Canine Cough
Overview
Canine Cough is a common, contagious, infectious, upper respiratory disease syndrome of dogs, characterized by a harsh, hacking cough. Canine Cough is also commonly referred to as Kennel Cough and Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (ITB). It is only a serious condition in special circumstances, as in general, it resolves on its own. A dog may generally feel active and maintain a normal appetite despite frequent bouts of coughing.
Causes
Sneezing, coughing, dog-to-dog contact and sharing of water bowls are important means of transmission. Puppies and adult dogs may be exposed to this disease in crowded areas or in any other situation where they have the opportunity for dog-to-dog contact such as:
Visits to dog parks
Dog shows
Boarding kennels
Training classes
Visits to the vet, pet shop or animal shelter
Canine Cough is a multifactorial disease syndrome. A number of viruses and bacteria, as well as environmental factors such as stress, dust and humidity can be involved. The most common infectious agents identified are:
Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria
Canine parainfluenza virus
Canine adenovirus type 2
Mycoplasma spp.
Bordetella bronchiseptica (bor-de-tell-a bron-ka-septi-ka) is regarded as the principle causative agent. It is closely related to Bordetella pertussis, the cause of whooping cough in people1. The Bordetella bacterium attacks specific tissues in the upper respiratory tract where it releases toxins. These toxins damage respiratory cells covered with hair-like cilia that function to clear infectious agents and debris from the airways.
Clinical Signs and Diagnosis
Clinical signs of Canine Cough include coughing associated with retching and expectoration. Dogs may show varying signs of illness, which could include:
Loss of appetite
Lack of energy
Retching or hacking
Nasal discharge
Loud, high pitched cough, often described as a “goose honk” (bouts of coughing can last for several weeks and may be exacerbated by exercise).
From exposure to onset of clinical signs can take 3-10 days. Infectious agents can be transmitted for extended periods after recovery from infection. Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria have been isolated from infected dogs for longer than three months, long after all clinical signs have resolved. These dogs may serve as a source of infection for many others2.
Management and Treatment
Although most cases of the disease will recover on their own, Canine Cough may be treated with cough suppressants to provide comfort during natural recovery or combined with antibiotics to directly kill the Bordetella organism.
Overview
Canine Cough is a common, contagious, infectious, upper respiratory disease syndrome of dogs, characterized by a harsh, hacking cough. Canine Cough is also commonly referred to as Kennel Cough and Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (ITB). It is only a serious condition in special circumstances, as in general, it resolves on its own. A dog may generally feel active and maintain a normal appetite despite frequent bouts of coughing.
Causes
Sneezing, coughing, dog-to-dog contact and sharing of water bowls are important means of transmission. Puppies and adult dogs may be exposed to this disease in crowded areas or in any other situation where they have the opportunity for dog-to-dog contact such as:
Visits to dog parks
Dog shows
Boarding kennels
Training classes
Visits to the vet, pet shop or animal shelter
Canine Cough is a multifactorial disease syndrome. A number of viruses and bacteria, as well as environmental factors such as stress, dust and humidity can be involved. The most common infectious agents identified are:
Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria
Canine parainfluenza virus
Canine adenovirus type 2
Mycoplasma spp.
Bordetella bronchiseptica (bor-de-tell-a bron-ka-septi-ka) is regarded as the principle causative agent. It is closely related to Bordetella pertussis, the cause of whooping cough in people1. The Bordetella bacterium attacks specific tissues in the upper respiratory tract where it releases toxins. These toxins damage respiratory cells covered with hair-like cilia that function to clear infectious agents and debris from the airways.
Clinical Signs and Diagnosis
Clinical signs of Canine Cough include coughing associated with retching and expectoration. Dogs may show varying signs of illness, which could include:
Loss of appetite
Lack of energy
Retching or hacking
Nasal discharge
Loud, high pitched cough, often described as a “goose honk” (bouts of coughing can last for several weeks and may be exacerbated by exercise).
From exposure to onset of clinical signs can take 3-10 days. Infectious agents can be transmitted for extended periods after recovery from infection. Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria have been isolated from infected dogs for longer than three months, long after all clinical signs have resolved. These dogs may serve as a source of infection for many others2.
Management and Treatment
Although most cases of the disease will recover on their own, Canine Cough may be treated with cough suppressants to provide comfort during natural recovery or combined with antibiotics to directly kill the Bordetella organism.
The
infection should improve partially after one week of treatment. If no
improvement has been observed in this time, a re-check exam (possibly
including radiographs of the chest) would be a recommended. Failure of
Canine Cough to resolve suggests an underlying condition as the disease
can activate a previously asymptomatic collapsing trachea or the
condition may have progressed to pneumonia.
Prevention
It is important to realize that not all members of the Canine Cough complex can be vaccinated against. Vaccination must be regularly boosted and often vaccination simply reduces the severity of infection rather than completely preventing it.
Prevention
It is important to realize that not all members of the Canine Cough complex can be vaccinated against. Vaccination must be regularly boosted and often vaccination simply reduces the severity of infection rather than completely preventing it.
Several
vaccines are available to help protect your dog from Canine Cough.
Canvac® CCi vaccine can help protect your dog from Bordetella
bronchiseptica. An initial series of 2 injections, 4 weeks apart,
followed by annual revaccination are required. Ideally 7-10 days should
be allowed between vaccination and exposure to high-risk situations.
This allows the immune system to be best prepared to protect against
disease should infection occur. Vanguard® Plus 5 or Vanguard® 5
vaccines, that form part of your dog’s routine vaccinations also help
protect against canine parainfluenza virus and canine adenovirus type 2,
both of which contribute to the canine cough syndrome.
References:
Ford RB. 2004. Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough), North East Veterinary Conference Proceedings.
Dats, C. 1998. Bordetella Infections in Dogs and Cats; Treatment and Prevention. Compendium Vol. 25. No. 12 pp 902-913
References:
Ford RB. 2004. Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough), North East Veterinary Conference Proceedings.
Dats, C. 1998. Bordetella Infections in Dogs and Cats; Treatment and Prevention. Compendium Vol. 25. No. 12 pp 902-913
2/04/2012