How to treat pug kennel cough. Kennel cough in dogs - an infectious pathology

Infectious tracheobronchitis is a common condition known as kennel cough in dogs; how and how to treat such a contagious disease? After all, a four-legged friend can pick it up everywhere: from exhibitions to walking areas. It is because of the high degree of spread that it is very useful to know how to identify the infection and what to do after.

Of course, the most important sign of infection is a cough of varying severity. In special cases, it is able to continue until vomiting and resume after. As a rule, a sick animal experiences a sensation of a lump in the throat, so his cough is similar to trying to get rid of a foreign object.

To determine if the pet is choking, you need to look into his throat, carefully opening his mouth with his fingers. For reliability, you can use a flashlight and enlighten the throat. If this option is difficult to perform, it is recommended to give the dog his favorite treat as a test. She will not eat it if a foreign object is stuck in her throat.

In addition, tracheobronchitis has the following symptoms:

1. Vomiting. Sometimes the sounds made by the dog are mistaken for an attempt to vomit out something recently eaten. However, in reality, such manifestations often turn out to be a strong choking cough. Sometimes it reaches the point where the animal begins to vomit a clear liquid or white foam. However, if the substance contains digestive products, most likely the pet has problems with the stomach, and not the respiratory tract.
2. Depressed state. Often, kennel cough in dogs is not accompanied by additional symptoms and has little to no effect on their mood. But in rare cases, the animal becomes lethargic, begins to refuse food and seek the support of the owner, insistently demanding affection or at least close presence.

Also, a four-legged friend sometimes has a fever, mucous discharge from the nose appears, but in the absence of complications, a slight cough does not in the least prevent the pet from feeling healthy and cheerful.

Causes of infection

Enclosure cough in dogs is not in vain received such a name in the common people. It is easily transmitted to other individuals by airborne droplets, and even the old saliva of a sick animal on the cage floor can become a source of spread. If the pet meets on the street or indoors with an infected fellow, then after 5-7 days characteristic symptoms will appear. Thus, it will not be possible to fully protect your pet, because in such a case everything depends on the prudence of other owners. The owner of a sick dog should immediately isolate it from other individuals, since adult representatives of the species tolerate this disease worse.

Many pathogens are capable of provoking infection, but the main ones among them are plague, parainfluenza and adenovirus viruses (mainly type 1, since the theory regarding type 2 is rather doubtful). Some veterinarians believe that herpes is also involved. The main problem that sometimes prevents prescribing the right treatment lies in the high compatibility of the listed pathogens with other bacteria and viruses. For example, the formation of complex infections in tandem with staphylococcus often occurs.

Diagnostics and therapy

In addition, at the first sign of kennel cough, the animal should be isolated, even if there are no other representatives of the species in the apartment. The pet must be in the same room, while he needs good conditions of detention: high-quality ventilation (15-20 airings per day), a normal level of humidity without fluctuations, a stable air temperature and no stress will be required.

As a rule, this disease goes away on its own without human intervention, since the body is obliged to fight the virus on its own. However, if the animal has a prolonged increase in body temperature or the symptoms do not subside after 5 days, you will have to resort to the use of medications.

To relieve seizures, drugs based on hydrocodone (dosage: 0.25 mg/kg) or butorphanol (0.05-0.1 mg/kg) are usually used. These funds should be resorted to only for the relief of a protracted and severe cough, since the active substances can be addictive.

The use of antibiotics is useless unless there is a secondary bacterial infection. To determine its causative agent, you will need to conduct a scraping in the clinic, otherwise the treatment may not be effective enough. In this case, cephalosporins, chloramphenicol and tetracyclines are considered the most effective, but you should consult your doctor about which drug is better.

However, not everything is simple here either. Even choosing an antibiotic, you need to take care of the way it is taken. Orally administered drugs practically do not reach the bronchi, so the best solution would be to use a nebulizer. With its help, aerosol inhalation is carried out with a mixture of saline and kanamycin sulfate (250 mg). To increase efficiency, agents that expand the bronchi are used.

And most importantly, what the owner should remember: it is strictly forbidden to inject corticosteroids while taking powerful antibiotics!

Prevention

Among all possible measures, there is nothing better than timely vaccination. Only she can be hoped for if the owner and his healthy dog ​​were not lucky enough to meet an individual with pronounced signs of an aviary cough. Currently, there are drugs against most pathogens, that is, plague, parainfluenza and adenovirus. What is especially nice, some of them are available in the form of nasal drops, which give a higher level of protection compared to injections.

Although this disease is a minor problem for dogs, owners should be prudent and isolate their infected pets. After all, tracheobronchitis can become chronic and adversely affect the pet's show career, in addition, complications appear in some cases over time. Thus, knowing about the existence of such a sticky infection, pet owners must remember not only the characteristic symptoms and treatment prescribed by a specialist, but also methods that will stop the spread of the virus.

Kennel cough is an infectious disease that can be contracted by a dog through contact with a large number of other dogs. Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is an upper respiratory disease with a high risk of infection in dogs. The most common pathogens that cause kennel cough are parainfluenza virus, bordetella bronchiseptica and mycoplasma, adenovirus (types 1 and 2), reovirus (types 1, 2 and 3) and canine herpes virus.

Steps

Part 1

Learn about risk factors. Kennel cough is highly contagious. If your dog walks with other dogs in the park or has been in a kennel for a while, he has a high risk of contracting this disease.

Pay attention to cough. A dog infected with this infection may suddenly develop a cough of varying severity. This may be a weak cough or a painful paroxysmal cough, sometimes causing vomiting.

Vomiting. Just as people get a sore throat with the flu, a dog with kennel cough may experience vomiting. With this disease, vomiting may occur, which looks like choking attacks, but is actually a cough. You may also vomit a clear liquid that not is the result of indigestion.

Pay attention to the general condition of your pet. Some dogs with kennel cough are bothered by nothing more than a nasty cough. Other dogs may be lethargic and may refuse food.

Part 2

Isolate your dog. Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air. If you think your dog has kennel cough, it's important to isolate him from other dogs.

Take your dog to the vet. Do it as soon as possible. The veterinarian will make the correct diagnosis and tell you if it's really kennel cough and not some other more serious condition. In addition, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment.

Get antibiotics if needed. The veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics for your dog. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Take your dog with you to the bathroom while you shower (not in the shower itself), inhaling the steam can help calm a cough. Your dog must be in the bathroom for a few minutes, windows and doors must be closed. Five to ten minutes is plenty of time, but be careful not to burn your pet.

Give your dog a rest. As far as possible, keep your dog out of any strenuous activity.

Take cough medicine. Cough is one of the most important reflexes to protect the airways. If you try to eliminate the cough completely, you will make the dog's condition worse, as the mucus will build up in the chest, causing difficulty breathing. However, if your dog is coughing so much that he can't sleep at night, think about how you can help ease his condition.

Soften your throat. If your pet's throat is sore, you can give him a simple home remedy to help soothe the sore throat. Give your dog one tablespoon of honey and one teaspoon of lemon juice mixed together in warm water.

1. Strengthen your dog's immune system. To help your dog fight infection, ask your veterinarian to prescribe vitamins. Wild berries, peppermint, raw honey, eriodictyon felt may be used under the supervision of a veterinarian.

   • Although there is no scientific confirmation of the effectiveness of these funds, according to anecdotal evidence, they are of great benefit.
2. If you have multiple dogs, chances are that if one of your dogs gets sick, the others will get sick as well. Watch for symptoms and take immediate action.
3. Human medicines can have serious and even fatal side effects in pets. Before using any medicine intended for humans, consult your veterinarian first.
4. Dogs that have been in a kennel are at high risk of contracting kennel cough.

Detailed information about kennel cough (parainfluenza, infectious tracheobronchitis). We will touch on vaccination and treatment of kennel cough.

Let's talk about therapy first. The main thing here is the use of an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, since other antibiotics have practically no effect on infectious tracheobronchitis. In parallel with antimicrobial therapy, immunostimulants, antitussive drugs, etc. (maintenance therapy) are prescribed, since specific, or rather effective, antiviral parainfluenza treatment does not exist. The bacteriophage to Bordetella was also not found.

Nevertheless, the actions of therapy should be aimed at raising immunity. And here, in addition to the traditional ones, the preparations of the Heel and Helvet groups are indispensable. But a separate article will be devoted to them. The rest of the concomitant therapy is symptom-dependent and individual for each patient.

1. Doxycycline(Doxycycline). Assign inside after eating. For dogs less than 10 kg - 5 mg / kg / day, i.e. 1.5 mg / kg 2-3 times a day for 10-12 days. For dogs over 50 kg - 0.2 g per animal 2 times a day for 10-12 days. Infusions:
   • in / in 1-2 ampoules (0.1-0.2 g) in glucose 5%, or Reopoliglyukin (volume - 200 ml) - 200 ml in volume 2 times a day for animals 50-80 kg of weight - up to 5-7 days ;
   • 100 ml 2 times a day for animals weighing 15-30 kg - up to 5-7 days;
   • with a volume of 50 ml 2 times a day for animals up to 10 kg of weight - up to 5-7 days.
2. minocycline(MinocycUne). Assign inside after eating. For animals weighing 50-80 kg - 0.2-0.3 g 3 times a day - up to 5-10 days. For animals weighing 20-35 kg - 7-10 mg/kg 2-3 times a day - up to 5-10 days. For animals up to 10 kg of weight - 3-5 mg / kg 2-3 times a day - up to 5-10 days.
3. Oxytetracycline hydrochloride(Oxytetracyclinihydrochoridum), as well as oxytetracycline dihydrate(Oxytetracyclinidihydras). Assign inside after eating. 0.2-0.5 g 2-4 times a day for 7-12 days. Or injections p.k., v.m. 0.5-6 ml 1-2 times a day - 3-5 days.
4. Metacycline hydrochloride(Methacyclinum hydrochloridum) by mouth (before or after meals):
   • for animals weighing 50-80 kg - 0.3-0.6 g (daily dose), that is, 0.1-0.2 g 3 times a day - up to 5-10 days;
   • for animals weighing 20-35 kg - 7.5-15 mg / kg (daily dose), that is, 2.5-5 mg / kg 3 times a day - up to 5-10 days;
   • for animals up to 10 kg of weight - 3-5 mg / kg (daily dose), that is, 1-2.5 mg / kg 3 times a day - up to 5-10 days.

When using each of the four antibiotics above (which are selected individually by a specialist), a hepatoprotector, an immunostimulant, a probiotic and an enzyme preparation are prescribed.

Kennel cough vaccination:

• Asterion DHPPiLR- a new good vaccine;
• Nobivak(Nobivac) DHPPi, Biocan DHPPi+LR, Nobivac KS (Nobivac KS) - more indicative;
• Eurican DHPPi2 - L (Eurican DHPPi2 - L) is a complex vaccine, especially applicable for vaccination against type 2 parainfluenza.

In our opinion, the Nobivac KC parainfluenza vaccine is the best combination of price and quality.