Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Does your dog or cat appear to have a cold? While your pets can't catch the cold you got from your neighbor's preschooler, they are susceptible to a similar illness commonly known as kennel cough. Keep reading to learn how to prevent, recognize and treat this illness in your pet.
Kennel cough is the common name for infectious tracheobronchitis, a highly infectious respiratory illness that can affect both dogs and cats. One of the most common causes for kennel cough is bordetella; it affects pets in a similar manner to the common cold in humans. Like a cold, it can lead to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia, if left untreated. It is typically caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is spread through airborne particles as well as direct contact.
Not only is this illness highly contagious, but it can be transmitted across different species. Your cat and dog give this illness to one another as well as to you and the other humans in your household, although the chances of this happening are slim. Regardless, a sick pet should be kept away from very young children, the elderly and anyone in the household with a compromised immune system.
Besides being spread through coughing, sneezing and direct contact, the bordetella bacteria can also be contracted from contaminated surfaces. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after handling your pet, as well as his food and water dishes, bedding and toys.
The illness affects dogs and cats slightly differently, but they can share certain signs. Keep an eye out for these clues:
Although this is usually a self-limiting illness, meaning that it usually clears up on its own with plenty of rest, it's important to have your pet checked by a veterinarian if you notice any signs. One reason is that severe cases may require treatment with antibiotics to prevent the condition from progressing.
The most important reason to see the vet is that these signs could indicate a more serious illness, such as influenza, asthma, other respiratory infections or heart disease. It's safer for your pet to let the vet provide the diagnosis rather than trying to diagnose it on your own.
Young pets may need several visits in their first year for vaccinations. Adult pets generally benefit from annual check-ups, while senior or special-needs pets might require more frequent visits.
For mild cases, your vet will typically prescribe plenty of rest and separation from other pets and any immunocompromised family members. Your vet may prescribe a series of antibiotics if there is any concern that a secondary infection might occur, or if an infection is the root cause for the kennel cough.
For severe coughing, your pet might also be prescribed pet-safe cough medication, but under no circumstances should a pet ever be given over-the-counter cough or cold medications intended for humans. It's also important to use a harness rather than a leash and collar combination on a dog with kennel cough in order to prevent damage or irritation to the trachea, which could make his cough worse.
A vaccine for bordetella is available for cats and dogs and is generally recommended if your pet is going to be exposed to a large number of strange pets. If you plan to board your dog at a kennel or place him in doggy daycare, a bordetella vaccine will typically be required.
However, the vaccine is not 100 percent effective. The best prevention, says PetWave, is to practice good hygiene and to keep new pets from coming into contact with neighbors' or established household pets for several weeks after entering your home.https://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Kennel-Cough/Causes.aspx
The good news is that this illness is usually no more serious for pets than the common cold is for us, although there are exceptions. Just as a cold can be serious for an immunocompromised person, kennel cough can be hard on pets who already have serious illnesses. So, check with your vet if your fur baby seems to have the sniffles or a persistent cough. Chances are, what your pet needs most is plenty of rest and TLC.
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Learn how the science of predictive biology plays a role in formulating your pet's food to interact and work with your pet's biological process.
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.