Understanding Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is an illness that often goes misunderstood by pet owners. This troublesome virus can make a dog feel very sick, and it's quite contagious, too. If you haven't vaccinated your pup against kennel cough and feel like you don't need to, then check out this simple guide to find out why your dog might be at more of a risk than you think.
Why It's Called That
Kennel cough obviously takes its name from the kennels that dogs are kept in at a veterinarian's office or boarding facility. The main reason that this illness is called kennel cough is because it's known to spread through dog kennels at a rapid pace.
It's important to understand, though, that it's not due to negligence on the part of the dog kennel or anything like that. Kennel cough spreads quickly through kennels because it's a naturally contagious disease and dogs are kept in close quarters while they're in kennels. So if one dog has it in a kennel, many are likely to contract it as well.
What It Does
Kennel cough, as the name implies, often causes coughing in dogs. This is because this illness causes inflammation in the throat and lungs. Unfortunately, contracting this illness also make your dog more susceptible to catching a secondary infection.
Where Your Dog Can Get It
The thing is, you dog doesn't need to stay in a kennel or even go to a boarding facility in order to get kennel cough. Kennel cough can be spread by any dog, anywhere, at any time while they have the virus responsible for it. This means that your dog could potentially pick up kennel cough during walks, at dog parks, or while being dog-sitted with other dogs.
Getting Protected
The good news is, getting protected against kennel cough is as easy as taking your pet to the veterinarian. Your vet can give your dog a vaccination that will protect them from getting kennel cough for up to a year. This will ensure that whether your dog encounters another pup with kennel cough - regardless of where it happens - that your dog will be protected from getting sick.
Kennel cough is an extremely contagious condition that can be protected against if you have your pet vaccinated. Why put your pet through the risk of developing a serious condition that could leave them feeling sick and weak for days? Get the pet vaccinations that make the difference in protecting your pup.
