoons to a dog 40 pounds and over
- 1 teaspoon to a 20- pound dog, and
- 1/2 teaspoon or less to a smaller dog
Moreover, check with your vet to make sure these doses are right for your pet.
04. A gentle walk with caution:
When your dog is coughing and congested, taking a slow, gentle walk can help her airways drain. But avoid letting her get tired or overheated, which can set off further bouts of coughing. Also, a good idea to avoid choke chains and tight collars. It can bring on a coughing spell.
05. Keeping dogs alone can control spread:
Since kennel cough is contagious, you’ll want to keep the “patient” away from other dogs. Until she recovers.
06. How to prevent it in the future?
Yes, you can prevent your dogs from getting kennel cough in the future by never boarding your dog at a kennel that does not require proof of immunization. Furthermore, always make sure that your dog had her shots before checking in.
How to check your dogs suffering from Kennel Cough?
To test the kennel cough, gently press your dog’s throat right above his collar. If he goes into a coughing spasm, he could have kennel cough.
Like people. dogs may simply cough now and then. if for no other reason than because they have a tickle in the throat.
Veterinarians could find out a simple trick that helps them distinguish between a simple cough and an infectious one. Possibly a serious infection like kennel cough. “If you press gently on the front of the dog’s throat. she will go into a coughing spasm if she has kennel cough,” says Lee R. Harris, D.V.M.. a veterinarian in private practice in Federal Way, Washington.
The virus has a characteristic that likes to irritate the lining of the trachea. If your pet does not have kennel cough, however, pressing gently on her throat probably won’t make her cough.
When should you see a veterinarian when you find kennel cough in dogs?
While kennel cough often goes away on its own within seven to ten days, it can also get worse. In some cases, it leads to pneumonia. While in others, a cough suppressant, antibiotics, and an anti-inflammatory drug may work for some pets.
One way to tell if your dog needs a vet is:-
- Take a record of his temperature.
- Coat a rectal thermometer with petroleum jelly.
- Insert it gently into his rectum and hold it there for two to three minutes.
A dog’s normal temperature is 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher could mean the illness is serious and requires veterinary care as advised by most veterinarians. Besides. if your pet’s coughing is accompanied by a loss of appetite. you should probably call your vet right away.
Conclusion:
Fortunately, with these six preventive measures, you can take care of your dogs. And even better they will help you keep your dogs safe against future risks. Keeping the surrounding air(inside the house) clean and humid will help to soothe your dog’s airways. Cough medicine and a gentle walk in your backyard will help the airways drain. and most importantly, immunization check before you board your dogs at a kennel in the future,