What are Kennel Cough Symptoms?
If you have ever experienced the coughing fits and other symptoms that go along with bronchitis then you have an idea of what a dog goes through when it has a kennel cough.
Does this sound familiar? You decide to go on a vacation and the destination you chose is not suitable for the family dog. So like so many people, you take the dog to the local kennel to spend a few days until you returned from your trip. When you return and go back to the location you immediately notice that your beloved pet is not his usual happy and chipper self. He is sick. You later learned that your dog is suffering from this condition.
This kennel cough is a form of bronchitis and is usually caused by an animal’s exposure to bordatella bacteria. Though it is more commonly associated with dogs, cats are also susceptible to infection caused by the bordatella bacteria.
It is so named kennel because the ailment is often found in cats and dogs housed in a boarding facility shelters. Generally, animals in the kennel facilities are housed in closed confined quarters. This makes it easier for the highly contagious condition to be passed from one animal to another. It is one of the most common infections in dogs.
Of the all the symptoms, the continual dry cough is the most prevalent. Another one can be a white discharge that is emitted during coughing spasms. Some animals also cough up large amounts of phlegm. Though rare, vomiting can also occur in extremely bad cases. Puppies and kittens are especially vulnerable to this condition. Other symptoms that this condition may present are a hacking, coarse cough, retching, gagging and dry cough.
Though it can cause animals much distress, the condition is usually not serious. It can be treated with antibiotics if it does not go away on its own. It’s always advisable to consult a vet if your pet is not showing a sign of feeling better.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=56035c55-2bc7-46a3-940d-6534519671dd)
Hi we just adopted a 18month old dog last Friday. It had come to our attention he may have kennel cough !
He was de-sexed before we took him from the shelter, so he is on a antibiotic already, what do you reckon we should do?
He is coughing up the white flem
Thanks
Shannen
Hi Shannen,
Thanks for stopping by at our site and leaving your question. See if you can treat your pet with these kennel cough home treatment options. If not, you may want to take it to a vet. Hope your dog will feel better soon.
Admin
Hi,my lab has had the kennel cough vac,and he now has started coughing in the morning and evening,and he has vomited White flem,could he still get it if he’s had the vac?
Just wondered as we have just got another puppy.
It’s possible for your pet still to have these symptoms. If they’re mild, you can let it run its course otherwise, consider taking to the Vet and hear what they may suggestion.
Good luck and thanks for stopping.
Admin
our 4 year old lab just recently started having coughing/gagging fits with a crackling exhale every now and then. We have noticed it for about 2 days now, and it’s most prevalent when he is laying down or in the middle of the night. He just received the Parvo vaccine on Sept 15. Is it possible he could be showing symptoms from the vaccine? He is otherwise fine, so we are not sure if he should see the vet.
Hi Liz,
Thanks for stopping by at our site to ask a question. There may be some mild side effects that your pet could be experiencing. Nothing alarming as long as the symptoms are mild. Here are some more information about parvo vaccine side effects if you want to read further.
Hope your pet feels better soon.
Admin
Hi Admin:
I have a rescue bichon which is probably 8-10 years old. Three days ago he started honking like a duck and retching, nothing came up. First thought he had a bully stick caught in his throat – so I brought him to my vets -he was left there for a number of hours and they did a 1-side chest x-ray and also down the trachea – nothing stuck, also no coughing for hours – went to pick him up and there he went HONKING – the vet heard this and said it sounded like a trachea problem – put him on cough medice – next day he was worse – brought him back for a blood test – Extremely high white cell count and the coughting increased- put him on antibiotics. I have 6 other dogs in my home including a 4 month old puppy -I was told NO it is not Kennel Cough – I am seperating him from the other dogs but, bacterial does fly. I placed all the dogs on Nutri-cal twice a day – hoping that I have prevented what my Vet said was not kennel cough. Could you please response.
Respectfully Pat
Forget to tell you all the other dogs are up-to-date on vaccines – including Bordetella –
Bichon is also up to date and has had bordetella
vaccine.
Hi Pat,
It’s great that you’ve taken the sick one to the Vet right away. You’re also taking all the precaution to make sure that whatever is making your dog sick not to be transmitted to the other dogs. I applaud you in taking action and going with your gut to protect the dogs that are well. It may or may not be kennel cough but the bottom line is that you didn’t want to take chances.
It’s good that you’ve started giving them Nutrical dietary supplement as this will boost their energy and help them stay strong and healthy. Make sure to contact your Vet if you are not sure about anything. It’s seems that you’re doing everything right under the circumstances. Hope your dog will feel better soon.
Sincerely,
Annie
my one year boxer is hacking and hacking sometimes with fits that lasts for 30 minutes she hasnt been throwing up but im really worried does it sounds lyk she could have kennel cough?
marcella
Hi Marcella,
Hacking is one of the symptoms of kennel cough but that doesn’t mean your pet has kennel cough. It’s better to consult a vet to determine the real cause of the hacking. In the mean time though do the following as a treatment to see if this will make him feel better. Make sure to keep him warm. Avoid using any collar instead use harness to restrain him. In addition, offer him water to drink more often than usual. Also don’t forget to give him his favorite food as long as it’s soft enough to go through an irritated or sore throat.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Wishing your dog a speedy recovery.
Admin
I was told last night that if a cat with kennel cough wasn’t treated within a couple of weeks of getting the kennel cough that it would die. Is thus true? I have had a dog with kennel cough and the dog didn’t seem as though it was going to die. It just kept coughing, till I took it to the vet. Thank you for helping me on this matter.
Natasha
It’s best you consult your vet about this condition right away.