Coughing & Sneezing in Your Pet
On the face of it, a cough or a sneeze is almost never a medical emergency, but in some cases, especially with a dog, a cough or a sneeze can be a sign of a serious problem. In an overwhelming majority of cases, a dog that has a cough or a sneeze is usually a minor problem. It should, however, be left to a qualified veterinarian to determine your dog's case. This is the advantage of All Care Animal Clinic, which is an animal hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Coughing & Sneezing: What's the Cause?
Coughing & sneezing in a dog can be indicative of a serious problem. In fact, virtually any infectious disease that occurs in the upper respiratory system of your dog or cat can cause these respiratory problems. Including maladies such as kennel cough from the bordetella bacteria, the distemper virus, or another type of infection (such as feline herpesvirus).
Kennel cough is very common and is called what it is because it is most commonly passed, animal to animal, in places like kennels, doggie parks, grooming establishments, pet shops, and many more. It is also worth to note that with kennel cough, there is often a distinct and strong cough with a honking sound. It is important to remember that although dogs cannot transmit kennel cough to humans, it is not uncommon that kennel cough is transmitted to other dogs via contact with humans. In other words, despite the fact that your dog might not come into contact with another dog, if you somehow acquire the virus on your clothing and take it home to your dog, your dog is just as susceptible to catching kennel cough as they would if they came into direct contact with the other animal themselves.
Coughing & Sneezing: What's the Treatment?
Since coughing and sneezing can be caused by a number of problems, it is critical that when these symptoms start, you take your pet to a veterinarian such as All Care Animal Clinic for an accurate diagnosis and to begin treatment. It might be true that the cough or sneeze could be caused by a simple airborne irritant, but it could also be a much more serious matter. If you are unable to take your pet to a veterinarian immediately, try to keep them confined and calm until you can. Once you do get your pet to a vet, they will likely want to look at your pet's medical history, perhaps do an examination, order laboratory tests, and sometimes even perform X-rays to determine the source of the problem. After these procedures, your veterinarian will be able to determine the source of the problem and prescribe proper treatment.