Treatment of cough in your dog

Cough or tracheobronchitis is bronchitis which is marked by a dry cough and spasmodic, retching, sneezing, snorting, or suffocation. It is characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection.

Tracheobronchitis is highly contagious and occurs when the dogs are kept in crowded places with poor ventilation and a lot of hot air-places like boarding kennels, vaccination clinics, hospital waiting rooms or any other such place where other dogs infected may be present.

Cough in canines is equivalent in some respects, to the common cold in humans. The symptoms are obvious enough for diagnosis and feature. And just like the common cold, caused by a virus does not require any treatment, coughing in dogs also does not require any treatment if the condition was caused due to a viral infection. Symptoms tend to go off within 10 days. However, the commonality between the common cold and kennel cough ends there since cough instances involving the distemper virus run a high risk and are considered serious. Such cases need immediate attention to ensure that the progression of the disease is contained.

The canine respiratory tract has sufficient guarantees against bacterial invasion. These are present in the form of hair like structures, with a layer of mucus, which protrude from the cells lining the Airways. When this protective mechanism is damaged, invading bacteria, especially the Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bordetella can travel along the respiratory tract and cause cough. Cough caused by a bacterial infection is also self limiting. Treatment is limited to providing relief for cough suppressants as recovery takes its natural course. There are some veterinarians who can recommend or insist on killing Bordetella Bordetella bronchiseptica directly with the help of antibiotics.

The stress caused by overcrowding, heavy dust exposure and poor ventilation during shipment usually leads to kennel cough in dogs, especially puppies. Such cases can lead to severe tracheobronchitis. Cough in puppies is commonly seen in pet shops. The virus's incubation period is between two to twelve days and owners usually come to know the condition after they bought home a pup very ill. Vaccination during the incubation period proves ineffective and therefore must be taken to a veterinarian for treatment of young pups with symptoms of cough. Cough in puppies is also limit itself but if exposed to Bordetella Bordetella bronchiseptica during viral infection, can lead to serious consequences for children. The condition is known for the progress of a pneumonia, which can be life threatening if not given timely treatment.