A Tickly Problem - Q&A...

My dog has developed a nasty cough after visiting a dog show. What has caused this, and how can I treat it?

'Kennel cough' syndrome is highly contagious and is easily spread between dogs via sneezed or coughed airborne droplets. Wherever numbers of dogs are gathered together this problem can rapidly spread e.g. boarding kennels, dog shows or even transient contact in the park Typically the dog will develop a harsh dry cough and retch as if there is something stuck in the throat. These signs can be caused by a number of infectious organisms, most commonly canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica.

The signs usually last for 10 to 14 days before resolving, however, more serious complications can develop such as pneumonia so it is important to have your dog checked by your vet. In order to protect your dog against Bordetella an intra-nasal vaccine is available from your vet and is required by most boarding kennels.