What is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough is a respiratory illness in dogs that is similar to a chest cold in humans.  As a form of bronchitis, it can be caused either by a virus or bacteria. It gets the name “kennel cough” because of its highly contagious nature—and because kennels are often crowded, many dogs catch the infliction there. Fortunately, kennel cough is a fairly mild affliction—with a little TLC, your dog should feel better in no time.

Symptoms

The main symptom of kennel cough is a dry cough.  Some dogs also have symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose—just like us when we catch a cold. Usually, you won’t notice much of a change in your dog’s overall health, apart from the cough. For example, they will usually still have an appetite, be able to enjoy daily walks and other everyday activities. There may be some phlegm, but this is not usually cause for concern.

How can my dog catch kennel cough? 

Kennel cough is very contagious, so your dog is quite likely to catch kennel cough if it comes into contact with his infected furry friends. Because of this, dogs infected with kennel cough should be isolated from other pets.

As the name would suggest, many dogs develop kennel cough in kennels—crowded, poorly ventilated spaces will increase your dog’s chances of catching kennel cough.

Treatments

Luckily, most cases of kennel cough will clear up over time; however, there are ways to help ease your dog through its bout of sickness. For example, using a vaporizer can be a great, natural way to soothe your dog’s breathing passage. It will help with the symptoms of kennel cough and help your dog be more comfortable—the vapor will help suppress your dog’s coughs.

There are also prescription cough suppressants and antibiotics out there to help your dog return to full health more quickly—contact your local vet if you are interested in such options. 

You can also get your dog vaccinated—either through injection, or by nasal spray—against kennel cough. Unfortunately, vaccines are not a guarantee against sickness; much like the flu, there are so many strains that a vaccination might not protect your dog from falling ill.

How long will it last, and should you see a vet?

Kennel cough will typically run its course within three or so weeks. Sometimes older dogs, or dogs with more compromised immune systems, can take up to six weeks to fully recover. 

Be sure to keep a close eye on your dog. If you feel that the infection is taking too long to clear up—the bronchitis form of kennel cough can develop into pneumonia. It should also be noted that if your dog is showing additional symptoms (such as rapid breathing, a decreased appetite or listlessness), you should make sure and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Kennel cough, though uncomfortable for your dog, is generally not a dangerous affliction.  Plus, there are lots of ways (vaporizers, antibiotics, vaccinations. etc.) to help both prevent and treat kennel cough. Get well soon, Lassie!

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Southern California whose writing specializes in pet health, travel, vacationing and fitness. She has two Great Danes of her own that she treats with vaccinations before they take a visit to a kennel. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook today!

Are you constantly wishing that your pup could accompany you on vacation?  Well, they can!  Many hotels are pet-friendly, and if you travel by car or van, transportation’s a cinch! Read on if you want to include your loyal best friend!

Where to go with your pet? 

Bringing your pet along can make a lot of differences in your trip planning—if you’re bringing your dog, you don’t want to leave him or her alone in the hotel (or worse, the car) all day long. Pick a place where your pup can get involved. For example, if you have a bigger dog, pick a location where you can go on hikes through canyons or on walks through the woods. You may also choose a location with a dog-friendly beach!  You want fun for the whole family, including Rex.

Finding a place to stay: making sure your accommodations pet-friendly

Now that you’ve decided on a location, it’s time to find accommodations. Luckily, there are hotels out there that allow dogs. Some even have special arrangements available for those with pets. For example, my family once stayed at the Windmill Suites in Ashland, which was a very nice pet-friendly hotel. They had grounds you could walk your dogs in, with pooper-scoopers and bags at the ready every few yards. It was actually quite nice to run into fellow travelers and their pets on my daily morning walk with my dog.

You can also look into sites like Airbnb.com or GuestDoor.com, which offer vacation rentals and exchanges that often provide more flexible options for pet-owners. While not every rental will accept pets, those that do might provide better amenities, such as larger accommodations or even backyards that will give your pooch the space he needs!

Choosing Transportation

For transportation, you have a few options. With a dog, car travel is usually easiest; however,  before you embark on a three-day road trip, make sure your dog doesn't get car sick—that can be a nightmare.

Depending on the size of your dog, you have a few options for flights. If your dog is small enough, you can stow them under your seat. Unfortunately, this only generally works for toy breeds. My mutt (who weighs in at about 20 pounds) is too big for this option. If you’re in the same boat as me, your dog will have to ride in the cargo of the plane.

Unfortunately, most modes of public transportation in the U.S. don’t allow dogs (with the exception of service dogs).  Fortunately, some public transportation in other countries is a little more lax—for example, when I lived in Germany, you could buy a subway ticket for your dog.

Training Your Pet for the Trip

There are a couple of basic demands that your pet should know before you embark on your journey—“come” and “stay” are both important. In an unfamiliar environment, you want to make sure that your dog will stay obedient.  With all of the new sights (and smells), your pet might get disoriented.

You may also want to teach your dog to “go” (yes, that kind of “go”) on cue. This can really eliminate wait time. If your pet is trained to go on cue (for example, “go potty”), you can shave time off of a lengthy road trip.

Packing for your pet

What to bring?  The essentials, of course—their food, leash, collar and tags.  If you have some room, you might want to bring along the pet bed. This can help them acclimate to strange new environments—it gives them a little bit of familiarity and can really help them feel more comfortable.

So there you have it—all you need for a successful trip with your best friend!

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in So California who writes on everything from gardening and home improvement, to technology and marketing, to health and beauty. She has two bigs Great Danes and always tries to bring them along on family trips!

"Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures" – The Dalai Lama

For dog lovers around the world, one of the most frustrating and devastating realities we have to face, is that of the continued existence of puppy mills: large-scale breeding operations where the number one consideration is profit, instead of the well-being of dogs. Puppy mill owners resort to practices such as over-breeding and inbreeding, and their dogs are often subject to unsanitary conditions, hunger, sickness and a lack of socialization. It is hard to believe that many dogs in these mills spend almost the entirety of their lives in cramped cages, often with not enough food to get by, forced to churn out puppies shortly after every heat.

Puppy Mill Action Week is a yearly event organised by the Humane Society (HSUS) and celebrated around the world; scheduled on the Monday before Mother’s Day, its aim is to put an end to this cruel industry. From May 6 to 12, 2013, the HSUS carries out a series of events including competitions (last year there was a cool video competition called Why Puppy Mills Stink), rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of puppy mill owners and awareness events for the many people who don’t understand how, through a seemingly innocent act like buying a pup from a pet shop, the classified ads or the Internet, they could actually be promoting a lifetime of cruelty for that pup’s parents. In this post, we suggest a few ways you can do your share to put an end to puppy mills:

• Take a brave stance: Visit your local pet shop and ask them to consider being part of the Puppy Friendly Pet Store initiative, which encourages them to stop selling animals and to support local adoption programs.
• Get the press on your side: Write to your local newspaper editor and ask for their support. A friendly editor can back your cause by either refusing to advertise pet stores and puppy mill ‘for sale’ campaigns, or by writing informative articles on the conditions faced by dogs raised in puppy mills.
• Hone your writing skills in guest blogs and websites: Check out animal blogs and offer to write a guest post; spread the word on puppy mills.
• Advocate for Change: As part of National Puppy Mill Action Week, the HSUS will be hosting a web-based seminar on May 7th where they will inform and educate participants about the lives of animals in puppy mills, the most common problems inherent in these mass breeding facilities, and what can be done to address them. Participants will be given tools to report suspected puppy mills, and learn how to educate their communities about this form of animal cruelty. Learn more and register here.
• Consider adopting a shelter dog instead of buying one: Did you know that between 5 and 7 million companion animals enter shelters nationwide every year, and that between 3 and 4 million of these animals are euthanized? Some 25 per cent of dogs admitted into shelters are purebred; this information may be of interest of you if you are particularly taken with one breed – indeed, there are many rescue societies that specialize in particular breeds.
• If you do decide to buy a dog, make sure it is from a reputable breeder that conducts the relevant genetic tests for the particular breed (for instance, CERF eye exam, BAER auditory test and patella tests, etc. for Boston terriers – each  breed is prone to particular health problems which should be prevented to the extent they can through responsible breeding). Try to visit the breeder’s home to see the conditions their dogs are living in; see if the breeders seem to have a genuine interest in the pups finding a good home and if they offer to be available for any questions, even after they have sold the pup to you.
• Be informed: The best way to stop the continuance of puppy mills is by arming yourself with information and sharing what you learn with as many people as you can by word of mouth and through social networks, blogs, comments on articles and posts, etc. Did you know that in addition to being cruel to the dams and sires, puppy mills are also cruel to the pups themselves? This is because the lack of proper husbandry practices that would remove ill dogs from breeding programs leads to puppies having a host of pre-existing, congenital and hereditary conditions you may remain unaware of until years later, when these diseases show up. If you have already purchased an animal from a pet shop, newspaper or the Internet, make sure to protect your pup and yourself with a good pet policy, since some of the diseases which often show up in these pups can be expensive to treat and require long-term care. These include epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, deafness, eye problems, respiratory and musculoskeletal disorders, etc.

Sadly, puppy mills cause problems that continue from generation to generation. If we all do our part - we can put a stop to them now, in our generation. Do you have a story or comment to share? Please leave us a message below! If you enjoyed this post, please make sure to "Like" us on Facebook too!

Last year the Humane Society of Central Washington won two sets of Warm Bellies Chill Pads in our Voters' Choice Poll. Since then, the mats have helped provide warmer bellies to dozens (if not hundreds) of adoptable pets at the shelter! For any pets needing a little extra "snuggle," the Animal Care Technicians provide these warm, comfy dog mats! The animals cozy right in and enjoy snoozing or chewing on some toys. Knowing that adopters are attracted to calm, happy pets - the Chill Pads from P.L.A.Y.'s Warm Bellies Iniative have helped make the pets comfortable and stress-free while awaiting their forever homes. Here's just one of them, meet Jaq.

Jaq is a shy but very sweet one year old Pomeranian currently available for adoption. Found wandering in a rural area, a good samaritan brought him to the Humane Society of Central Washington knowing that they would help him find a home. Unfamiliar to his new surroundings, Jaq is a bit timid and unsure but perks up his ears and tail once he gets to know you.

Volunteers who’ve worked with Jaq say that he really just wants some quiet time right now. While very alert of his surroundings, Jaq just loves to snuggles into his Chill Pad. He will do best in a quiet home with a family that can give him lots of positive attention. To learn more about Jaq, including how to adopt him, visit his info page.

The Humane Society of Central Washington is an open-door animal care shelter, the only shelter serving Yakima County, the second largest county in Washington State (approx. 4,312 square miles). The HSCW takes in approximately 7,000 stray/unwanted companion animals (cats & dogs) each year. On average, HSCW houses approximately 140 cats/dogs per day, with approximately half of that number being adoptable on any given day. To learn more, visit their website and Facebook page. To learn more about our Warm Bellies Initiative, including how to nominate a shelter for an upcoming Voters' Choice Poll, visit www.PetPlay.com/Warm-Bellies.