Treat Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious upper respiratory problem in dogs. In general, kennel cough is a term used to describe a condition called Infectious Tracheobronchitis. The most common types of agents that cause kennel cough are parainfluenza virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and mycoplasma. Major contributors are canine adenovirus 2, reovirux and canine herpes virus, but the parainfluenza is the most prevalent. Most of the time, it is caused by a viral and bacterial complex, rather than a single agent, that is difficult to treat, even for veterinarians. Read on to learn how to help treat kennel cough in your dog.

Steps

 * 1)  Know if your dog actually has it. How do you know if the dog actually has the virus? Get a professional diagnosis. Some common symptoms include:
 * 2) * Gagging spells that appear to be choking but is actually coughing.
 * 3) * Vomiting clear fluid which isn't indigestion.
 * 4)  Make sure your dog doesn't actually have something stuck in its throat and mistake it for kennel cough. Check by opening the dog's mouth and peering down the esophagus carefully. For safety measures with dogs that are a bit aggressive, consult a vet as soon as possible.
 * 5) Take your dog to the veterinarian. You will see key signs telling you whether your dog is coming down with a secondary sickness. You should keep an eye on your furry friend, making sure that he/she does not become lethargic, stops eating, or has discharge coming from the nose and eyes. You may need to go get medication from your vet. You may get antibiotics such as Azithromycin for the bacterial infection. It is a lot easier for a pup that is 6 months old or younger to get a secondary sickness than those that are older, so it is suggested to not take a chance with your young pup and take him/her to the vet upon signs of kennel cough.
 * 6)  The veterinarian may suggest that you help suppress the cough. Ask the veterinarian if giving the dog a spoonful of children's RobitussinDM would be beneficial (about 1 tsp for every 20 pounds of animal weight). Never give human medication to your pet without discussing it with your veterinarian. Administering the wrong dosage or ingesting certain active ingredients in drugs may cause serious health problems.
 * 7)  Bring your dog in the bathroom with you while you take a shower (not in the shower), and letting him breathe in the steam can help soothe the cough as well.
 * 8)  Boost the dog's immune system. You can also speed up the healing process by giving your dog ground Vitamin C tabs in the water. Wild Berry Bark, Peppermint, Raw Honey, Yerba Santa can be used under a vet supervision.

Tips

 * Kennel cough will occur within 2-10 days after exposure, and normally lasts for about 10 days if uncomplicated, or 14-20 days if multiple agents are present.
 * There are vaccinations for kennel cough, such as the Bordetella vaccine, but they only last about 6-12 months. There are different causes of kennel cough. Vaccines other than the Bordtella vaccine have different effective periods.

Warnings

 * Human medications can have severe or even lethal side effects in pets. Before using any medication meant for humans, consult your veterinarian first. Some medications even affect different breeds of dogs in different ways. Never give your pet anything meant for a human without first consulting a trained, licensed professional or you may seriously harm your pet.
 * Kennel cough is an airborne virus that is highly contagious and can be passed on to other animals before you even see signs of the virus. It has a gestation period of about 2-10 days before your dog actually starts the 'cough'. The pet must be isolated immediately.
 * Chances are if one of your dogs have it, so does your other(s) if you have more than one. It can also be passed on to cats or other small mammals that are around the virus. It is mostly caught from kennels, training classes, and dog parks; basically anywhere that there are commonly dogs around. If one dog in a boarding kennel has the virus, more than likely all the dogs in that vicinity will get it.

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