Their dogâs coughâdry and roughâwas so odd that when Carl and Gabrielle Coutu first heard it, it made them laugh. Of course, while they were basking in the Croatian sunshine, their dog was boarding at the local kennel. When the Coutus returned home, they took Milou to the groomer and then headed straight to the dog park so that he could meet up with his buddies.
Three days later Milou started to cough and sneeze. Strange coincidence: when their daughter got in from daycare that day, she, too, was coughing and sneezing.
Could there be a link between Milouâs cough and the Coutuâs daughterâs cough?
No, itâs impossible for a person to transmit a cold or flu to a dog, and vice-versa.
However, Milouâs respiratory symptoms may well stem from when he crossed paths with a dog infected with kennel coughâafter all, heâd been around quite a lot.
Itâs essential to protect your dog from kennel cough, which although rarely a serious condition, is nonetheless troublesome.
Kennel cough, also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, usually presents as a rough, dry cough. Itâs
spread when an infected dogâs nasal secretions travel through the air when he or she sneezes and coughs. You can even be the vector of transmission, by carrying infected secretions on your clothes. In these cases, a healthy dog that comes up to you to be petted can get sick.
If it doesnât get worse, kennel cough clears up by itself, as was the case for Milou. Itâs a process that can take days, but for Milou it took several weeks, which is not abnormal. He was forced to rest as the sickness is exacerbated by exercise and sometimes even by the pressure of a collar on a dogâs trachea (windpipe) or larynx. During this period, Carl and Gabrielle took Milou out on 3 short daily walks, of less than 10 minutes each. Milou was not allowed to take part in any activities which might cause coughing and, to encourage the expulsion of secretions, the Coutus didnât give him any cough suppressant medications.
Severe cases
In some cases, a dog like Milou who has kennel cough may tear and have nasal discharges, which can vary from clear to purulent (or pus-containing). In extreme cases, the cough can be so violent that it provokes vomiting. These signs usually indicate that the condition is severe.
In dogs with weakened immune systems, the illness can degenerate, leading to bronchitis or acute bronchitis of the tracheaâitâs rare, but it can happen. Fever, fatigue and/or loss of appetite may be signs of pneumonia. In some situations, treatment with antibiotics may be essential. And, in extreme cases, intravenous treatment and oxygen therapy in the hospital setting may be necessary.
Because the illness is extremely contagious, it goes without saying that Milou wasnât allowed any contact with other dogs. The Coutus were advised to wait at least 10 days after their dogâs cough had cleared before allowing Milou to meet up with fellow canines.
Preventing kennel cough
- Never leave your dog at a daycare where vaccination isnât a systematic requirement.
- If you visit places where lots of dogs mixâsuch as a dog parkâbe sure to protect your 4-legged best friend from this awful flu! The best protection, by far, is vaccination.
- Two types of vaccination are currently available: either your dog receives 2 subcutaneous injections at a 1-month interval, or, he or she receives the vaccine via intranasal administration. In both cases, a yearly booster shot is recommended to maintain your dogâs level of immunization.
- These vaccines can be given as soon as your dog is 2 months old.
Key points
- Younger dogsâwho arenât yet vaccinated and come from contaminated environmentsâare particularly susceptible to kennel cough.
- It usually goes clears up within 2 weeks.
- Itâs essential to monitor your dog closely during this time and be sure that complications donât develop.
- A dogâs cough can indicate the presence of more serious health problems, such as tumours, pulmonary infection and inflammation, a collapsed windpipe and even heart failure causing pulmonary edema.
Two pieces of advice: Help prevent kennel cough by vaccinating your dog and when he or she coughs, always take it seriously.