Kennel Cough

KENNEL COUGH

I have had Collies for many years and only one time did I vaccinate against Bordatella, which resulted in a total loss of smelling sense on one of my dogs.  This is in fact devastating for a dog used in a work where the smelling sense is important.

Just to mention, I have never had kennel cough on any on my dogs, so thinking in hindsight it was stupid to vaccinate – and of course I will never use the nasal Bordatella vaccination again.  Can’t understand why this reaction I got on my dog are not written as a side-effect.  I reported this to the manufacturer of the vaccine, and have now learned that this is not an uncommon side-effect.  If you have a dog used for any kind of work where the nose is crucial think twice about using the nasal Bordatella vaccine, it is a risk.


Most dog that catch Kennel cough will recover without treatment.  Just as people can get colds our dogs can, and the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordatella bronchiseptica. Dogs that become infected with Bordatella can also be infected with a virus at the same time, that include canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes virus, parainfluenza virus and canine reovirus.

They catch this disease when they inhale bacteria or viruses into their respiratory tract that are normally lined with coating of mucus to protect any “invaders”.  A number of factors can weaken the protection, like cold temperature, stress, expose to crowded and/or poorly ventilated conditions, like in a kennel.


A typical symptom is a persistent and forceful cough, can sounds like a goose-honk sometimes followed by retching. Some will also experience symptom of illness, sneezing, runny nose or eye discharge.  With mild cases, you probably won’t notice much, your dog will still eat and be active. A bit more severe and the symptoms can include fever, lethargy lack of appetite and  pneumonia.


There are things you can do if your dog gets a cold. Of course are you unsure you take your pooch to the veterinarian.



Here is some homeopathic remedies you can try :


ACONITE

Used in the earliest stage of a kennel cough. Your dog has a dry hoarse cough. Your dog might be suffering from depression and malaise, and there can also be a lot of anxiety present. The cough has just started.

BELLADONNA

There will be a dry, barking and spasmodic cough. Could have a sensitive larynx.  Worse after midnight. Can be sleeping and wake up by cough.

LACHESIS

A keynote with this remedy is an extremely sensitivity to their larynx. A pressure from their collar can provoke a cough. Constant retching, and your dog cough worse during sleep, and are waking up because of that.  Coughing worse both after sleep and in open air which can give him/her a coughing spasm

NUX VOMICA

These dogs are withdrawn types, and don’t want attention. They are seeking warmth and are better with warmer fluids. They have a dry fatiguing cough, and are worse in the morning and after eating/drinking. They can get very fatigue by their cough, and can be irritable. Thirsty.

PULSATILLA

This dog is opposite to a Nux, as they want attention, and even more attention when they are sick. The cough here is worse when they are laying down. When they cough they might throw up, and there could be yellow mucus.  Elderly dogs might also leak urine when they cough.  Not very thirsty. And they want to seek cool places to lie down

A couple of more remedies :

DROSERA

The cough is whooping and spasmodic. It’s hard for them to catch their breath between coughs. Worse in the evening and after midnight. There can be some vomiting of water after coughing.

PHOSPHORUS

Cough is worse at night and when going from warm to cold air. The cough is hoarse and dry, and are often triggered by excitement, running around etc. There can be blood in the expectoration

BRYONIA

The cough is dry with little expectoration. The cough is better with warmer drinks and is worse coming from cold air to a warm room. They don’t want to move much, they prefer to keep quiet. Their mucus membranes are dry.

SPONGIA

They are better with warmer drinks or food. Have a constant, barking cough and is brought on by excitement.  The larynx is sensitive and the cough awakens him/her from sleep

HEPAR SULPH

The cough is loose-sounding with mucus. Sensitivity to wind and cold air, which can make the cough worse. Cold food and drinks make things worse as well. This remedy is usually reserved for more chronic treatment.  Can be some mucus in the lungs, trachea or bronchi.

CAUSTICUM

Has a hoarse and hollow cough.  Is better with cold water.  An older dog might leek urine when coughing. They have a generally weakness.

It’s not bad to give some nutritional supplement, like Vitamin C