Does your dog have a kennel cough?

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A number of animal shelters have experienced an outbreak of kennel cough in dogs over the past few months.

“I would like to think it’s just because of the weather. I mean like every time it gets hotter, ticks and fleas included, everything increases, ”said Jacob Cline, of the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.

“It’s just a disease that makes them cough a lot, the horn. It’s not necessarily deadly, but it’s really annoying when he’s walking dog to dog, ”said Savannah Reed, Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.

Kennel cough can be caused by many different infectious agents, viral and bacterial. The disease is airborne and highly contagious. Although it is common in kennels, it can be contracted anywhere. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat kennel cough easily, and it’s not life threatening.

“In fact, we are doing a lot to prevent it. Like I said, every time an animal enters it is immediately vaccinated. Even though this is an animal that an owner could pick up that had previously been vaccinated, it is simply our policy, ”said Reed.

Some veterinarians encourage pet owners to make sure the kennels where they board their dogs require the Bordetella vaccine.

“Our vet techs here and our vet will examine them, diagnose a kennel cough, and then they’ll be put on antibiotics,” Reed said.

Hope these tips can help keep your dog cough free. Other types of canine infectious diseases like kennel cough can also live on surfaces like toys and water bowls.

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About Chuck Keeton

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