Home treatment for kennel cough

Home treatments can sometimes helps in avoiding an unnecessary trip to the doctor. However, they are caused when these methods save you from trouble of visiting another medical practitioner – a veterinarian.

Kennel cough represents an upper respiratory infection, resembling a common cold. A number of viruses and bacteria usually found in the air may be responsible for this condition. It won’t come as a surprise, it comes in most dogs experience this ailment at some point in their lives.

A typical manifestation of kennel cough may last for up to 3 weeks. This is a mild presentation which rarely requires any treatment at all. As in this case with the majority of diseases, puppies and elderly dogs have the hardest time in resisting this infection.

Kennel cough presents no direct threat to life, but it can lead to further complications, such as pneumonia. This is why it is recommended to have the pets vaccinated.

If a person’s dog coughs intermittently, with progressive frequency, and mostly at night time, there is a good chance that it has the kennel cough. Some other symptoms are runny eyes, nasal discharge, mucous vomit etc.

There are reliable ways to determine if a dog has kennel cough. An average vet would probably use the same methods in his/her own examination. By placing the hand at the dog’s trachea and pressing gently a person can trigger a reaction that confirms the suspected diagnosis. Namely, if, after applying the pressure, the dog immediately responds with cough, it is a sure sign of kennel cough.

An infection resulting from this condition may well prove to be a serious issue, worth consulting a vet. The usual medical treatment involves an antibiotic which is used to fight these infections. Still, here is some home treatment advice which can save some time and money:

Keep the dog warm and draft free.Remove the collar so as to prevent cough induction.Encourage the dog to drink lots of water.Provide wet food to soothe a possible irritated throat.Additional relief can be achieved by means of a vaporizing treatment. This is to be administered three times a day. The vapor will likely helps to open the bronchial tubes. This in turn makes the cough more productive.

It is important to take into account the fact that no one knows a dog’s health stature as well as its owner. Ultimately, the owner decides on whether to take his or her dog to the vet or not. This is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.