What Is The Incubation Period For Kennel Cough

How Does A Dog Get Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is very contagious, and dogs can readily transmit it by casual contact such as sniffing each other when on a walk, playing, or sharing water dishes. Certain factors increase the likelihood that your dog may contract kennel cough including stress, cold temperatures, exposure to dust or smoke, and crowded conditions.

How To Protect Your Puppy From Kennel Cough

In the beginning, it is essential to keep puppies shielded from possible infection and illness.

The best way to keep puppies safe from disease is a healthy mama and isolation from other unknown animals.

After the 12 weeks booster, the new pup can finally get out there and safely socialize with caution.

Remember, the kennel cough vaccine does not guarantee immunity to all canine coughs.

However, the vaccine can seriously lessen the severity of the illness.

How Is It Treated

Nearly all cases of Kennel Cough clear up on their own accord with no specific veterinary treatment.Antibiotics have not been shown to improve the recovery of non-complicated cases.

We normally advise that if Kennel Cough is suspected that you:

• Remove any collars or harnesses from them and leave them off at all times
• Do not take out for exercise and keep rested at home.
• Allow to eat and drink normally. Offer fluids regularly
• Do not allow to mix with other dogs until you are sure your dog is better.
• Allowing them to inhale warm steam can help – have a hot shower/bath and make sure the windows are closed and the extractors fans are off!
• Keep your pet warm and comfortable but in a well ventilated area.
• Try and limit barking and movement as much as possible.
• Occasionally we may use cough suppressants or anti-inflammatories as this can make your pet feel a bit better and sleep easier.

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Steam Therapy Or Vaporizer

Another way to make your dog more comfortable when they have kennel cough is by using a vaporizer or a humidifier to ease their symptoms. A humidifier adds moisture to the air and soothes the dry cough. Place the humidifier close to where the dog is sleeping to ensure they inhale the air.

If you do not have a humidifier or a vaporizer, expose your dog to steam. As mentioned above, take the dog into the bathroom with you when you go take a shower. Let the dog inhale the steam from your shower. The steam will loosen up the phlegm in the throat and relieve the cough. Take a bowl of water with you just in case the steam makes the dog hot.

Ways Kennel Cough Spreads

Kennel cough is extremely contagious and can spread easily from one dog to another. Once a dog coughs, the bacteria and viruses are emitted and become airborne. It speedily spreads to other animals. It can land on dog toys, food bowls, as well as shared objects.

If you suspect your dog is suffering from this illness, make sure to keep them away from other animals to mitigate the spread.

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Dog Owners Shouldnt Worry Too Much About Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is more uncomfortable for your dog than it is dangerous.

To avoid it all together, consider vaccination.

In summary, when a dog has kennel cough, keep them out of close quarters with other dogs. Minimize risk factors, avoid stress, and monitor your pup for symptoms or clinical signs of kennel cough. And keep an ear out for that honking cough.

What Are The Clinical Signs Of Kennel Cough Other Than Coughing

Clinical signs may be variable. It is often a mild disease, but the cough may be chronic, lasting for several weeks in some cases. Common clinical signs include a loud cough often describe as a ‘goose honk’, runny eyes and nose, swollen tonsils, wheezing, lack of appetite, and depressed behavior. Most dogs with infectious tracheobronchitis will cough when the throat is rubbed or palpated, or during and after exercise. Often, the hacking cough caused by kennel cough will persist for several weeks after the infection. If your dog has kennel cough it is unlikely that they will lose their appetite or become lethargic.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Kennel Cough

The signs of kennel cough may sometimes appear a little alarming and can come on suddenly: it is not uncommon for people to worry that their pet may have something stuck in their throat. The disease in most cases, however, is relatively mild and self-limiting.

The typical symptoms of kennel cough are:

• A persistent harsh hacking cough, often with a gag or retch afterwards
• Clear discharge from the nose and eyes
• Sneezing
• Pneumonia, although this is uncommon

If your pet seems unwell, we would advise visiting your local vet immediately so your vet can assess the situation.

Is There A Vaccine For Kennel Cough

Protection against viruses that trigger kennel cough is already included in puppy and booster vaccinations.

Your vet may also recommend vaccinating your dog against the cause of kennel cough, Bordetella. It can be administered via nasal spray or injection. A majority of kennels require that a dog has this vaccination before they are admitted.

Kennel cough can result from numerous causes and strains, vaccination is not a guarantee that your dog is protected.

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Other Signs Of Kennel Cough

In most cases, the only symptoms of Kennel Cough is the coughing itself, but further symptoms can include:

• A runny nose

A dog with Kennel Cough usually recovers quickly without treatment, but its always best to visit your vet to make sure it’s Kennel Cough they’re suffering from, and not another condition.

How Long Does The Kennel Cough Vaccine Last

This depends on your dog’s risk of catching kennel cough. Most dogs are given the vaccine once a year. However, dogs with a higher risk can be given it every six months.

The oral treatment and nasal mist protect against kennel cough sooner than the injection. None of the kennel cough vaccinations treat existing infections.

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How Do Dogs Get Kennel Cough

Because Kennel Cough is airborne and highly contagious, dogs are most likely to get it when theyre surrounded by lots of other dogs – hence the name Kennel Cough!

But dogs dont just catch Kennel Cough at the kennels. The bacteria can linger up to 48 hours on any surface an affected dog has come into contact with, such as plants, food bowls, toys and other objects.

Certain lifestyle factors can also make a dog more likely to get Kennel Cough. These include:

• A cold or damp living area
• Exposure to cigarette smoke
• Exposure to excess dust
• Being in a crowded or stressful environment

The incubation period for Kennel Cough is 2-14 days. This means a dog could be exposed to the bacteria and not show any symptoms for 2 weeks. Dogs can also carry the infection for months, without themselves becoming ill or showing symptoms.

Causes Of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections In Dogs

In addition to bordetella and parainfluenza, causes of an infectious cough in dogs include canine distemper , canine adenovirus type 2 , canine influenza , canine pneumovirus , canine respiratory coronavirus , canine herpesvirus , pantropic canine coronavirus, canine reovirus, mycoplasma, and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. The last two, along with bordetella, are bacteria. The others are viruses.

Any dog exposed to one of these pathogens can be infected. However, a dog is much more likely to be infected in a moist, warm environment with poor ventilation and with repeated exposure, such as in a kennel or a shelter. It is very common for shelters to have to quarantine a whole section once an infectious cough breaks out because it spreads so easily and quickly. Yet, even a simple exposure that occurs during a quick meeting at a dog park is enough to transmit the infection.

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How Doeskennel Cough Spread From One Dog To The Other

As previously mentioned, kennel cough is a highly contagious disease and can easilyspread from one dog to another. The most likely transmission method is whendogs cough, the viruses, and bacteria become airborne and can quickly enter intothe respiratory tract of other animals. Kennel cough can also be transmittedvia dog toys, shared dog food bowls for other shared items.

If you arespeculating that your dog might be suffering from kennel cough, keep your dogisolated from all the other animals in the house to limit the spread ofinfection.

How Is Kennel Cough Prevented

There are two types of vaccine available for kennel cough, intra-nasal and injection. Discuss with your veterinarian which would be the most suitable for your dog. Puppies can be vaccinated intra-nasally as early as two weeks of age.

The Bordetella vaccine is recommended for dogs that frequently socialize with groups of other dogs. This includes dogs that go to obedience classes, dog shows, dog parks, doggy day-care, grooming facilities, and boarding facilities.More information on Kennel Cough Vaccination

How often do I need to Vaccinate my dog against Kennel Cough?

Many of the above facilities require that you vaccinate your dog every 6-12 months and will require will require verification of this from your veterinarian.

If your dog is at low risk for exposure to upper respiratory disease, this is not an essential or core vaccination.

Many dog boarding facilities will not accept a dog that has not been vaccinated for Kennel Cough. Remember to vaccinate your dog a few weeks before boarding him to give time for the immunity to build up.

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How Long Does Kennel Cough Last

When a close furry family member catches kennel cough, one of the first things a pet parent may wonder is, how long does kennel cough last?

Watching a beloved dog suffer from a persistent cough or other upper respiratory symptoms can invoke more anxiety in the owner than the animal in some cases, for those stressed-out pet parents dont fret.

one and three weeks

Heres how long kennel cough lasts on different surfaces:

Can A Dog Have Surgery For A Kennel Cough

Surgery can be performed in dogs with severe collapse that dont respond to weight reduction and cough suppressants but often surgery is not effective. Kennel cough or infectious tracheobronchitis is caused by several infectious organisms, including bacteria and viruses. Vaccinations are not 100% protective against the agents of kennel cough.

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How Long To Isolate

The exact isolation time depends on the underlying pathogen. However, generally speaking, recovered dogs can remain infectious for up to 3 months.

Since you can transmit the pathogen from your dog to another, it is highly advisable to avoid contact with puppies, unvaccinated dogs, old dogs and dogs with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems during this time.

How Can Dogs Catch Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is airborne and highly contagious, which is why it can spread through kennels quickly. It is also transmitted with bacteria on toys, food bowls or other shared objects.

A dogs respiratory system is designed to protect against the invasion of infection, but certain situations and environments leave them more vulnerable to illness. These include stress caused by crowded environments, exposure to heavy dust or cigarette smoke, cold temperatures and poor ventilation. Kennel cough has an incubation period of two to 14 days, and some dogs can be carriers of the infection for months without developing symptoms.

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A Summary Of Kennel Cough

• Kennel cough is a type of infection that usually causes a persistent hacking cough that can sound like a gooses honk
• If you think your dog is affected then you should phone your vet for advice
• Kennel cough is not dangerous to most dogs, but can be more serious to young puppies, older dogs and dogs with underlying health conditions
• Most healthy dogs recover on their own without any veterinary treatment
• Kennel cough is highly contagious and if your dog is affected then you should keep them away from other dogs
• You can have your dog vaccinated against the most common cause of kennel cough and this may be required if your dog stays in kennels or spends time with lots of dogs from different households

Treatment Of Kennel Cough:

Kennel cough may be complicated or uncomplicated. Treatment of this disease depends on the severity of the symptoms. Most of the time, affected dogs recover without treatment in 2-3weaks .

Treatment should require in a complicated form, otherwise, this disease can cause more severe infections in your dogs. For this, if you think your dog has kennel cough, see your veterinarian as soon as possible to avoid complications of this disease.

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When Do You Need To Call The Vet

As we have said, most cases of Kennel Cough are self limiting and don’t require specific treatment – just time. If you pet is otherwise well, then you don’t need to seek immediate veterinary attention. However, you may want to call us if:

• Your dog has had a cough that has gone on for longer than 3-4 weeks
• Your dog is coughing and is unwell – ie not eating or drinking.
• Your pet is actually having difficulty breathing -THIS IS OFTEN AN EMERGENCY.
• You are aware that your pet has existing heart/lung problems.
• There is any kind of discharge from the nose that isn’t clear – such as cloudy, purulent, bloody etc.

If you are worried and don’t know what to do – then always feel free to give us a ring and we can advise if you need a vet visit or not!

What Is The Incubation Period For A Dog With Bordetella

The bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica is one of the causes of kennel cough. When Bordetella causes kennel cough, it is typically referred to as Bordetella or tracheobronchitis. This highly contagious condition is common in kennels and shelters. Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge and dry, honking cough.

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How Is Kennel Cough Diagnosed

There is no single test to diagnose kennel cough. Usually, if your dog has symptoms and has been exposed to a crowd of other canines within the incubation period, its adequate to diagnose them with kennel cough. Swabs can be taken to determine the exact virus or bacteria causing kennel cough although this isnt always useful for treatment. If there are suspected complications, radiographs can be used to assess a dogs condition.

If your dog is bright, perky, eating well and playful, you may not need to visit the vet. But always phone for advice if you are worried and advise the clinic on arrival that your dog has been coughing its best if they wait somewhere other than a crowded waiting room. In general, it’s a good idea to keep your dog away from other dogs while they are coughing.