♕© (INFECTIOUS TRACHEOBRONCHITIS AKA KENNEL COUGH)
“Kennel cough” is an infectious bronchitis THAT is characterized by a harsh, hacking cough which most people describe as sounding like:
“Something IS stuck in my dog’s throat" or sounds as if "my dog is TRYING to hack up a hairball”
To put it into perspective, it would be like a chest cold for us humans. It is only a serious condition in special circumstances but in general, it resolves on its own. A dog with Kennel Cough generally feels active and maintains a normal appetite despite frequent fits of coughing. There is usually no fever or listlessness, just lots of annoying coughing. Is your dog playing, eating and drinking?
Dogs can make an assortment of respiratory/breathing sounds. Usually a cough is very recognizable but it is important to be aware of another sound called a “reverse sneeze.” The reverse sneeze is often mistaken for a cough, for a choking fit, for sneezing, for retching, or even for gasping for breath. The reverse sneeze represents a post-nasal drip or “tickle in the throat.” It is considered to be absolutely normal especially for small dogs or dogs and only requires attention if it is felt to be “excessive.” The point here is to know a cough when you see one. A cough can be dry or “productive,” meaning it is followed by a gag, swallowing motion, production of foamy mucus (not to be confused with vomiting). Here are some videos that might help:
A coughing dog that has a poor appetite, fever, and/or listlessness should be evaluated for pneumonia.
The infected dog sheds infectious bacteria and/or viruses in respiratory secretions. These secretions become aerosolized and float in the air to be inhaled by a healthy dog.
The normal respiratory tract has substantial safeguards against invading infectious agents. The most important of these is probably what is called the “mucociliary escalator.” This safeguard consists of tiny hair-like structures called “cilia”, which protrude from the cells lining the respiratory tract, and extend into a coat of mucus over them. The cilia beat in a coordinated fashion through the lower and more watery mucus layer called the “sol.” A thicker mucus layer called the “gel” floats on top of the sol. Debris, including infectious agents, get trapped in the sticky gel and the cilia move them upward towards the throat where the collection of debris and mucus may be coughed up and/or swallowed.
The throats flora is damaged by the following:
- shipping stress- going into a new home
- crowding stress- vet's office, your home, friends stuffy house/
- heavy dust exposure-carpet fresh, carpet deodorants etc.
- cigarette smoke exposure
- infectious agents (viruses such as reovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and even the distemper virus' can be initiating infections).
- Cold temperatures- sniffing the coughing dog between fences.
- Poor ventilation
Without this protective mechanism, invading bacteria, especially Bordetella bronchiseptica, the chief agent of Kennel Cough, may simply march down the airways unimpeded. When you dogs leave my house they have had their first intranasal treatment.
Bordetella bronchiseptica organisms have some tricks of their own as well:
- They are able to bind directly to cilia, rendering them unable to move within 3 hours of contact. Staying inside of it's nose.
- They secrete substances that disable the immune cells normally responsible for consuming & destroying bacteria
Because it is common for Bordetella to be accompanied by at least one other infectious agent (such as one of the viruses listed below), “Kennel Cough” is actually a complex of infections, rather than infection by one agent.
Any viruses can produce a minor sore throat and cough ultimately allowing an “in” for the more toxic Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria.
Classically, dogs get infected when they are kept in a crowded situation with poor air circulation but lots of warm air (i.e. a boarding kennel, vaccination clinics, obedience classes, local parks, animal shelters, animal hospital waiting room, or grooming parlor, ). In reality, most causes of coughing that begin acutely in the dog are due to infectious causes and usually represent some form of Kennel Cough.
THE INCUBATION IS ANYWHERE FROM 2 - 14 DAYS
Usually the history of exposure to a crowd of dogs within the proper time frame plus typical examination findings (coughing dog that otherwise feels well) is adequate to make the diagnosis. Radiographs show bronchitis, though severe cases can progress to pneumonia, especially if the canine distemper virus is involved. X RAYS ARE NOT NEEDED TO DIAGNOSIS IT.
Bordetella infection can be picked up by rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, cats (if they are very young and housed in groups), and other dogs. It is highly contagious between dogs sitting in a waiting room, nosing each other through a fence and your puppy should be in a crate when visiting the vet from first appointment and hereafter.
♕Bordetella is generally not considered contagious to humans though it is closely related to Bordetella pertussis, the agent of Whooping Cough. Immune-suppressed humans potentially could be infected.♛
Among dogs Kennel Cough is fairly contagious depending on stress level, vaccination status, and exposure to minor viruses. Dogs shed Bordetella organisms for up to 3 months after infection. That means anywhere you or your puppy go and step in comes home and your dog can become infected with it. It is very annoying but if watched the puppy/dog will naturally heal without the need for antibiotics.
Although most cases will go away on their own, some vets like to prescribe antibiotics to help the dog get well faster. If Kennel Cough is interrupting your dogs sleep sometimes it can be treated with cough suppressants to provide comfort during their natural recovery. Alternatively, antibiotics and cough suppressants can be combined. Pediatric triaminic is a good choice. Many drugs prescribed from your vet to treat coughing treats the symptoms but then the dogs are sometimes over groggy and it loosens their stools. Remember what goes in one end effects the other end.
There are basically two options for Kennel cough vaccination: injectable and intranasal. Since your dog is just a puppy when it comes to you I use the BBB Bordetella intranasal.
It is however, important to realize that not all members of the Kennel Cough complex have a vaccine. Also, because Kennel Cough is a localized infection (meaning it is local to the respiratory tract), it is an infection that does not lend itself to prevention by vaccination. Vaccination must be regularly boosted and often vaccination simply muffles the severity of infection without completely preventing it.
Ask your veterinarian when your puppies next booster is due.
It does take about 4 days to generate a solid immune response after intranasal vaccination so it is best if vaccination is given at least 4 days prior to the exposure.
Some dogs will have some sneezing or nasal discharge in the week following intranasal vaccination.
As a general rule, nasal vaccination provides faster immunity than injectable vaccination.
As I posted abve, this infection is generally self-limiting. It should be at least improved partially after one week of treatment. If no improvement has been observed in this time, a re-check exam. Most vet's do not charge for a re-check. Kennel Cough is aggravating in it's length but it should go away on it's own without any sort of treatment.
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Some dogs wake up from a nap and have a sneeze.