What happens if kennel cough goes untreated

The infection can be life threatening only in puppies, older dogs, or immune-compromised dogs. As its name implies, kennel cough is often transmitted in kennels, shelters, or boarding facilities. Before taking in animals, most kennels require dogs to be up to date on their vaccines, which includes vaccines to prevent kennel cough. They can still transmit the infection to other dogs. Most dogs recover from kennel cough in about 3 to 6 weeks. Humans who contract kennel cough may experience :.

Vaccines are also available to protect dogs against some of the main pathogens responsible for kennel cough, including distemper, parainfluenza, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Depending on the situation, doctors may recommend the following treatments for humans with kennel cough:.

In one study , 7 out of 8 patients with confirmed kennel cough had a significant preexisting medical condition, such as lung disease or autoimmune neutropenia. Humans who do acquire kennel cough may develop pneumonia or an upper respiratory tract infection. Some serious complications of pneumonia may include:. People with underlying medical conditions are most at risk. The best way to protect against kennel cough is to make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations.

Many illnesses cannot be transferred from animal to human, but your pet can still infect you with salmonella, ringworm, E. However, experts say this human-to-animal….

If you have severe asthma, living with pets can be challenging, especially if their dander triggers your symptoms. Find out how you can make living…. The tricky thing about the Bordetella vaccine, just like the human Flu vaccine, is that it does not protect against all strains of the bacteria found in some Kennel Cough cases.

Your dog IS protected from the Bordetella bacterial infection with this vaccine, which is the most contagious upper respiratory infection caused but is not protected from the wide range of them all. Kennel cough symptoms start about 5 days after being exposed to the virus and lasts around 1 week… but it is then recommended not to go anywhere with your pup for 1 more week after that.

A responsible boarding and grooming facility will require your dog to have a current Bordetella vaccine along with other vaccines in order to receive their services. Every facility should also have a bacterial disinfection protocol in place and you as an owner should feel confident in asking what exactly that is. This, however, does not mean your pet will never be at risk for contracting Kennel Cough. Speak with your vet to determine which vaccine is best for your dog.

Even with vaccination, it is still possible for dogs to become infected with kennel cough so it is important to be observant, especially after your dog has been in contact with other dogs. We would love to hear from you. If you have questions or comments about one of our chambers, please reach out to us today.

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