Kennel Cough Symptoms

You need to leave town for some urgent work for a few days. So you house your loving pet in a cat and dog boarding facility. When you bring your pet home, you find the animal is sick. The doctor diagnoses it as kennel cough. You have no idea what kennel cough is and what are kennel cough symptoms. Kennel cough is an infection that affects cats and dogs which are kept in closed confined areas. This article will answer all questions regarding what is kennel cough, what are kennel cough symptoms, and how to treat kennel cough.

Kennel Cough in Dogs and Puppies
Dog kennel cough is commonly caused by the bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica. Kennel cough can also be transmitted through the canine distemper, canine adenovirus, canine para-influenza, and canine corona viruses. Animals living in close proximity get infected with this infection, hence the name 'kennel cough'. Even cats are susceptible to cat kennel cough. Although kennel cough is not a serious disease, it makes the animal very irritated and uncomfortable.

Symptoms
The trachea and the bronchi of the dog are infected by the Bordetella bacteria, and get inflamed due to the bacterial infection. The commonly observed kennel cough symptoms in dogs and puppies are:

• The dogs may gag or vomit on light pressing of the trachea.
• You may hear low and deep sounding cough, as if it is coming from the belly of the dog. Also, the dog coughs constantly.
• Rhinitis, that is, a watery nasal discharge is seen without swelling. During the coughing spasms, the dog may emit a white discharge. Few dogs also cough up lot of phlegm.
• Your dog may show loss of appetite.
• The main kennel cough symptom is fever with coughing.
• The dog remains active, although he may not be so eager to respond to your calls. You dog may even sit in corner of the house all day long.
• Puppies are more vulnerable than dogs especially when they vomit.

Treatment
There are two types of kennel cough cures available. These kennel cough remedies depend upon the severity of the disease. Antibiotics is the most common form of mild treatment of an uncomplicated kennel cough. In mild cases, where the dog has a good appetite and remains alert, but suffers from a recurrent cough, treatment is similar to that of common cold in humans. Prednisone is given to the dog to reduce the severity and frequency of the cough. The vet may also recommend bronchodilators or cough suppressants.

When the kennel cough symptoms are more severe like running a fever, loss of appetite, exhibiting symptoms of pneumonia, then antibiotics for kennel cough cure used are tetracycline or trimethoprim-sulfa are given. Bronchodilators and aerosol therapy may also be recommended by the treating vet.

An uncomplicated kennel cough will resolve itself in 7-14 days. You should keep your dog warm and remove the dog collar. You may use a harness instead, if you need to restrain him. You can prevent kennel cough by administering a kennel cough vaccine to your dog. There are two types of vaccines - intra-nasal and injectable - available for kennel cough. Intra-nasal vaccines are mostly used to prevent kennel cough in puppies.

Kennel Cough in Cats and Kittens
Cats and kittens can develop an infection of kennel cough, if they contract bordettella bronchiseptica, the bacterium that infects dogs. Bordetella infection can be transmitted through the air and even through dogs. Cats can release the bacteria in the air by hissing, spitting and even meowing. Cats that live within the house are not commonly diagnosed with kennel cough. It is commonly seen in houses with multiple cats, catteries, pet shops and shelters.

Symptoms
Cat kennel cough affects the upper respiratory system of the cat. Bordetella infection weakens the cats immune system and makes them susceptible to secondary infections. These secondary infections affecting cat health include pneumonia. Kittens are widely affected with kennel cough and it is seen that many kittens have died within 12 hours of exhibiting the symptoms. The kennel cough symptoms in cats and kittens can vary from moderate to severe. The commonly observed cat kennel cough symptoms are:

• Nasal discharge
• Cough
• Fever
• Sneezing
• Swollen lymph nodes

These kennel cough symptoms appear singly or all together. The only noticeable cat kennel cough symptoms include nasal discharge and cough. The dry cough may progress to wet cough. Cats suffering from kennel cough exhibit lung sounds like wheezing or congestion noises when breathing. Kennel cough symptoms rapidly progress in cats suffering from feline leukemia, feline herpes, feline immunodeficiency virus or any other upper respiratory illness. Kittens are most severely affected as they fall prey to the secondary infection of pneumonia.

Treatment
Kennel cough remedies for cats and kittens include use of antibiotics and is similar to kennel cough cure in dogs. You can even ask the vet treating your cat regarding kennel cough vaccines for cats that may help prevent kennel cough in your cat.

You should provide the right treatment for kennel cough and right medications to reduce kennel cough symptoms. Home treatment for kennel cough is possible once your pet has been shown to a vet. Your pet may take a month or so to recover from this highly infectious disease. Trust your instincts when it comes to pet care. Prevent kennel cough infection by vaccinating your pet on time. An healthy pet is every owner's delight.