Questions about the respiratory disease outbreak in dogs in several U.S. states? Here is the latest info from Cornell University.
We recommend avoiding contact with other animals until more information has been gathered and a causative organism identified. If possible, avoid: dog parks, grooming, boarding facilities, shelters, etc. where your dog could come into contact with other dogs.
Most cases have been dogs who attend daycare, but caution is advised.
The Mannford-area is experiencing a drastic increase in canine Kennel Cough cases the last few weeks. We thought it appropriate that we take a moment and share what it is, what to look for, and what we can do about it.
Kennel cough is similar to the common cold in that it is very contagious, usually mild, and is caused by a variety of “bugs”. It is very, very contagious and is transmitted by any droplet transfer: coughing, sneezing, nose-touching, etc.
Kennel cough is usually mild in healthy animals however, symptoms can be quite irritating to the pet and your family. Common symptoms include the following:
These symptoms usually start out quite mildly, but a consistent, hacking cough that may end in gagging is the most common symptom we see. Unfortunately, this is also how the disease is spread.
Treatment of Kennel Cough is focused on clearing out bacteria causing the symptoms, bacteria that could worsen the disease (lead to pneumonia), and ease the symptoms. Treatment usually consists of oral antibiotics, mild oral steroids for the cough, with or without cough syrup if it is severe enough. There are many methods of management at home as well (see below) that can ease your dog’s symptoms.
There is a vaccine for Kennel Cough! As a bonus, it is an oral vaccine, so not pokes for Fido. It is recommended to be given yearly, although some facilities that house several animals at once (groomers, boarders, animal hospitals, etc) require it to be administered every 6 months, depending on risk levels.
We absolutely do! Calling ahead is required however, we do routinely stock and administer Kennel Cough vaccines!
Your puppy must be older than 8 weeks!
Dogs that have not been vaccinated, that are around unvaccinated animals are at the highest risk:
