Kennel Cough: what is it and how can you help your dog?

As a dog owner, you have probably heard of kennel cough. This is a highly contagious disease that is accompanied by coughing and sniffling. Sometimes, your dog may even start gagging. It is more common in dogs with a weak immune system. How can you prevent kennel cough and how can you support your dog when he is coughing?

Kennel cough is actually a collective term for infectious infections of the upper respiratory tract in dogs. The infection, which is mainly in the nose, throat, and trachea, can be caused by various viruses and bacteria. For example, (para)influenza viruses or adenoviruses.

Highly contagious

Kennel cough is highly contagious. Your dog can become infected when in contact with other dogs. Not only in kennels, but also for example in a playground. Therefore, it is good to protect your dog as much as possible against kennel cough if he regularly comes into contact with other dogs. There is a good annual vaccination that is given with an injection or drops in the nose. This does not prevent infections completely, but your dog will become much less ill if he does get kennel cough. Kennel cough resembles a common cold in humans, but often lasts longer. Healthy dogs usually recover after 10 to 14 days.

Symptoms of kennel cough

The symptoms of kennel cough include:

• Dry and harsh cough
• Sometimes a wheezing sound when coughing
• Dog coughs when pressure is applied to the trachea or when the collar is pulled
• Gagging or even vomiting, as if something is stuck in the throat
• Sneezing and sniffling
• Sleepiness, fatigue
• Reduced appetite
• Mild fever

Dogs with a weakened immune system due to illness or old age are more likely to develop kennel cough. The virus can be stubborn, especially in animals with a low resistance or puppies. Prolonged kennel cough can progress to bronchitis or pneumonia. You certainly want to prevent that!

Diagnosis of kennel cough

Especially in dogs at higher risk of kennel cough (old, young, low resistance), the symptoms of kennel cough can closely resemble the symptoms of canine distemper, canine influenza, and allergies. Therefore, it is good to have the veterinarian make the diagnosis. Often, this requires immunological testing (a PCR test). In dogs not in the risk group, the diagnosis can often be made with just a physical examination.

Treating kennel cough

Kennel cough is usually treated with a cough syrup that soothes the throat and suppresses the urge to cough. Furthermore, it is mainly a matter of rest and recovery. It is important that your dog gets plenty of rest and does not get cold. A short walk is okay, but keep it limited. And make sure that your dog does not infect other dogs! Also important: use a harness instead of a collar, as this will make your dog cough less.

Supporting with kennel cough

It is important to support your dog's immune system when he is coughing. You can give a supplement that suppresses inflammation and viruses, such as black cumin. The active ingredient thymoquinone, extracted from the black cumin plant, is a very strong antioxidant. Scientific studies in dogs and humans have shown that this substance can help to quickly resolve symptoms of a viral or bacterial infection. Black cumin is completely natural. To reduce coughing and soothe the throat, an herbal mixture based on eucalyptus, echinacea, white willow, and schisandra is very suitable. This soothes and helps to breathe more freely.

Preventing kennel cough

Prevention is always better than cure! Therefore, make sure your dog is healthy, with good nutrition and enough exercise. Consider giving your dog an annual vaccination if he regularly comes into contact with other dogs. Avoid contact with infected animals and keep your dog's belongings clean. Drafts, cold, poor ventilation, smoke, and a raw throat due to excessive barking increase the risk of kennel cough. Also ensure that your dog's immune system is strong. For example, by providing healthy nutrition and exercise, but also by preventing stress.

Sources:

Kaneez Fatima Shad, Wissam Soubra, Dennis John Cordato. The role of thymoquinone, a major constituent of Nigella sativa, in the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases

CEPP. 2021. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1440-1681.13553

Khader M, Eckl PM. Thymoquinone: an emerging natural drug with a wide range of medical applications. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2014;17(12):950-957.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387230/

Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, et al. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013;3(5):337-352. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3642442/

Goyal Sameer N., Prajapati Chaitali P., Gore Prashant R., Patil Chandragouda R., Mahajan Umesh B., Sharma Charu, Talla Sandhya P., Ojha Shreesh K. 2017. Therapeutic Potential and Pharmaceutical Development of Thymoquinone: A Multitargeted Molecule of Natural Origin. Frontiers in Pharmacology.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00656/full