Although kennel cough is a relatively unserious condition that doesn’t mean that it should be ignored, in healthy dogs kennel cough often clears up itself, but you should still keep an eye on your pet to make sure that the condition isn’t getting worse. As the name suggests, kennel cough is a cough your dog develops – often causing them to cough every few minutes throughout the day. It is annoying and can quickly become uncomfortable for your dog – making their throat sore!
Catching Kennel Cough
There are several ways your dog could catch kennel cough, so it is something to keep an eye out for. Firstly it spreads through the air between dogs – so one dog ill with kennel cough could easily pass it onto another if they live closely together. It is also possible for germs to live on objects and for your dog to catch them from something contaminated – cleaning cloths used for the kennel, for example.
As it is normally spread from animal to animal, it tends to be rife in areas where dogs live close together – for example, within boarding kennels or an animal shelter. It could either be through direct contact or when they visit other facility areas such as training classes or to be groomed. The problem with kennel cough is that it is very contagious and can also be spread through sharing water bowls.
If you want to board your pet for several days, then you should ensure that they check that dogs have been vaccinated against parainfluenza and bordetella, as these cause kennel cough.
Dealing With Kennel Cough
Before you board your dog, you should make sure that you check their facilities for cleanliness and hygiene – as this gives you the best possible chance of avoiding it. If your dog does become ill, then you should make sure that you take them to a vet to be checked over as quickly as possible. There are also home treatment methods that you can use to boost their chances of getting better quickly – raw honey or peppermint in warm water is a good place to start. Just make sure you get checked by a vet first!
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