Mary Allen
Dogs, like humans, suffer from kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis), especially during the typical cold season. The disease also called dog flu, is very contagious.
SOS tips for kennel cough
- When going for a walk, it is better to use a chest harness instead of a collar to avoid pressure on the inflamed throat and the resulting strong urge to cough.
- Avoid contact with other dogs at all costs, even if you keep several dogs.
- Avoid any excitement for the dog.
- Observe special hygiene and disinfect blankets, feeding bowls, etc.
- Avoid exertion (e.g. long walks).
- Do not smoke in the dog lounge.
- No participation in exhibitions, competitions, or other events
- no dog training
- no draft
- Soothe the urge to cough with a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of lemon juice mixed in warm water.
What is kennel cough?
Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract. a. expressed by coughing, snot, retching, vomiting, and fever. The disease is caused by various viruses and bacteria. The two main causes of kennel cough are Parainfluenza (viruses) and Bordetella (bacteria).
The attacked immune system and the damaged mucous membranes of the airways often lead to secondary bacterial infections.
Dogs of all ages can get the infection and get sick several times a year. The cough sounds dry and occurs in paroxysms, similar to whooping cough in humans. In severe cases, the symptoms go beyond the cough. The sick animal is tired, has no appetite, develops a fever and pneumonia is also possible.
In such a case, a veterinarian should be consulted. With dog health insurance, you don’t have to worry about any costs there. The DFV Animal Health Protection covers up to 100% of the costs for outpatient and inpatient treatment including surgeries.
Kennel cough: causes
In most cases, kennel cough is caused by pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, although non-infectious factors can also be the cause. These include, for example, poor hygiene, temperatures that are too high or too low, high humidity, physical and psychological stress, malnutrition, a weakened immune system, and worm infestation in the dog.
Common causative agents of kennel cough are canine para-influenza virus (CPIV), canine herpes virus (CHV), canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica.
Most dogs contract kennel cough first with viruses that colonize the bronchi and damage the ciliated epithelium (layer of specialized epithelial cells that lines most of the airways). As a result, bacteria or fungi can easily trigger another, so-called secondary infection. Only in a few cases does a bacterial infection appear first.
Dogs that live in close contact with other dogs, e.g. B. in kennels, animal shelters or animal boarding houses, are particularly at risk, because the pathogens of kennel cough are transmitted via droplet infection.
Kennel cough: transmission
Kennel cough is transmitted by coughing or sneezing (droplet infection, i.e. through the air) and by sniffing. In addition, the pathogens can also adhere to objects such as dog toys or be transmitted to public water bowls. The risk of infection is therefore particularly high wherever many animals meet, e.g. B. in the kennel, on the dog training ground, or in the dog school.
If a dog has become infected, it is no longer considered contagious until seven days after the last smallest symptom. Before that, he can still spread the pathogens and should not have contact with other dogs.
Infection can occur not only from dog to dog but also, for example, from dog to cat and vice versa.
Kennel cough: symptoms
- Cough: As the name suggests, kennel cough usually first manifests itself as a hard, barking, sometimes spasmodic cough. It does not necessarily occur continuously, but sometimes only under load. Coughing can always be triggered by slight pressure on the trachea.
- Expectoration of mucus: If the cough is no longer dry but is accompanied by expectoration of mucus, pneumonia may be present.
- retching
- difficulty breathing
- runny nose
- Conjunctivitis with purulent, watery eyes
- loss of appetite
- Low resilience
- In severe cases (especially with additional secondary infections), fever, inflammation of the throat, tonsils, bronchi, and trachea can occur.
Kennel cough: diagnosis
If kennel cough is suspected, a veterinarian should be consulted, who will first examine the dog thoroughly. In the case of strong retching and coughing, he examines the dog’s windpipe to make sure that the symptoms are not caused by a foreign body and that it is actually a dog cough.
The vet makes the diagnosis based on the typical symptoms. If the dog has recently had close contact with other dogs or has been housed in an animal shelter or kennel with several dogs, this is another indication of the diagnosis of kennel cough.
If complications arise, the veterinarian can examine the swab of the dog for pathogens in order to prescribe suitable medication (e.g. an antibiotic in the case of bacterial pathogens).
To be sure which pathogen it is, the veterinarian will take a swab in the throat and a saliva test. In this way, it can be seen whether it is bacteria or viruses and whether the use of antibiotics is necessary. Using an antibiogram (laboratory test), he can determine which antibiotics work best.
If you have pneumonia or suspected heart disease, you should also have an X-ray of your lungs and heart. In severe cases, blood tests are also recommended.
Kennel cough: course
As a rule, kennel cough heals on its own after a few weeks, similar to a common cold in humans. However, some dogs develop complications such as pneumonia or tonsillitis. In addition, kennel cough can take a serious course if the affected dog is still very young or its immune system is weakened (e.g. due to simultaneous worm infestation). A complicated course manifests itself in the form of fever, bronchitis, loss of appetite, as well as damage to the heart and lungs. In the worst case, the disease ends fatally.
Kennel cough: treatment
The treatment of kennel cough depends on the general condition of the sick dog. Depending on the symptoms, it may be necessary to administer cough-relieving, immune-enhancing, expectorant, or antipyretic drugs.
A bacterial infection often occurs during the course of the disease. The bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica is usually the trigger. In such cases, the administration of antibiotics makes sense, since the general condition of the dog continues to deteriorate due to the additional infection. Complications can include bronchitis or pneumonia.
Endo- and ectoparasites such as worms or fleas can also weaken the animal’s immune system. If the vet finds an infestation, he will take appropriate action against it.
Building up the immune system with echinacea and paramunity inducers can also be recommended.
Treatment costs for kennel cough
The costs depend on the specific treatment and veterinarian.
The fee schedule for veterinarians (GOT for short) regulates the costs. Every veterinarian is obliged to adhere to the maximum and minimum prices specified in the GOT. The GOT, therefore, does not specify fixed prices, but a fee framework. The fee framework ranges from a single to a triple rate. The amount of the costs may vary depending on the situation of the case. Medical reasons, expenditure of time, or special circumstances, such as e.g. B. emergency service, justify a higher (up to three times) rate. The prices given in the GOT are net prices, i.e. 19% VAT is added. The simple sentence must not be undercut.
In addition to the services, costs for medication, materials, laboratory services, travel expenses, etc. are also due.
According to the GOT, a general examination of the dog net (excluding VAT) costs a minimum of €13.47, an average of €26.94, and a maximum of €40.41.
Depending on the symptoms, cough-relieving or fever-reducing medication and antibiotics may also be necessary. You can significantly reduce the urge to cough with cough syrup for pets (do not use cough syrup made for humans because of the alcohol or caffeine content!). We recommend, for example, cough suppressants based on thyme such as CaniPulmin liquid (100 ml approx. 15 €) or with plantain such as Pulmostat acute.
Vaccination against kennel cough costs about €50 on average and should be repeated once a year.
Kennel cough treatment: What costs does the DFV cover?
Our dog insurance DFV-TierkrankenSchutz offers you all benefits for necessary veterinary treatment in the event of illness or after an accident of your dog. Included are outpatient and inpatient treatment, costs for medication, bandages and operations. For preventive measures such as vaccinations, worming, dental prophylaxis, health check, flea and tick prevention as well as castration and sterilization, you will receive a one-time health flat rate.
The tariffs of our dog insurance also reimburse you for the costs of emergency care, even up to three times the rate of the GOT.
You alone decide to whom you entrust your animal. You can choose the veterinarian or veterinary clinic yourself for all tariff variants.
With the DFV animal health insurance, your dog is also well protected abroad. The insurance cover applies to a temporary stay abroad in Europe for the entire duration and outside of Europe for a maximum of six months.
Prevent kennel cough
Vaccination against kennel cough
If your dog is part of an at-risk group (i.e. spends time in kennels, goes to dog shows, or plays a lot with other dogs in the park), is older, or has other preexisting health conditions, a kennel cough vaccination may be useful to help prevent future infections to avoid.
The vaccination protects your dog from the main causes of kennel cough and lasts for 12 months.
Puppies with an increased risk of infection can be vaccinated from the age of three weeks since the local administration of the vaccine and maternal antibodies do not interfere with each other. The vaccination should then be repeated once a year. It can also be carried out at any time shortly before a risk situation (dog boarding, dog school, exhibition, breeders’ meeting).
The price for the vaccination is around €50 and usually includes protection against several diseases at the same time, for example, the 6-fold vaccination against:
- distemper (viral infection)
- Parvovirus (contagious viral infection)
- H.c.c. (Hepatitis)
- Leptospirosis (infectious disease)
- kennel cough (infection of the respiratory tract) and
- rabies (viral infection)
Despite the vaccination carried out, a dog can become infected with kennel cough, because due to the further development (immunization) of the virus strains, one hundred percent protection is not guaranteed. However, the vaccination weakens the course of the disease in any case.
General health care
As a dog owner, you should always ensure that your four-legged friend is in good general condition. Eating a wholesome diet prevents malnutrition and the associated diseases.
Has your dog been dewormed regularly? If, in addition to kennel cough, there is also worm infestation, this means a double burden for your dog. This is not a good prerequisite for a speedy recovery.
FAQs about kennel cough
Can kennel cough be transmitted to cats?
Kennel cough can be transmitted not only from dog to dog but also from dog to cat and vice versa. Transmission occurs primarily through droplet infection. However, infection is also possible through direct contact (sniffing), contaminated water (public water bowls, etc.), and through everyday objects.
Can you vaccinate against kennel cough?
Yes, dogs can be vaccinated against kennel cough. The kennel cough vaccination is one of the so-called “non-core” (non-mandatory) vaccinations. Dogs that are subject to an increased risk of infection due to the way they are kept should be vaccinated. Dogs that have a lot of contact with other dogs, dogs from animal shelters, dogs that often live in boarding kennels, or dogs that take part in dog shows or dog sports events are, particularly at risk.
This is usually a combination vaccine that protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus type 2 (CPiV-2) at the same time. The vaccines are given directly to the nasal mucosa.
The puppies are given their first basic vaccination course at eight weeks of age and are repeated after twelve and sixteen weeks. An annual refresher is recommended.
What is the name of the vaccine against kennel cough?
There are two vaccines for kennel cough. On the one hand there is the vaccine against the parainfluenza virus, which is often given in combination with distemper-parvo-hepatitis. On the other hand, there is the vaccine against the bacterial pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica (individually or as a combination of two parainfluenza viruses).
Who is Most Likely to Get Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough often occurs where many dogs meet, even in a small space, e.g. in factory farms, dog boarding houses, animal shelters, at dog shows, and dog parks. However, dogs can also quickly become infected with every walk through a popular exercise area.
How long does kennel cough last in dogs?
As with the human flu, the duration of kennel cough can only be roughly estimated. Healthy dogs with strong immune systems can overcome the disease within a few days. In severe cases, dog owners must reckon with a duration of several weeks. In most animals, kennel cough is over after a week.
All statements are without guarantee.