In the words of the Blue Cross, “Kennel Cough is the common name given to infectious bronchitis in dogs”. It is most common in winter and can go undetected for months but is airborne and highly infectious to other dogs. Kennel cough is often caught by bacteria being shared through dog toys, bowls and cold temperatures and is characterized by loud and dramatic ‘coughing’ that sounds like your dog is clearing their throat or retching; mucus or a foam like liquid may also be deposited.
Kennel Cough will usually only persist for up to two to three weeks, and there is no common treatment – much like a common cold – but it’s recommended to use one hundred percent natural honey to soothe your dogs throat, avoid unnecessary use of collars and leads attached to a collar ( a harness is more practical) to reduce further aggravation of the respiratory system. Thankfully your dog should have built up immunity to re-catching the Cough for six weeks upwards.
So, how can you protect your furry friend?
Simple: a vaccination called Bordetella bronchiseptica that isn’t commonly given to puppies when they’re vaccinated. However, there are many strains of ‘Kennel Cough’, therefore the Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccination isn’t always guaranteed to protect your dog. The signs that indicate that your dog does not in fact have Kennel Cough, and needs to visit their vet to eliminate more serious illnesses (according to an unnamed vet at Putney’s Goddard Veterinary Group) is extreme lethargy, complete loss of appetite and green or bloody mucus being repeatedly ‘coughed’ up.
It’s uncommon for dogs to be severely affected by Kennel Cough (unless they’re particularly young, old or have an existing illness), and most will remain happy and energetic in between coughs, but remember: dogs are extremely susceptible to the virus and so until your dog is no longer coughing they should be kept away from other dogs for their safety.
