| If you plan to board your Chihuahua, | | | | should not try to suppress the cough. |
| enter him into a dog show, or enroll him | | | | The dog or Chihuahua needs to get phlegm |
| into puppy school where there will be a | | | | out of its system. Clearing this phlegm |
| lot of dogs around it is probably a good | | | | out is the key to recovery from the |
| idea to vaccinate your Chihuahua against | | | | entire mess of infection. Therefore, do |
| kennel cough. | | | | not give your dog any kind of cough |
| Kennel cough is a highly contagious | | | | suppressant. The coughing clears the |
| respiratory disease. The disease is | | | | phlegm he needs to rid from his system. |
| thought to be caused by bacteria called | | | | Your little Chihuahua may become quite |
| Bordatella. In general kennel cough | | | | uncomfortable as intense coughing can be |
| vaccines are not necessary for house dog | | | | painful. You will need to limit activity |
| Chihuahuas that have little contact with | | | | to avoid "intense coughing episodes." If |
| other dogs. The greatest risk is if your | | | | he progresses to an infection, he |
| Chihuahua is in any of the above | | | | probably will limit his own activity and |
| mentioned situations. | | | | will start to lie around acting as if he |
| If you need quick protection ask your | | | | is sick and at this point he definitely |
| vet about the intranasal (inhaled | | | | is quite ill. |
| through the nose) vaccine. This type is | | | | If you have other dogs in the house, |
| also best for more immediate pet contact | | | | kennel cough is quite contagious and |
| situations. The other type of kennel | | | | they will probably get kennel cough too. |
| cough vaccines is an injectable vaccine. | | | | To try and avoid this you can separate |
| What age is safe to vaccinate for kennel | | | | everyone and wash your hands after |
| cough? You can vaccinate as early as 4 | | | | contact with each dog. Use bleach to |
| weeks of age. Annual and sometimes | | | | clean areas where your sick Chihuahua |
| bi-annual boosters are available and may | | | | has been. |
| be necessary. This will depend upon your | | | | Not all coughs are "kennel cough." If |
| situation and your personal vet's | | | | your Chihuahua starts coughing and |
| protocol. | | | | continues for more than 2 or 3 days |
| Symptoms of kennel cough: | | | | without signs of improvement it is wise |
| Â-Bouts of high pitched, honk-like | | | | to take him to the vet for a definitive |
| coughing for at least 2 weeks; | | | | diagnosis. Also, if you see secondary |
| Â-Some dogs may vomit that consists of | | | | signs of illness in your Chihuahua such |
| large amounts of phlegm. | | | | as lack of appetite, fever, blood in |
| With such a horrible sounding cough you | | | | phlegm or difficulty with breathing take |
| would think your little Chihuahua would | | | | him to the vet for an appropriate |
| be just lying around all day and night. | | | | assessment and treatment as soon as |
| This is not the usual scenario with | | | | possible. |
| kennel cough. During the infection dogs | | | | It is important to not take your |
| generally stay active and don't feel or | | | | Chihuahua into situations where there |
| behave "sick." | | | | are other dogs if he is diagnosed with |
| There is no cure for kennel cough. | | | | kennel cough. All dogs are susceptible |
| Prevention is the best way to handle the | | | | to the kennel cough. It is quite |
| disease. Kennel cough will usually clear | | | | contagious. There is no one breed of toy |
| up in a couple of week even without | | | | dog that is more susceptible to |
| medication. Dog owners which include the | | | | acquiring the kennel cough. It is |
| little Chihuahua owners should be aware | | | | therefore advisable to keep him home |
| of possible secondary infections, which | | | | from puppy school and all other |
| may result in pneumonia. These secondary | | | | situations in which there will be any |
| infections are the real concern behind | | | | other breed of dog around. |
| preventing kennel cough. If pneumonia | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the |
| sets in antibiotics may be necessary to | | | | resource box. |
| clear the infection. At this point you | | | | |