Has Your Dog Got A Cold?

Did you know that even your dog health can suffer from cold? However, he doesn’t get a runny nose like you, but his dog health can get affected by a coughing infection generally known as Kennel cough. Kennel cough (medical term: canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is an infection that causes mild irritation due to the thickening of the trachea lining. Pet health care experts suggest that a dog who suffers from this disease may cough frequently. The frequency of coughing could be every few minutes as well as through the entire day. Pet health care experts have observed that dog cold does affect dog health as it is one of the most common infectious dog diseases, though in most cases the condition doesn’t develop into a serious dog health problem. It’s been observed that Kennel cough goes away on its own with a week or two.

Causes of Kennel Cough

Bordatella bronchiseptica is the most common cause of this cough. This bacteria or virus is airborne and usually invades the dog’s body when he inhales infected air. The pet health care experts are of the opinion that dogs that participate in large canine gatherings such as dog or kennel shows tend to contract the Bordatella virus more.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

Some of the symptoms of Kennel cough affect dog health in the following ways:

1. Dog tries to clears his throat every time it coughs
2. Dog coughs whenever he is participating in a physical activity such as exercising
3. Dog develops coughing almost a few weeks after he has been to a dog gathering and taken in virus-infected air
4. You dog coughs continuously and vomits food or mucus

The color of the mucus indicates the seriousness of the dog health infection. White mucus means the infection is not serious, while green mucus means a very serious infection. If your dog is coughing hard and vomiting green mucus, you must take him to a pet health care expert immediately.

Diagnosing Kennel Cough

A pet health care expert such as a veterinarian will check the dog health by rubbing his larynx. Sometimes, the vet may also ask you to get some tests done to ensure the extent of damage on the dog health.

Home Treatment for Kennel Cough

You can protect the dog health from Kennel cough by ensuring his immune system stays strong. You have a choice of homeopathic as well as allopathic treatments to keep your dog ailment free. A dog cough suppressant can alleviate Kennel cough or dog cold and help your dog and your family sleep well at night.

Remember, not to give your dog antibiotics if his appetite stays normal and the coughing is not frequently. In such cases, letting the disease complete its course is the best recourse. If the coughing lasts over 10 days, take the dog to the vet for a thorough check up to ensure best dog health.