Many owners are familiar with the harsh,
dry, "goose honking" sound associated with kennel cough.
Infectious tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, is a term
that is used to describe a common, very contagious respiratory
disease of dogs in which there is inflammation of the upper
respiratory passages, and occasionally the lower airways
such as the lungs. Viruses, bacteria, or a combination of
the two can cause kennel cough.
Despite the loud, frequent coughing, kennel cough
will often go away on its own if the dog's immune system
is healthy and strong. However, in severely affected
puppies and debilitated older animals, kennel cough
can be life threatening if it goes untreated. Pneumonia
can be a complication of the disease. Fortunately,
vaccines are available that will help protect the animal
from this disease.
Clinical signs include a persistent,
harsh, dry cough, with some gagging and retching that
is made worse by exercise, excitement, or pressure on
the neck by a collar. More severe infection can lead
to a fever, anorexia, nasal discharge, depression, lethargy,
dyspnea, and a moist, productive cough. Some dogs develop
pneumonia and consolidation of the lung lobes.
Dogs with kennel cough are generally
healthy, but they will have a persistent cough that is
made worse by exercise, excitement, or pressure on the
neck by a collar. Common symptoms include a harsh, dry
cough with some gagging and retching. More severe infection
can lead to a fever, loss of appetite, a runny nose,
depression, listlessness, difficulty breathing, and a
phlegm-producing cough. Some dogs with severe cases will
develop pneumonia. These animals are very sick and need
medical attention or they can die very quickly.
Caused by both viruses such as canine
parainfluenza or canine adenovirus 2, and bacteria such as
Bordetella bronchiseptica or Mycoplasma, kennel cough is
a very contagious respiratory disease that results in inflammation
of the larynx, trachea or windpipe, bronchi, and, in severe
cases, the lower airways such as the lungs.
Despite the loud, hard, persistent coughing, the inflammation
is often mild. When a healthy dog gets kennel cough,
its immune system is usually strong enough to kill
off the disease without much medical intervention.
However, among puppies and debilitated older animals,
kennel cough can lead to severe problems, such as secondary
bacterial infections and pneumonia.
In rare cases, there is a chance that a child or an
adult with a weak immune system could acquire Bordetella
bronchiseptica from an infected dog that is secreting
the bacteria. This condition has been referred to as
human bordetellosis.
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs,
the dog's vaccination status, and an assessment of whether
the dog has had contact with other potentially infected
animals through areas where groups of dogs are housed,
such as boarding facilities, obedience training classes,
and dog shows. Pressing or gently palpating the windpipe
of a dog with kennel cough will usually produce a harsh,
dry, "goose honking" cough. Dogs who have a more severe
infection may need to have their blood drawn for a complete
blood count, or CBC, so that the veterinarian can look
for any changes in the red blood cells, white blood cells,
or platelets. Many times, the white blood cell numbers
will be higher than normal if there is an infection.
If pneumonia is suspected chest x-rays will be able to
show any signs of lung disease.
The prognosis for mild kennel cough
is excellent; symptoms will usually disappear within
two weeks. If the dog develops severe kennel cough and
pneumonia results, the prospect of a full recovery is
less certain; in these cases, symptoms can continue for
up to seven weeks and severe illness or possibly even
death may result.
Kennel cough, a highly contagious
disease, is passed on when a dog with the illness coughs,
sneezes, or expels any saliva or other respiratory secretions
into the air. Dogs that are housed together in kennels
or groups typically perpetuate the spread of the disease.
Affected animals that are coughing should be kept in
isolation.
The examining veterinarian will determine
the best treatment for the dog, since many medications
are available. Most often, however, kennel cough can
be treated by antibiotics, which destroy any bacteria
that are causing infections in the respiratory system.
An antibiotic will not kill a virus, but it will kill
the bacterial infections that may occur alone or secondary
to the virus. Although not recommended for dogs that
have a productive cough, cough suppressants are often
very beneficial to dogs that have a persistent, dry,
hacking cough and are not trying to cough up mucus and
fluid. In addition, vaporizers can promote healing by
keeping the dog's respiratory tissues moist. Dogs with
kennel cough should drink plenty of water to help prevent
dehydration. Restriction of exercise will help decrease
the irritation of the airways.
A vaccine is available that helps
the dog's body develop immunity to the different viruses
and bacteria that commonly cause kennel cough. There
is an intranasal vaccine that provides excellent local
protection against the disease in the nose, mouth, and
throat. This vaccine needs to be given at least three
days before a dog is housed in an animal group facility,
and should be repeated in dogs at risk every six to 10
months. In addition, another vaccine, given as an injection
under the dog's skin, can be used as a yearly booster.
Proper nutrition and routine de-worming also will help
keep the animal healthy so its immune system is strong
enough to fight off disease. To decrease the spread of
the disease, kennel personnel should ensure that dogs
with a persistent cough are kept in isolation.
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