Kennel cough in dogs

03/10/2018
Kennel cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis of dogs, is a very contagious respiratory disease. Dogs often contract it when they come into close contact with other dogs in certain environments such as kennels, day care, and dog shows.
Puppy Siberian Husky lying down on an examination table in a vets office.

What is kennel cough?

Kennel cough is a very contagious respiratory disease that can spread quickly between dogs, especially if they are in close proximity with each other.

What are the symptoms of kennel cough?

The most common sign of kennel cough in dogs is spasms of harsh, dry coughing, which may be followed br retching and gagging. The severity of the cough usually diminishes during the first 5 days, but the disease persists for 10 to 20 days. It can be more or less serious depending on the age and the general health condition of your dog or puppy.

Other symptoms may also include:

  • a runny nose
  • estornudos
  • eye discharge

What causes kennel cough?

Dogs often contract kennel cough when they are in close proximity to other dogs in certain environments such as kennels, day care, and dog shows. It can be passed on if a dog comes into contact with an infected dog or if they share contaminated objects such as food or water bowls.

Can my puppy be vaccinated against kennel cough?

Kennel cough can be prevented with the right vaccination, so it's important to make sure your puppy gets the necessary jabs at the right age.

Your vet will help you choose the vaccination programme best suited for your puppy, depending on any risks they will face from their lifestyle and any different environments they are exposed to as well as any activities they are involved in.

¿Cómo sé si mi cachorro necesita la vacuna?

Some vaccinations are mandatory, while others are simply recommended. The kennel cough vaccination is recommended if your puppy or dog will be in close contact with other dogs.

If your puppy is going to be in kennels or taking part in shows, sports or activities where they could be exposed to kennel cough, it’s important to tell your vet so your puppy can be protected well in advance.

Will the vaccination always cover my dog against kennel cough?

With kennel cough, a large number of agents can be involved in the specific disease. The vaccine protects against those agents that are considered to be the most important, but it doesn’t work against all of them.

If your puppy has had the vaccination they can still therefore develop the disease if they come into contact with those different agents against which the vaccine has no effect.

Are there other ways to prevent dogs contracting kennel cough?

When considering a kennel, the first thing you should look for is whether they require all dogs to have the vaccination against kennel cough. Sabrás esto por la información que tendrás que proporcionar al solicitar una plaza para tu cachorro.

Si llevas al cachorro a una residencia o guardería, deberás comprobar varios factores, incluido su historial de vacunación. Es probable que insistan en la necesidad de vacunar al cachorro antes de permitir su estancia.

Conviene asegurarse de que el virus no entre ni se propague por las proximidades. If only some of the dogs are vaccinated, the agents of the disease will spread and develop freely within the community. This means the risk of infection increases.

Otra pregunta para hacer a las protectoras ó guarderías es qué precauciones toman con los perros enfermos (cuarentena, por ejemplo) y los protocolos que tienen establecidos en cuanto a limpieza y desinfección. Estar informado de todos los procesos establecidos, disminuirá las probabilidades de que tu cachorro contraiga la tos de las perreras.

¿Qué debo hacer si creo que mi perro se ha contagiado?

Los signos clínicos de la tos de las perreras son fácilmente identificables. Si crees que tu cachorro presenta alguno de estos signos clínicos, consulta con tu veterinario. Este le realizará una serie de pruebas diagnósticas para determinar si ha contraído la enfermedad y te podrá recomendar el mejor tratamiento.

Para asegurarte de que tu perro no contraiga la tos de las perreras si va a estar en contacto con otros perros, informa siempre al veterinario con antelación de esta próxima situación. 

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