Treating Kennel Cough

Treating kennel cough at home using natural remedies is the preferred choice of many dog parents since kennel cough usually is not so serious and, instead of using strong medications such as antibiotics, natural remedies are milder and safer. Learn more about the causes and symptoms, and how to use herbs and other nutritional supplements to treat canine kennel cough.

Kennel cough, medically known as tracheobronchitis, is an upper respiratory disease in dogs.

Your dog can develop kennel cough if he has inhaled viral (e.g. parainfluenza) or bacterial particles (e.g. Bordetella bronchiseptica). Kennel cough is contagious in dogs.

Fortunately, most cases of canine cough are self-limiting and not serious and the dog will get over the cough in 1 to 3 weeks. However, it may take longer if the dog is older or is already weakened by some other health issues.

Parainfluenza virus is the most common virus that causes kennel cough in dogs. This virus will cause mild symptoms lasting less than 6 days. Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common bacteria that causes kennel cough. A dog infected with the bacteria usually shows symptoms 2-14 days after exposure, and the symptoms will last around 10 days.

Kennel cough usually affects stressed young dogs, especially those with a weak immune system.

Dogs with a strong immune system do not easily get infected even if they inhale bacterial or viral particles because their respiratory tracts have a healthy protective mucus lining. However, the mucus lining can be weakened by factors such as extreme cold, pollution (e.g. from dust, cigarette smoke, etc.), and stress (e.g. prolonged stay at kennels). Particularly vulnerable are those dogs cooped up in boarding kennels, pet shops, hospitals, etc. Therefore, if your dog stays home most of the time, it is less likely that she will be affected.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

Dogs suffering from mild cases of kennel cough usually remain active and alert, but will show the following signs:

Dry, hacking or "honking" cough
Gagging or retching at the end of a coughing spell
Sometimes a clear watery discharge from the eyes and nose

In more severe cases, the dog will show additional symptoms such as:

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Treating Kennel Cough

If unfortunately your dog is infected and is developing a cough, it is best to let the condition run its course. However, herbs, essential oils, and vitamins can be used to help your dog feel more comfortable and less stressed out.

For mild cases of kennel cough, consider using the following remedies which are effective in treating kennel cough:

Use this excellent natural product - PetAlive KC-Defense for Pet's Kennel Cough and Respiratory Infections to treat the cough and infection. This is an herbal and homeopathic remedy combo that contains the herb Plaintain (Plantago lanceolata) which is well known for treating dry coughs. It is also an effective expectorant and it helps to expel mucus build up in the lungs. Echinacea is also one of the ingredients in the combo. Echinacea is well known for its immune support function. The combo also contains various homeopathic remedies effective for treating kennel cough, clearing mucus from the chest, treating asthma, bronchitis and even pneumonia which may result from secondary infection.
Vitamins are also essential in treating kennel cough. Specifically, vitamin C which is antiviral and vitamin E which supports the immune system are effective in treating kennel cough.
Another natural immune booster is oregano oil. This powerful oil is antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial. I always take capsules of this oil when I feel I am coming down with a cold. It works like magic! Oregano oil has a very strong taste though, and the best way to feed it to dogs is to pinch open a capsule and squeeze the oil on top of the dog food.
To soothe the honking cough, try giving your dog some manuka honey. Not only is manuka honey soothing for the throat, it is also antibacterial and antiviral and can speed up recovery from a case of kennel cough.
Finally, use essential oils to help your dog relax and breathe easier. Use essential oils that have antibacterial and antiviral properties, such as lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus. Also add a few drops of chamomile oil for its calming effect. Use them in a vaporizer or diffuser in the room where you dog rests.

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Treating Kennel Cough - Prevention

Dogs that have weak immune systems are more likely to get infectious respiratory disease such as kennel cough. It follows that preventive measure should be taken to strengthen our dogs' immune systems so that they are less susceptible to infectious diseases.

Immune-boosting herbs such as echinacea and astragalus are great at enhancing our dogs' immune systems.

A great natural product is PetAlive Immunity and Liver Support.

This formula contains Echinacea, which is known for its immune-stimulating properties. In addition, it contains Ashwagandha which is a tonic herb that is good for the whole body system; Dandelion which contains a host of minerals and vitamins; and Milk Thistle which is beneficial to the liver and detoxification. Overall, this formula improves and strengthens the immune system, and helps in detoxification of the body systems.

How about vaccination? You may ask. Should we vaccinate our dogs to prevent kennel cough?

Since most cases of kennel cough are self-limiting, most holistic veterinarians are of the opinion that vaccination is not necessary - especially if your dog is healthy and is not frequently boarded at kennels. Over-vaccination can do more harm to our dogs and as such we should only limit vaccination to the bare minimum.

Like any other diseases, the way of prevention is to keep your dog's immune system strong. This can be done by feeding your dog a natural, healthy diet with supplements, lots of exercise and TLC!