Kennel Cough and Canine Influenza
Kennel cough and canine influenza have been very prominent in the Chicago area within the past year. These diseases are spread primarily by direct contact or via airborne transmission (coughing, barking & sneezing). Bordetella (Kennel Cough) is characterized by a dry, hacking cough with no fever. Canine influenza can cause mild to severe symptoms with or without a fever. If your pet is boarded or goes to a grooming facility, it is highly recommended that your pet receive a Bordetella vaccination every six months and the flu vaccine yearly. As with human respiratory diseases there are many different infectious agents and no vaccine is guaranteed to protect your pet against all. If a pet has been exposed to either disease, just as with humans, symptoms may not appear for several days up to one week. For more information, click on the Canine Influenza link and visit DogFlu.com, an informative resource on all things canine influenza-related.