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 Kennel Cough
Canine infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in dogs. Fortunately,
many of the cases are not serious, resolving on their own in 1 to 2 weeks. But because some dogs develop life-threatening complications, you should take precautions to prevent your pooch from becoming infected with this highly contagious disease.
Kennel cough can be caused by a number of different airborne bacteria (such as Bordetella bronchiseptica) and viruses (such as canine parainfluenza) or a mycoplasma (an organism somewhere between a virus and a bacteria). Typically, more than one of these pathogens (disease-causing agents) must bombard the dog at once to trigger illness. Such a multifaceted attack is most likely to occur when a dog spends time in close quarters with many other dogs. Dogs that attend dog shows, travel frequently, or stay at kennels have a higher risk of developing kennel cough than do dogs that stay at home most of the time.
The primary sign of kennel cough is a dry-sounding, spasmodic cough caused by pathogens that induce inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (air passages into the lungs). At the end of a coughing spell, a dog will often retch and cough up a white foamy discharge. Some dogs also develop conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane), and a nasal discharge. Affected dogs usually remain active and alert and continue to eat well. But if you suspect your dog has kennel cough, isolate it from other dogs and call you veterinarian.
 Your veterinarian can typically diagnose kennel cough from a physical exam and history. The cough is very characteristic and can be easily elicited by massaging the dog’s larynx or trachea.
But if the dog is depressed; feverish; expelling a thick yellow or green discharge from its nose; or making abnormal lung sounds, your veterinarian may want to perform diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) chest x-ray, and laboratory analysis of the microorganisms inhabiting your dog’s airways. These tests can help determine whether the dog has developed pneumonia or another infectious illness such as canine distemper.
Immunization can be an important part of a kennel-cough prevention program and is recommended.
But since the illness is caused by multiple organisms, you should focus on minimizing your dog’s exposure to the disease-causing organisms themselves. Don’t share your dog’s toys or food and water bowls with unfamiliar dogs. And if your dog is in an indoor kennel or show, make sure the indoor area is adequately ventilated so airborne organisms are transferred outside.
If your dog is diagnosed with kennel cough, your veterinarian will likely prescribe an antibiotic to help prevent any secondary bacterial infection and a cough suppressant. We have found in those persistent cases of kennel cough, the use of a relatively new antibiotic, azithromycin, to be effective. This medication is very effective in the treatment of the mycoplasmal forms of tracheobronchitis. Again, before any treatment regimen
is administered, it is imperative that a proper veterinary examination and appropriate diagnostics be performed.
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Common Intestinal Parasites
Routine fecal exams will detect intestinal parasites before they cause any loss of condition or serious disease in your pet.
Roundworms
 Ascarids, also known as roundworms, can infect both dogs and cats. As the name implies, they are long round white worms. The three routes of infestation are directly from mother to pups via the placenta or the milk, indirectly by consuming a rodent that has roundworms encysted in the muscle, and finally by ingestion of the roundworm eggs. Typically, a pet walks in an area that has had the eggs deposited in feces. Later, the pet licks its feet ingesting the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the larvae (baby worms) migrate through the liver, lungs, and the adults live in the small intestine. These worms rob nutrition from the pet, causing diarrhea, and in young animals they can block the intestines. There is a zoonotic potential, or risk of human infestation, when humans contact either eggs and have contact with their mouth or when larva migrate through the skin, especially the feet. Children are most susceptible. This is why it is important to use good hand washing after handling animals or their feces and to pick up your dog or cats stool as soon as deposited.
Hookworms
 This is a parasite which can infect both dogs and cats. There are several routes of infection. After the eggs are passed in the feces, they hatch into larvae. Animals may swallow the larvae to become infected or the larvae can actually penetrate the skin to infect the animal. The larvae can also be passed in the milk of the nursing mother to her young. The adult worm lives in the small intestine where it drinks blood. This worm can cause anemia (low red blood cell count) which in very young animals often is fatal. Hookworms also cause diarrhea and weight loss. This parasite also has zoonotic potential as the larvae can penetrate human skin. The risk of human infection is low but the risk can be made even lower by not walking barefoot in areas where animals defecate. Also, always use good hand washing after handling animals or their excrement.
Whip worms
 Only dogs are susceptible to this parasite, becoming infected when they ingest whip worm eggs. The mature worm lives in the large intestines causing colitis (irritation to the colon), diarrhea, and blood loss. Dogs with whip worms frequently have loose stool, a good appetite, but cannot gain or maintain their weight. The eggs of this worm can remain viable in the soil for years, so reinfection tends to be a real problem. Most heartworm preventatives can be used to help prevent reinfection.
Tapeworms
Dogs and cats are both susceptible to tapeworms. Animals acquire this worm by ingesting rodents which have tapeworm larvae in their muscle, or by ingesting fleas which carry tapeworm larvae. Owner's will notice tapeworm segments on their pet's hair around the anus or on the stool.
Preventative Measures
- Routine fecal examinations by your veterinary hospital.
- Cleaning up and disposing of your pets feces immediately.
- Good hand washing for the owner.
- Monthly preventative medicines to help prevent hookworms, roundworms,
tapeworms and whip worms.
- Intestinal parasites are easily diagnosed and are very treatable, but if they are undetected or ignored, they can cause your pet loss of condition, disease, and even death.
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Things Dogs Have to Remember
 I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff.
I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm lying under the coffee table.
I will not roll my toys behind the fridge.
I must shake the rainwater out of my fur BEFORE entering the house.
I will not eat the cats' food, before or after they eat it.
I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc.
"Kitty box crunchies" are not food.
I will not chew my human's toothbrush and not tell them.
When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it's raining outside.
We do not have a doorbell. I will not bark each time I hear one on TV.
I will not steal my Mom's underwear and dance all over the back yard with it.
The sofa is not a face towel. Neither are Mom & Dad's laps.
My head does not belong in the refrigerator.
I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Mom's driver's license and car registration.
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