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 condition 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 because the condition is often found in cats and dogs housed in a boarding facility shelters). Generally, animals in these 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.

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.