Kennel Cough is caused by either viral or bacterial agents working together to irritate the dog's trachea and upper bronchii. The organisms are airborne and spread much like the human colds are transmitted.
The most obvious signs are a dry hacking cough that usually makes owners think the dog has "something caught in his throat". The infected dog will cough every few minutes all day long, which can be very annoying to dog and owner both. The dog's general state of alertness will not be affected, he will not run a temperature nor lose apetite.
If your dog gets Kennel Cough symptoms, don't panic. It will go away within 1 to 2 weeks. It is analagous to our common cold, therefore it simply must run its course. A small percentage of dogs may develop pneumonia or more serious illnesses. Life threatening cases are extremely rare and a vast majority of dogs will recover on their own with no medication. Most owners feel better if the vet prescribes antibiotics but in most cases a cough suppressant is enough to relieve the dog from being so uncomfortable.
The incubation period is 2-10 days from the time the dog gets infected to when the symptoms become visible. If you have more than 1 dog in the household, keep the infected one isolated even though by the time he shows signs, the agents have already been shared with the other dogs.
The intranasal vaccination can provide protection in as little as 5 days while the injection can provide longer immunity. Just because the dog has been vaccinated doesn't mean he still can't get Kennel Cough. It is much like the flu shot for humans, with many different strands and mutations. And just because your dog is exposed to Kennel Cough doesn't mean he will necessarily get it. A healthy immune system is very important and the vaccination is highly recommended.
There is a possibility of a dog acquiring Kennel Cough even in the cleanest, most ventilated and spacious kennels. There could be an infected dog with no symptoms that kennels for the weekend and, unknown to anyone, be the source for infections to other dogs. Your dog can get Kennel Cough from the dog next door, from a Champion show dog at a dog show, or even from the vet where you recently took your dog for treatment or a check-up.
If your dog is depressed, feverish and/or listless, then he could have something more serious and you should contact your vet for further examination.
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