BY ANDREA S.
MULLEN, DVM
Kennel
cough sounds worse than it is—in more ways than one. The name sounds like an ominous problem.
And the cough itself has a deep honking and gagging that is often
reported to veterinarians as: “My dog has a bone stuck in his throat.”
But dog owners can breathe easy, because with a little care and
patience, these dogs can recover without lost sleep or big vet bills.
Kennel
cough gets its name from the obvious problem of getting the condition
during a kennel stay. It is
most commonly associated with a bacterial infection, with 80-90% due to Bordetella
bronchiseptica. This tiny
but nasty bug can infect a dog’s windpipe through contact with hands,
clothing or air. It is most likely to effect dogs under stress.
Shelter
dogs are particularly at risk. The
time periods for kenneling and vaccinations can make it almost impossible
to prevent. But treatment is
easy and should not be a deterrent to adopting a dog that will recover
quickly and make an excellent pet.
State
law requires dogs usually be held in a shelter six days before they can be
adopted. During this time,
the stress of shelter life and exposure to airborne bacteria make shelter
dogs prime candidates for kennel cough, even if vaccinated.
Although the symptoms can occur in three to five days from the time
of infection, some veterinarians report the actual coughing does not begin
for seven to 10 days. Because
even the fastest acting vaccines don’t provide protection for at least
four days, shelter dogs may often look perfectly healthy at the shelter
and start coughing almost as soon as they get home.
The
Good News: Treatment is Probably Not Needed
Kennel
cough is usually what veterinarians call “self-limiting.”
That’s a fancy way of saying you probably don’t need to take
your kennel cough dog to the vet. The
problem will resolve all by itself in 10 days to three weeks. Although it is caused by a bacterium, antibiotics are
generally not needed. Remember
that the condition is contagious, so sick dogs should be isolated from
other dogs.
But
the Dog Seemed Healthy …
Don’t
be surprised if your new shelter dog starts coughing in the days after you
bring him home. If he is
vaccinated on arrival at the shelter, the vaccine will not take effect
immediately. Depending on the
type of vaccine given, the dog will start getting the protection of the
vaccine from four to 10 days after vaccination.
If the dog is exposed to the bacteria before the vaccine takes
effect, the vaccine cannot prevent kennel cough.
The
typical timetable may look like this.
A cute little Spaniel-mix is picked up by animal control on Monday,
given a kennel cough vaccine and placed in the shelter.
On Thursday, she breathes in the nasty kennel cough bacteria
floating in the air. Under
the stress of the shelter life, the bacteria begin infecting her windpipe. By Friday, the vaccine is working, but the infection already
has a head start. You adopt
her on Saturday, and there is no outward evidence of any illness.
But you can’t take her home until Monday because she has to go
the vet to be spayed. She
comes home on Monday and seems fine.
On Tuesday, the five days of incubation that was started before the
vaccine kicked in triggers a nasty cough.
What seemed like a healthy dog when you selected her at the kennel
on Saturday now sounds like she’s auditioning for the part of an angry
goose in a Disney film.
Because
most cases resolve by themselves within three weeks, your cute little
Spaniel needs only to get some over-the-counter treatment for her cough
(so you and she can sleep) and be separated from other dogs.
Although the condition is contagious to other dogs, most cases
cannot be spread to cats, humans or other non-canines.
Treatment
is Easy
Most
dogs with kennel cough will do fine without going to the vet.
Try some Robitussin DM, a human cough suppressant available at any
drug store. Use as directed
for people, but use just 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of dog.
Don’t overdo it—DM can be pretty strong stuff. Some vitamins can help speed recovery, especially Vitamin C.
And remember to isolate the infected dog--they are contagious as
long as they are sick. That’s it. Good
food, clean water and a loving home will help get them through, too.
What
about vaccines for kennel cough?
There
are two types of vaccines for kennel cough.
One is given by injection; the other is sprayed into the nose. The injection provides for longer protection, but needs
longer to take effect, usually 10 to 14 days.
The nasal spray takes effect quicker, usually within four days, but
it doesn’t last as long. Unlike
vaccines for viruses that can give immunity for years, these
bacteria-fighting vaccines last only about six months.
Shelter
dogs in Los Angeles are vaccinated, but due to the time periods involved,
the vaccines cannot prevent the condition from spreading.
Although dogs who are vaccinated can still come down with kennel
cough, it is usually less severe and shorter lasting than dogs who are not
vaccinated at all. The
vaccine allows them to shed the bacteria quicker.
When
Do I Need to See a Vet?
Although
kennel cough usually resolves by itself, if you see any of these symptoms,
take your dog to the vet:
-
Your
dog does not want to eat.
-
Your
dog develops a runny nose WITH discolored discharge.
-
Your
dog is hot to the touch.
Don’t
Worry, Be Happy
If
you see a kennel dog you want to adopt, don’t be discouraged even if
they are coughing. Kennel
cough is easily overcome. Once
a dog is taken from the stress of a shelter and given a loving home and
some time to heal, you’ll soon forget about the cough.
But the dog will always remember that you gave him a home when
others wouldn’t.  |
