Pets Sick As A Dog With Kennel Cough

[Teebs]

http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/pets-sick-as-a-dog-with-kennel-cough/2573090.aspx

Pets sick as a dog with kennel cough

BY TRACEY PRISK

30 May, 2012 04:00 AM

AN Orange veterinarian says an outbreak of the respiratory disease kennel cough has left his surgery inundated with dogs suffering from the potentially fatal condition.

Canobolas Family Pet Hospital veterinarian Geoff Freeth said in the past two weeks his surgery has treated at least two dogs a day when in a normal season the facility would see a couple a month.

Dr Freeth said just as human colds are more common when the weather becomes cooler, kennel cough has taken hold in the dog population in Orange in the last few weeks.

“The coughing is often severe and can be really quite distressing for the dog,” he said.

“It tends to persist for between 10 to 14 days.”

“Kennel cough can be caused by a number of infectious agents just like the human cold but is much more severe.

Dr Freeth said the kennel cough is roughly equivalent to whooping cough in humans.

Kennel cough is also highly contagious and is passed on with only a brief meeting between an infected dog and a non-infected dog.

Dr Freeth said the kennel cough vaccine isn’t long acting one so he recommends at risk dogs be re-vaccinated.

While the disease is rarely fatal, except in very young, old or infirm animals it can lead to various other respiratory ailments like chronic bronchitis.

Treatment involves quarantining the infected dog and giving the appropriate symptomatic care.

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[GeckoTree]

Quite interesting about the vacc not lasting long, I really do believe many dogs due to diet and lifestyle are now immune suppressed just like many people are.

[Aziah]

Let's not forget that there are so many strains of KC that you cannot vaccinate for them all - and so, even recently vaccinated dogs can definitely suffer from Canine Cough.

Edited May 30, 2012 by Aziah

[kazads]

Two out of my three had kennel cough in the last few weeks - they got it bad! Was like sitting up with kids through the night, was just terrible. All are vaccinated - the youngest two got it, the eldest didn't. Required Ab's and cough syrup and of course 14 days confinement which drove me and them mad!! There are many strains and the vaccinations do not cover them all...

[Dogsfevr]

We had a specialist talk about canine cough & they said the vacc last 6 months .

Mind you i do wish the vets would get it right it and call it Canine cough because to many people presume kennel cough means in the kennels only which of course isn't true at all

[Leema]

Since when is KC fatal? It's a self limiting disease.

[*kirty*]

It can be fatal in puppies and otherwise unwell dogs. It can lead to secondary infections and that is what kills them.