Autumn is here. And with it comes the flu season. Colds and other ailments associated with this time of the year do not only affect people, but also their four-legged friends. Especially widespread and highly dangerous in case of non-treatment is the kennel cough, which affects dogs in cities as well as in the country. Despite being fairly common, this dog disease is highly contagious. How to treat it?
How can you tell it is kennel cough? It is crucial to recognise the symptoms as soon as possible, which can be an irritating dry cough, sometimes even paroxysmal cough. The dog can be coughing up white foam or mucus. Dog cough sounds different to human cough. Some even compare it to goose honking. So do not be fooled and if you are not sure, take your dog to see your vet.
First aid for cough First of all, make sure your dog has plenty of rest. Ignore the fact that your dog is usually very active. Shorten your walks to a minimum. Do not let your dog near other dogs. In the case of kennel cough, the animal is contagious for about three days. Provide him with a cozy snuggle and a blanket. You can make an exception and allow a bit of "couching". If the symptoms are mild and the cough is not severe, exhausting and convulsive, Plantago syrup is recommended. Plantago syrup is a little miracle and provides the animal with immediate relief from coughing by calming down the throat.
Measure the dog's temperature by inserting a common thermometer in his anus. Phone your vet to discuss the next step.
If the vet does not prescribe antibiotics, they will at least recommend some vitamins. Same as with the human cold, it is important to boost immunity. Other than the Plantago syrup, you can also give your dog Vitamin C, spirulina or echinacea. All this strengthens the immunity and speeds up the treatment.
If the dog is not suffering from other health problems, the treatment should last about a week.
How to comfort the animal? Take off the collar. It can be uncomfortable on the neck. You can replace it by a harness when going for a walk. Humidify your home. Moist air will help with the dry cough. If you own an essential oil diffuser, use a few drops of lemon balm oil or mint and eucalyptus oil. You can also put a wet towel on your warm radiator.
Make sure the dog drinks plenty of water. You can make him a weak tea with honey, add a few spoonfuls of milk into water or cook a meat and vegetable broth. If you use dry food, it is recommended to temporarily soak it in warm water or in the broth. Dogs suffering from diarrhoea can be fed boiled rice with chicken.
Another option for you to consider is vaccination against kennel cough. However, because it is not only a single disease but rather a combination of bacteria and viruses, a 100% effective vaccine doesn't exist as yet.
We wish all our two and four-legged friends the best of health.
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...