Kennel Cough

While kennel cough often goes away on its own within seven to ten days, it can also get worse. In some cases it can lead to pneumonia. Some pets will require a cough suppressant plus antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug. One way to tell if your dog needs a vet is to take his temperature. Coat a rectal thermometer with petroleum jelly and insert it gently into his rectum and hold it there for two to three minutes. A dog's normal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. Anything higher could mean the illness is serious and requires veterinarian care. If your pet is coughing is acccompanied by a loss of appetite, you should probably call your vet right away. Like people, dogs may simply cough now and then, if for no other reason than because they have a tickle in the throat. Vets have a simple trick for distunguishing a harless harumphh from a possibly serious infection like kennel cough. If you press gently on the front of the dog's throat, he will go into a coughing spasm if he has kennel cough. The virus particularly likes to irritate the lining of the trachea. If your pet does not have kennel cough, However, pressing gently on her throat probably won't make her cough.