Dog Care in Shelters
- 1. Defensive Handling
- 2. Why to Start a Dog Walking Program
- 3. The Deterioration of a Shelter Dog
- 4. Breaking Up Dog Fights in a Shelter Setting
- 5. Pre-Evaluation Safety S.C.A.N.
- 6. Kennel Cough
- 7. Checklist for Factors in the Assessment of Dangerousness in Perpetrators of Animal Cruelty
- 8. How to Set Up a Comfy Dog Kennel
- 9. Warning Signs for Loss of Quality of Life for Dogs in Shelters
Kennel Cough
Dr. Lila Miller, D.V.M., ASPCA
Canine Infectious
Tracheobronchitis
(Kennel Cough)
Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis (ITB), more commonly known as kennel cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs. When encountered in shelters, it is often seen as the canine equivalent of upper respiratory infections or URI in cats. It is common in dogs housed together in kennels, pet shops or shelters, hence its common name. It can infect all dogs, but affects puppies between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 months most severely. Kennel cough is characterized by the sudden appearance of a dry hacking cough in an otherwise healthy dog. It is a mild, self-limiting disease that usually gets better on its own without treatment. Despite the fact that most cases of kennel cough are not life threatening to the individual animal, many shelters consider kennel cough to be a serious threat to its canine residents because it spreads so readily. Shelters that have policies of not adopting out sick animals are compelled to either treat these coughing, but otherwise healthy dogs with antibiotics and cough syrups, making it expensive in terms of labor and medical costs, or euthanize them. The emotional costs to shelter personnel of euthanizing apparently healthy, adoptable animals that would otherwise get well on their own are immeasurable. Although kennel cough usually does not require treatment, it can result in more serious secondary complications such as bronchopneumonia that requires prolonged and expensive treatment. In these cases, it is sometimes confused with canine distemper, a much more deadly viral canine disease.
Cause
Kennel cough is seldom caused by a
single agent, but by a combination of bacterial and viral agents.
It is easier to deal with when caused by just one agent and in
those cases, the disease appears much more likely to be
self-limiting. However, because several agents are usually
involved, dogs may cough for over two to three weeks, and
sometimes as long as six. It is understandable why this is such a
problem for a shelter. The causative or contributing agents are
listed below:
Viral agents:
Canine Parainfluenza is the most common
Canine adenovirus 2 (CAV-2 or infectious canine hepatitis)
Canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1 or infectious
laryngotracheitis)
Bacterial agents:
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Other bacterial contributors to the severity of disease:
Streptococcus
Pasteurella
Pseudomonas
E. coli
Mycoplasma
Because they are the most prevalent causes of disease, the two organisms that will be the focus of this article will be Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and Parainfluenza virus.
Transmission
- Kennel cough
is most commonly seen in the summer and fall. The incubation
period is generally 3- 10 days.
- Animals as
young as 2 weeks of age may contract the
disease.
- Transmission
of both the Parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bacteria
occurs primarily by dog to dog contact or contact with
aerosolized droplets (airborne transmission)
- Infection
with Bordetella renders the respiratory tract more
susceptible to infection by other opportunistic
organisms.
- It may take 3 months to clear the bacteria from the respiratory tract.
- The virus may be shed for 2 weeks after infection.
Symptoms
There are two clinical syndromes
associated with kennel cough, an uncomplicated and complicated
one.
In general, dogs with uncomplicated kennel cough appear
clinically normal except for a dry hacking cough that has been
described as a "goose honk." These dogs will also frequently
retch up a white, frothy looking fluid. Gentle tracheal palpation
will cause these dogs to cough. There is no fever, loss of
appetite or lethargy. There may be a serous or clear nasal
discharge.
Complicated cases exist that are characterized by fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and respiratory problems in addition to the cough. These dogs may also have an ocular and nasal discharge. They may be confused with cases of canine distemper.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually accomplished by evaluation of the clinical signs and history. One of the most reliable methods of diagnosis is elicitation of a dry cough upon applying mild pressure to the trachea.
Treatment
- Although
treatment of uncomplicated kennel cough is usually not
necessary, antibiotics are frequently prescribed to reduce
the chances of development of a secondary bacterial infection
and they may actually shorten the length of time the dog
coughs. The most commonly used antibiotics include Clavamox,
trimethoprim sulfonamide and doxycycline.
- Short-term
use (3-4 days) of low doses of steroids may lessen the
severity of the inflammation of the trachea and hence the
coughing.
- Although
they would seem to make sense, over the counter cough syrups
seem to have little value. Cough suppressants may be used to
reduce the coughing, especially if it keeps the owner and/or
dog up at night, but their use should be limited. They should
not be used at all in cases of pneumonia.
- Dogs with
kennel cough that are being walked should wear harnesses
rather than collars to avoid putting pressure on the trachea.
Dogs that get excited or exert pressure on their neck from
pulling on a collar will cough.
- Nebulizers
utilizing sterile saline may be helpful. In cases where the
animal is not responding to therapy, it may be necessary to
add antibiotics or steroids to the solution.
- Complicated cases may require fluids, antibiotics and other supportive treatment aimed at alleviating the symptoms.
Prevention
Injectable or intranasal vaccines to protect against ITB are available. In shelters where kennel cough is a real problem, an intranasal vaccine may be more useful. The maternal antibodies that often interfere with the effectiveness of injectable vaccines do not affect intranasal vaccines. They also stimulate a faster immune response, and can be used in animals as young as 2 weeks of age. The main drawback is they can cause coughing and a nasal discharge that cannot be easily differentiated from true clinical disease. Each shelter must decide for itself which product and vaccination protocol to use based on the cost, ability to administer the vaccine properly, ability to distinguish between clinical disease and vaccine induced disease, euthanasia policies, etc.
Disease control measures
- Disinfect
all cages and equipment with bleach, diluted 1:32 parts with
water, chlorhexidine or benzalkonium.
- Make certain
the shelter has adequate ventilation of 12-20 air exchanges
per hour.
- Quarantine
incoming dogs for 10 -14 days if possible, but if unable,
make certain to isolate coughing dogs
immediately.
- Utilize
foster care to get coughing dogs out of the facility. Foster
caregivers should not have other dogs (or make certain they
are properly vaccinated), small children, elderly or immune
compromised people in their household- see Special
Note.
- Always wash
hands after handling all animals. Most diseases are spread by
contaminated objects (fomites) in addition to direct contact
with an infected animal.
- Launder all
bedding with hot water, soap and bleach and discard all toys
that do not go home with the dog.
- Consider
adopting out dogs with mild kennel cough with medication and
full instructions to owners as to what to expect, how to
treat and when to seek follow up veterinary care. (See
special note below)
SPECIAL NOTE:
Bordetella is now considered to be a zoonotic disease. Although
the risk of getting sick from contact with a pet is small, it
must be considered. It is most easily transmitted to very young
children, the elderly and people who are immune compromised. Cats
may also be susceptible.
Courtesy of
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128-6804
212-876-7700
www.aspca.org
Next in
For Shelters: Dog Care in Shelters:
Checklist for Factors in the Assessment of Dangerousness in Perpetrators of Animal Cruelty
EMAIL
SHARE
