What's the deal with kennel cough?

Holiday dog boarding (r)Kennel cough (also known as Bordetella) is a contagious respiratory disease found in dogs; it can be fairly common in dog parks, kennels, grooming salons and vet clinics…even in clean and tidy environments like ours.

Even though proof of vaccination for Bordetella is required by most boarding kennels, guests can still be affected by kennel cough. The illness has a 2-14 day incubation period so pets that appear healthy before and during their stay can be carrying one of the viruses that cause kennel cough.

At Rover Stay Over we do our very best to prevent the illness from entering our facility and work very hard to eradicate it, and provide kennel cough treatment information, when it does pop up.

Keep in mind that kennel cough is like the flu–if your dog gets kennel cough, here’s how the experts at ASPCA say to manage it:

“Because CIV is a virus similar to the flu in humans, there is no specific antiviral medication available. However, supportive care and appropriate treatment of secondary infections are important. Your veterinarian may advise the following to soothe your dog while the condition runs its course:

  • Good nutrition and supplements to raise immunity
  • A warm, quiet and comfortable spot to rest
  • Medications to treat secondary bacterial infections
  • Intravenous fluids to maintain hydration
  • Workup and treatment for pneumonia

Be advised, while most dogs will fight the infection within 10 to 30 days, secondary infections require antibiotics and, in the case of pneumonia, hospitalization.”

Learn more about kennel cough and treatment options by speaking to your vet or visiting this website. http://tinyurl.com/8b8nzq7