How Do I Cure Kennel Cough

"How do I cure kennel cough?" That's what many dog owners ask when their pets come down with what appears to be a common cold. Get tips on what you can do to make your dog more comfortable.

Hearing a dog owner ask, "How do I cure kennel cough?" can be a little disheartening because there is actually no immediate cure for this illness. For the most part, any pet that contracts this virus will have to endure the hacking cough, runny nose and gagging until the respiratory infection runs its course.

Naturally, this is hard for any dog lover to bear. When our pets are ill or injured, we want to fix the problem as quickly as possible and ease their suffering. The good news is that, although there isn't a quick-fix cure for kennel cough, there are steps you can take to ease symptoms and keep the infection from progressing into a serious case of pneumonia.

A simple case of kennel cough will usually clear up on its own within two to three weeks without any intervention. The problem is, you're taking a bit of a gamble if you elect not to take your dog to your vet for an exam.

If you're lucky, you're dog won't develop any complications. However, once the immune system is engaged in fighting the virus, opportunistic bacteria have the opportunity to move in and set up house keeping. Once this happens, your dog is subject to deeper bronchial infections and life-threatening pneumonia.

Many owners will choose to visit their vet, and this is often well worth the trip. Your vet is able to confirm or rule out that your pet has a viral respiratory infection, and also test for the presence of other respiratory bugs. In many cases, a vet will prescribe antibiotics in order to treat a secondary bacterial infection, or prevent one from developing. While this doesn't kill off the original virus, it can dramatically improve your dog's symptoms.

Dog owners can offer additional home care to make their sick pets more comfortable. Steam treatments can be a valuable aid in the fight against a respiratory infection.

You can create your own temporary sauna by running your shower on its hottest setting and letting steam build up with the bathroom door closed. Once there is good water vapor build up in the room, bring your dog in, and let him breath in the steam for a good twenty to thirty minutes.

The steam actually helps the bronchial tubes open up as it simultaneously loosens the phlegm clogging your dog's airways. As a result, your dog is able to bring up more phlegm when he coughs, and phlegm removal is essential to helping him feel better.

Be sure to towel off your dog very well to prevent him from feeling damp and chilled after the treatment.

Operating a home vaporizer is another way to help your dog breathe easier. Place the unit near the area where your dog sleeps, but not so close that he might burn himself on it or feel tempted to chew on the cord. Add your favorite children's mentholated vaporizer solution to the reservoir and switch on the unit. The mentholated steam will an have an effect similar to the shower sauna treatment, and it may just help your dog rest easier through the night.

Certain homeopathic remedies are believed to strengthen the immune system so it can fight off the infection on its own.

Some of these remedies include:

• Adding a few drops of Colloidal Silver to your dog's fresh drinking water
• Administering a few drops of Echinacea directly into your dogs mouth three times a day until symptoms subside
• Giving your dog Bryonia tablets three times a day

Unless your dog is diabetic, you can also give him half a teaspoon of honey two to three times a day to soothe his irritated throat.

It's also very important that your dog's surrounding environment is healthy.

• Keep your dog free from cold drafts and damp floors.
• Refrain from smoking in the house.
• Scrupulously clean the areas your dog comes in contact with the most to limit his exposure to germs.
• Clean off your furnace or air conditioner filter to remove more dust from the air.
• Frequently clean and refresh his food and water bowls.
• Wash all of his toys in hot soapy water and rinse well.

Kennel cough is highly infectious, so if one of your dog's develops an infection the rest will likely follow.

To help prevent a spread of the infection:

• Try to isolate your sick dog from the others as much as possible.
• Feed and water him from his own bowls and don't allow your other dogs access.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after every encounter with the sick dog. In fact, wash your hands before you touch him to prevent transferring opportunistic bacteria.

Only time can overcome a viral respiratory infection, but at least you now know of other ways to help your dog through the illness. The next time another dog enthusiast asks you, "How do I cure kennel cough?", you can pass this advice along.

• Beagle Dog Christmas Ornaments
• Funny Halloween Dog Pictures
• Miniature Teacup Chihuahuas
• Name That Dog Breed Quiz
• Choosing a Puppy Quiz

• Signs Of Dog Pregnancy
• Dog Anal Glands
• Sick Dog Symptoms
• Female Dog Heat Cycle
• Dog Heat Cycle and Breeding

• Category:Dog Health
• My Dog Has a Cold
• Question About Coughing Dog
• Puppy with Kennel Cough
• Kennel Cough