Dog Diseases – Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough
Kennel Cough is a fairly common ailment in dogs. Kennel Cough is caused by an airborne virus, which is highly contagious. Kennel Cough includes a dry, "non-productive" cough. The dog sounds as if there is something stuck or caught in the throat and the coughing is an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the object. Sometimes the coughing/gagging seems very violent. The episodes of coughing may go on for minutes at a time and then be repeated at intervals.

Transmission
The causative organisms can be present in the expired air of an infected dog. The airborne organisms, if inhaled by a susceptible dog, can attach to the lining of the trachea and upper airway passages, find a warm, moist surface on which to reside and replicate, and eventually damage the cells they infect.

"Kennel" Cough as the name suggests is that wherever there are numbers of dogs confined together in an enclosed environment such as a kennel, animal shelter, or indoor dog show, the disease is more likely to spread.

Treatment
· Most cases of kennel cough resolve over two weeks without treatment.
· Treatment is generally limited to symptomatic relief of the coughing with non-prescription, and occasionally prescription, cough suppressants.
· If the dog is running a fever or there seems to be a persistent and severe cough, antibiotics are occasionally utilized to assist the dog in recovering from Kennel Cough.
· Antibiotics are used in case of secondary bacterial infections or prolonged recovery.


Links:
http://www.2ndchance.info/kennelcough.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/46178/cure_your_dogs_kennel_cough.html