Have you ever heard of Kennel cough? Well, Kennel Cough (canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD)) is a highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs. The disease typically gets spread when a healthy dog gets exposed to the respiratory secretions of an infected dog.
If you think about it, kennel cough is about the same as a respiratory disease in us humans. It can cause mild symptoms in some dogs but can progress to a life-threatening pneumonia in other dogs.
Here’s everything you need to know about Kennel Cough in dogs:
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel Cough is an infectious bronchitis disease. The disease causes the trachea and bronchioles to become inflamed, resulting in a dry, hacking cough. It might sometimes sound like your dog has something stuck in their throat.
How do dogs get Kennel Cough?
As mentioned above, healthy dogs can get kennel cough by inhaling aerosolized bacteria or viruses from infected dogs. The bacteria and/or virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, or through infected objects such as toys, food/water bowls. Kennel Cough approximately takes about three to four days to appear in a dog after they have been exposed to it.
What are the symptoms of Kennel Cough?
Symptoms of kennel cough include:
- A persistent dry, hacking cough
- Coughing during the night
- Retching with the production of white foam
Severe symptoms include:
