Is your dog coughing or choking? There can be different reasons for this. One cause of dry, sometimes spasmodic cough is kennel cough, a disease of the upper respiratory tract. How do you recognize kennel cough and what helps against it? PETBOOK asked a veterinarian.
Is your dog coughing? In dogs, like humans, coughing can have numerous causes. One of them is the so-called “kennel cough”. In this disease of the upper respiratory tract, viruses and bacteria attack the organism and damage the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
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Kennel cough – what is it?
The disease is manifested by a barking, sometimes spasmodic cough and can cause pain to affected dogs. The disease is highly contagious and spreads quickly, especially among dogs that have a lot of contact with other dogs. Kennel cough has different pathogens and is primarily transmitted from dog to dog. However, some pathogens are also transmitted from cats to dogs. The transmission is a droplet infection.
What does the name “Kennel cough” have to do with the “kennel”?
Can only dogs kept in kennels get kennel cough? Of course not! The name simply comes from the fact that dogs that live in close communities with other dogs are more often affected by the disease than animals kept alone. However, whether a dog catches the highly contagious kennel cough at the public dog playground, while running around in the meadow or at the dog boarding facility varies from case to case.
How do I know if my dog has kennel cough?
Kennel cough is characterized by a barking, sometimes spasmodic cough and can feel very unpleasant for your dog. The urge to cough is sometimes so strong that it causes a gagging sensation. Kennel cough can also lead to difficulty breathing, nasal discharge and inflammation of the larynx and trachea.
Symptoms:
- Hard, barking, sometimes spasmodic cough (may not be continuous, but only when stressed)
- Gag reflex
- Mucous sputum when coughing (possible sign of pneumonia)
- Difficulty breathing
- Runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Conjunctivitis with purulent, watery eyes
- Low resilience
- In severe cases: fever, inflammation of the throat, tonsils, bronchi, trachea
What to do if my dog has kennel cough?
Kennel cough is very unpleasant for your dog – but the disease is not dangerous. “The disease usually heals on its own after one to two weeks. “We rarely see severe cases that lead to pneumonia in practice,” says veterinarian Dr. Hölter. Severe cases must be treated by a veterinarian: depending on the cause, the cough is treated with antibiotics or alternative remedies. An anti-cough medicine can also help against a strong cough. A secondary infection can lead to secondary illnesses, such as pneumonia.
If your dog coughs noticeably, you should definitely give him plenty of rest and not challenge him too much. Like you, your four-legged friend needs a lot of sleep to get fit again. Reduce the length of your walks and ensure fresh air in the room. You should urgently avoid contact with other dogs during the period of illness. Only keep your dog on a leash and let other dog owners know that you do not want any contact with them.
Can kennel cough be prevented?
The risk of kennel cough can be reduced with vaccination. Your dog will be immunized against two of the pathogens. The vaccination is usually a combination preparation and is particularly recommended for dogs that have an increased risk of infection – for example due to their age or previous illnesses.
Dogs that live with several other dogs (e.g. in dog kennels), or have frequent contact with other dogs at animal shelters, dog sitters or at tournaments can also benefit from a vaccination. However, if the dog is vaccinated, it should be fit. You can strengthen your dog’s immune system in advance through sleep, rest and immune-boosting food.
Is kennel cough contagious to us humans?
Kennel cough cannot be transmitted to humans. Even if we humans have close contact with our dogs, for example because we let them sleep in our bed, the disease can only be transmitted from dog to dog. Transmission occurs via droplet infection, which means that pathogens from the throat are released into the air through tiny droplets of saliva when sneezing, coughing and speaking. These are then inhaled by another dog. The risk of infection with kennel cough is therefore highest where many dogs meet.
My conclusion on the topic of kennel cough
“Kennel cough is a disease that is common in dogs and is characterized by a loud, barking cough. The cough, which is sometimes painful, is transmitted via droplet infection, which is why it mainly occurs in large numbers of dogs. This is where the name “kennel cough” comes from. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from kennel cough, you should seek advice from your veterinarian. He may consider drug treatment. If your dog is not treated with medication, you should give him plenty of rest, reduce your walks to short laps and provide fresh air and enough water. “– Nina Ponath