Is Kennel Cough Fatal for My Dog?

Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? The most common one is the bacteria strain called Bordetella bronchiseptica. The next common causal agent is the canine parainfluenza virus. It is believed that kennel cough can be caused by many different strains of virus or bacteria. Other strains of virus such as canine reovirus, canine distemper virus canine herpes virus, canine coronavirus; and adenovirus can also cause kennel cough. Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? Bacteria like mycoplasma can also cause this condition. Since this strain is not affected by antibiotics it causes respiratory disorders and pneumonia. Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? Dogs contract this disease by inhaling the bacteria or virus. This goes into their respiratory tract. It causes the condition despite the fact that the trachea has a protective lining of mucous to trap the infection generating particles.

The immune systems of dogs go weak due to many factors like exposure to cold environments; stress caused by lot of travelling or if the dog is boarded in a place that is not ventilated adequately. This is because the protection is weak and cannot counter the attack resulting in the inflammation of the organs of the upper respiratory tract like the larynx or the voice box and trachea. And since the voice box is affected, when the dog coughs a typical honking noise gets generated. Remember that even though your dog has recovered from kennel cough and has no visible symptoms of the same; s/he is still infectious as the bacteria or virus is still hanging in there, so if you have pups or older dogs; ensure you house them separately so they don’t catch the virus as well.

What to Watch Out For

In fact, carriers of kennel cough make it difficult to eradicate altogether. This is especially true if your dog or cat is always interacting or they are living in the same space. Mild kennel cough will last about three weeks and you will see the symptoms like watery discharge; and cough easing up by the end of the second week. In puppies and weak dogs or those that have not been vaccinated, the battle may go up to six weeks. But a severe case where the infection has spread from the upper to the lower respiratory system causing pneumonia can take longer.

While it can be obvious when your dog or cat is ill due to various signs and symptoms such as appetite loss, mucus discharge, lethargy etc. most of the time; kennel cough can go unnoticed for days while the disease is still spreading on its body. By the time the symptoms appear, your pet might have been a silent carrier; and he/ she has spread the virus to your other pets. Many dog and cat owners also bring their pet to day cares and parks, and this is where the virus spreads even more. Symptoms of kennel cough include subtle coughs or loud coughs, reverse sneeze, mucus discharge; loss of appetite, crusty eyes, lethargy, and fever. 

The Thing About Bortadella

Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? Kennel coughs can likewise be due to being subjected from adenovirus and also parainfluenza virus. All of these are various sorts of an air – borne virus. This implies that your canine can be contaminated merely by breathing the same air of the animal that’s already unwell. It can quickly transform right into kennel cough if your pet is subjected to another pet dog that is infected with Bordetella or other infections. Here’s the thing though, many keepers do not know that their pet dog is currently a kennel cough carrier. If your pet dog hangs around in a boarding kennel; after that he’s already at a high risk of getting the Bordetella bacterium. This is because your pet dog will certainly remain in the same space where several canines are which may or may not be a carrier.

You still need to keep him/ her far from other animals as much as possible. There’s a dog vaccine available from your veterinarian that your pet dog needs to have at least every six months or annually. It will be based on what they will recommend. It’s likewise important to recognize that these vaccines will not entirely avoid your pet from getting a kennel cough. Perhaps you’re assuming, that’s impossible but you can still do some preventative steps. It’s additionally best to use an air filtering system that’s developed to get rid of germs from the air. You need to ensure the kennel you pick use disinfectants that kill the bacteria.

Some Caveats

Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? Similar to in a boarding kennel, the very best precautionary measure is to guarantee the tidiness of the location. It’s ideal for you as well as your canine to locate one that does if any type of facility you’re taking into consideration doesn’t practice cleanliness. The majority of pet owners realize the risk of boarding their pet dog at the local kennel; however just a few recognize that their pet dog is at the exact same threat when visiting their groomer. Due to the fact that a groomer usually caters to several pets; therefore, your pet dog can also breathe in the contaminated air which can cause kennel cough. Preferably, observe if your groomer makes use of an air purification that’s created to remove microorganisms from the air.

If, for any reason; you can’t locate a grooming service or boarding kennel that fulfills your standards there’s still a way you can prevent your dog from acquiring this condition. You can also do the same as finding the right pet grooming service. There are mobile groomers available today that will personally come to your residence to groom your pet dog. This will most definitely minimize the possibility of your pet dog getting kennel cough. The Bordetella germs can also survive on several surfaces such as the grooming devices being used. See to it to choose a groomer that frequently sanitizes the devices and also even the entire place.

Keep In Mind

Is kennel cough fatal for my dog? Keep in mind that kennel cough symptoms such as decreased energy level; and decrease in appetite can be a little tricky. Vets will only prescribe antibiotics if the dog’s own immune system doesn’t clear up the viral infection. However, if the dog develops fever, nose or mouth discharge etc., a vet will most likely prescribe antibiotics. This is to prevent any other complications. If you think your dog or cat has kennel cough; then keep them isolated from other pets for at least 2 weeks until this problem is gone. It’s also best that you disinfect your hands after handling your infected pet especially; if you plan on touching other pets to prevent spread of virus.