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Canine Cough Advice from Veterinary Healing Center Folsom & El Dorado Hills [sponsored post]

Nov 02, 2015 12:09PM ● By David Norby

Cold and flu season is upon us! Just like us, our dogs can become infected with contagious illnesses. You have probably heard the term “Kennel Cough” a few times in your life as a pet parent. This term refers to a condition called Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis, and a more accurate name for it is “Canine Cough.”  The most common agent is a bacterium called Bordetella Bronchiseptica, but there are many more. If your dog receives the Bordetella vaccination he will be protected from the particular strains of the disease present in the vaccination itself, but he is still susceptible to a number of other viral and bacterial organisms that we do not vaccinate against. This is similar to our flu vaccine; we get protection from one main strain, but we can still get sick with another strain. 

Veterinary Healing Center Folsom - Folsom, CA

Canine Cough is spread when an infected dog aerosolizes millions of infectious microscopic particles through breathing, coughing, or sneezing. A pet within the same air space can then breathe these particles and is at risk for infection. A particularly tricky part of Canine Cough is dogs are contagious before they are ever showing signs of this disease!  It is a very common illness and a large percentage of dogs will develop it at some point in their life. Your dog can be exposed at any number of places: the veterinarian’s office, pet care facilities, training facilities, doggy daycare, grooming salons, pet stores, dog parks, and even playtime at a friend’s house.  Potential exposure to disease is unfortunately a possible risk of gaining socialization for your pet.  It is a challenging situation because socialization plays such a crucial role in your dog’s happy, healthy lifestyle!

Symptoms of Canine Cough include a dry hacking cough, sneezing, nasal/ocular discharge, and sometimes a mild decrease in energy or appetite. If your pet displays these signs, keep him/her away from all other dogs for a minimum of 10 days after all symptoms have resolved. It is best to call your family veterinarian for advice if you have concerns. Most treatment courses are routine and may include antibiotics, cough suppressants, rehydration, and rest. In most cases an otherwise healthy dog will usually recover without incident in 1-2 weeks.