Kennel cough is the colloquial term for an infectious tracheobronchitis. It is a disease of the upper respiratory tract of dogs that is primarily characterized by dry cough, but can also cause other symptoms depending on the severity of the course.
Due to its transmission routes, kennel cough is most common where several dogs have close contact with each other, as is the case in a kennel, for example. What symptoms kennel cough can cause in dogs, how it should be treated and what prevention options there are, you will learn below.
The pathogens that cause kennel cough in dogs are transmitted by air or droplet infection, i.e. sneezing or coughing of an infected four-legged friend.
Due to these forms of transmission, kennel cough spreads very quickly, especially in dogs, which live together in a confined space. This also applies if dogs have close contact with each other during events such as dog shows.
The incubation period of kennel cough in dogs depends on the type of pathogen. It can be between 2 and 30 days. The typical symptoms of kennel cough are primarily a loud, dry cough with simultaneous choking, so that dog owners often think at first that their four-legged friend has swallowed a foreign body.
The cough can occur permanently. It is also possible, however, that a dog suffering from kennel cough only has to cough during stress, such as when playing.
The severity of the course of the disease depends above all on whether the kennel cough in the affected dog is triggered by only one or several pathogens. The infection becomes particularly problematic when bacterial and viral pathogens come together.
If it is suspected that a dog is suffering from kennel cough, the four-legged friend should be examined by a veterinarian. The veterinarian can conclude whether the suspicion is justified or not on the basis of the symptoms that occur in combination with the history of the four-legged friend.
In the case of kennel cough with a severe course, the veterinarian will usually also carry out a pathogen detection. For this purpose, he takes a swab of nasal or bronchial secretion, which he examines for the exact type of pathogen.
Depending on the severity of the kennel cough in the affected dog and which pathogens are responsible for the infection, the veterinarian decides which form of treatment is required.
For example, the administration of antibiotics can be useful if bacteria are involved in the infection. In addition, it may be advisable to take medication against fever and cough. However, which of these measures should be taken in each individual case must be decided on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, it is important that you keep your dog sufficiently calm and avoid stress during the duration of the illness. If the kennel cough weakens your dog's immune system and there are no further infectious diseases, the cough is usually over after about two weeks.
If your dog suffers from kennel cough, a strong immune system is a decisive factor for how well the four-legged organism can cope with the infection. For this reason, we recommend a dietary supplement with Bellfor Immune for affected dogs.
Bellfor Immune is a completely natural food supplement that contains insect protein, propolis and sea buckthorn, among other things. The combination of high-quality amino acids and important micronutrients such as vitamin C effectively strengthens your dog's immune system.
In this way, Bellfor Immune makes a valuable contribution to your dog's early recovery from kennel cough and also helps to prevent further infections as a result of the weakened immune system.
We also recommend that you use Bellfor Immune to prevent kennel cough. Especially during the cold season, before and after exhibitions and during stress in general, the preparation is perfectly suited to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of infection.
It is also possible to vaccinate dogs against kennel cough. This so-called Wahlimpfung can be useful for breeders, for example, to prevent the infection from spreading.
Since kennel cough in dogs can be caused by various pathogens, the vaccination does not offer complete protection against infection, but usually provides a much weaker course of the disease.
Kennel-cough is widespread above all with dogs, who live together with several Artgenossen on narrow area, widespread. In principle, an infection is comparatively harmless. However, it can also become life-threatening in weakened quadrupeds and young animals.
If your dog is suspected of suffering from kennel cough, you should always consult a veterinarian.
A strong immune system contributes to the prevention as well as to the avoidance of a severe course and possible secondary infections with further diseases. For this reason, we recommend that you supplement your dog with Bellfor Immune as a preventive measure and in the event of kennel cough.