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As the holidays are rapidly approaching, numerous of us are planning to go out of town for vacation. With the costs of travel, the price of gas, and the current state of the economy, much more people than ever are choosing to fly rather than drive. I know that my neighbors for example had planned to rent a motor home and take along the entire family including a pal of theirs “Toni,” and their German shepherd “Apollo.”

When they calculated all the costs however, they realized that the ten days away was going to cost a small fortune that they had certainly not prepared for. the best they can do now, instead of taking everyone on a road trip, is a flight to Arizona for the week. I’m certain that they will have a fantastic time taking in the stunning picturesque scenery which includes mountains, something we don’t really have in “The Sunshine State” of Florida. everyone was thrilled about this newly planned trip but now they were facing the problem of figuring out what to finish with “Apollo” for the 10 days they’re away.

They tried calling the local canine walking services that come out to their home, but all the ones that came recommended were already booked during this time of year. The other option they had left was to take “Apollo” to a place that specializes in boarding pets. There was one place that seemed like a medspa with all kinds of activities for “Apollo” to do during the day. It seemed like “Apollo” was going to have as good a time as they were during his time away from home.

When my neighbor Joe was telling me about his getaway plans, he left out a small detail about the possibility that Apollo would be turned down from boarding if he was not current on all his shots, including an immunization for Bordetella or kennel cough. He did tell me that it has been about a year because his last exam, so I suggested that he put a check out to the veterinarian on his to-do list before the getaway and get it crossed off way ahead of time for added peace of mind.

Kennel cough is a very common infection that is transmitted from canine to canine similar to the way the common cold is transmitted in humans. One pet essentially sneezes or coughs and transmits particles that gets on surfaces, or are breathed by another dog. This disease is very easily spread in boarding facilities and that’s the reason for the name “Kennel Cough.” The particles that are responsible for this common infection are Bordetella bacterium, the canine adenovirus-2, and the Para influenza virus.

Most dogs begin to exhibit symptoms of Kennel cough about five or seven days after being exposed to other dogs with the bacteria or virus, and it typically takes 14-20 days before the symptoms begin to subside. I know from personal experience with one of my dogs that it is very challenging to view a canine coughing and suffering with this infection. one of my rescues was infected when I brought her home, and any exercise would set off this coughing with discharge from the nose and symptoms that made it appear as if she was choking. Some dogs will stop eating while their body is combating this disease and this makes the situation seem even worse.

Most cases of kennel cough resolve by themselves, but in some cases where there are other possible risk factors, antibiotics are used. If this condition worsens and the canine has a weakened immune system for whatever reason, including age, it may develop into pneumonia which could become a much much more major threat.

The best way to get Kennel cough diagnosed and treated is by bringing the sick animal in to the veterinarian. If the condition is likely to resolve itself, your veterinarian may prescribe a cough suppressant including codeine or recommend you purchase an over-the-counted cough suppressant such as Nectadyne. Some have found the over the counter homeopathic cough medication “HomeoPet” very valuable in treating these uncomplicated cases.

If the case is complicated your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic such as Baytril or cephalexin for example. There are numerous other choices of antibiotics that may be preferred by your veterinarian, so it is best to count on their treatment decisions.

The best way to avoid Kennel cough is by immunizing the canine with an intranasal vaccine. The vaccine is very effective but does have some complications. It is better to give the immunization a week or so before the expected time that the canine will be boarded. Some canines may develop mild signs and symptoms of the disease after receiving the vaccine and those symptoms could last for several days. only your veterinarian ought to decide if a vaccine is suitable for your dog, or if it is better not to vaccinate.

Some veterinarians have strong opinions about giving vaccinations because some feel that vaccines are vital while others believe that numerous of them are not needed. It is best to listen thoroughly about what they are suggesting and if there is no reason otherwise, to count on the care they are providing.

If you have any medication related questions a 1800PetMeds pharmacist is also available to answer them for you and to talk about any other issues that you may have.  Our pharmacists are highly trained and many have several animals themselves and work at 1800PetMeds because of their own love for animals.