How To Prevent Kennel Cough Without Spending A Lot of Money

dog inside kennel kennel cough

You just scored yourself a posh looking kennel from a local auction. You cannot wait to get it home, spruce it, and surprise your dog.

Bingo is elated. He cannot help exploring the nooks and crannies of it. He has his crib now and spends the better part of the day in it.

As your dog is settling in his new home, you notice something strange. He suddenly develops a dry husky cough, and you suspect it is the kennel. You are not far from the truth.

What is kennel cough?

The name Kennel cough refers to an infectious disease called canine tracheobronchitis. Contrary to what the name suggests, your dog may not have contracted the cough from his kennel.

Your dog may have contracted the cough for spending more time outdoors. While the disease is not life-threatening, in some cases, an emergency kennel cough treatment is necessary to save a dog’s life.

Kennel cough in dogs causes

Bordetella bacteria cause the kennel cough. This bacterium affects the upper respiratory part of dogs. A dog’s respiratory tract has a mucus membrane that traps germs from causing infection.

Dogs contract the kennel cough when this mucus membrane weakens. And several things can cause this.

Poorly ventilated areas

Your dog can contract the kennel cough germ from poorly ventilated areas. High-risk areas include shared kennels or dog shelters. Parks and other places where dogs congregate a lot increase the risk of infection. Your dog can catch the kennel dry cough if he shares his kennel dog with another dog- probably a stray that sneaks in during the night when the pet parents are asleep (sounds familiar?).

Cold temperature

Cold weather can weaken your dog’s immunity against the kennel cough. Dogs that sleep indoors enjoy the warmth of your heating system. But if you suddenly move your dog to a kennel outside, the cold can take a toll on the dog, weakening its immunity.

Dust and cigarette smoke

Particles in dust and smoke can carry the Bordetella bacterium. When your dog inhales the dust or fumes he gets infected with the cough.

Stress

Stress, especially from frequent traveling, can cause the kennel cough.

Kennel cough symptoms in dogs

The first symptom of the kennel cough is a husky cough with a honking noise. It is quite different from reverse sneezing, which is quite normal in pets.

Other symptoms of Bordetella include;

Is the kennel cough treatable?

The Kennel cough is a contagious infection. If you notice the symptoms in your dog, an immediate kennel cough treatment would be to isolate him. It saves other pets from inhaling the same bacterium and getting infected.

As said before, canine kennel cough is not a life-threatening infection. However, it is an opportunistic disease.

Dogs with a pre-existing viral infection are susceptible to the Kennel cough infection. Viruses that make your dog vulnerable to Bordetella include;

  • Canine distemper virus
  • Adenovirus
  • Parainfluenza virus
  • Canin reovirus
  • Canine herpes virus

Mild cases of the kennel cough heal on their own. Severe cases where the dog is lethargic, restless, or lacks appetite are a sign of serious problems. Rush your dog to the vet immediately when you notice these symptoms.

For a healthy dog, it takes at least three days for the kennel cough symptoms to clear. Full recovery will be at least three weeks when the body eliminates the bacteria.

Recovery dogs in older dogs will be slightly slower. Their immune system is slower in fighting the kennel cough infection. It can take six weeks to full recovery for an older dog.

Natural Kennel cough treatment for dogs

It is hard to treat canine kennel cough because there are so many bacteria and virus strains that can cause it. A cocktail of antibiotics may be necessary to clear the bacteria.

And if you have ever been on antibiotics, you can agree on how dang expensive they are.

That’s not all. Your dog will be on anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators to clear other symptoms completely. All of this will cause money.

What if you could prevent the kennel cough by keeping your dog’s immune system strong?

Vets confirm that boosting your dog’s immunity is the best kennel cough treatment there is.

And if you are into holistic approaches to curing diseases, you might have come across mushrooms as a possible solution for kennel cough.

Can mushrooms cure the kennel cough?

Little is known about the healing power of mushrooms for kennel cough. Edible mushrooms have immune-boosting properties that can help your dog fight the kennel cough infection.

What’s more, plain cooked mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat. They are full of antioxidants that;

  • Protect damage of immune cells
  • Boost the immune system
  • Fight inflammatory diseases

So, which mushrooms are good for kennel cough? Holistic medicine recommends the following;

  • Shiitake mushrooms
  • Maitake mushrooms
  • Turkey tail shrooms
  • Cremini and Portobello
  • White button mushrooms
  • Porcini mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms are available locally. They not only add flavor to food, but they are also said to have immune-boosting properties as well.

Maitake mushrooms have stress-relieving properties. A sick dog is a stressed dog, and stress will leach on your dog’s nutrients and lower his immune system. Maitake mushrooms will calm your dog and regulate his hormones. It puts him in a relaxed state for a speedy recovery.

Turkey tail mushrooms have immune-boosting and antiviral properties.

Cremini and portobello mushrooms pack plenty of selenium, zinc, B vitamins, copper, and manganese. All vital vitamins and minerals that will strengthen your dog’s immune system.

White button mushrooms contain lots of vitamins B12, C, and D. combined, these vitamins give your dog’s immunity a boost.

Porcini mushrooms are mineral-rich. They pack loads of selenium, niacin, and potassium. All these minerals are necessary for improving the physiological systems in your dog, including his immune system.

Immunity-boosting mushroom broth for dogs

As you know, we are big on healthy homemade meals made with our favorite Bullyade pet supplement.

For the ingredients, you will need;

  • ¼ cup turmeric powder
  • Meaty bones (add marrow bones, chicken legs, or turkey legs for a healthier broth)
  • Five mushrooms chopped (a blend of choice)
  • Two scoops of Bullyade powder
  • Water

Preparation:

  • Add the bones to a slow cooker and fill it with water.
  • Slowly cook the mix for up to 24 hours. A pressure cooker is faster in under 5 hours.
  • When the water boils to halfway and reveals the bones, add the mushrooms and turmeric powder.
  • Let this simmer for about 20 minutes before switching the cooker off.
  • When the broth has cooled down, add the scoops of Bullyade.
  • Mix thoroughly before serving your dog.

Large dogs can handle the meaty bones. When making this recipe for toy breeds, remove the bones before serving.

Never feed your dog raw mushrooms. Also, be careful when using wild mushrooms, as most of them are toxic. Stick to store-bought shrooms that are safe.

Conclusion

We hope this article gave you insights on how mushrooms can prevent kennel cough. But mushrooms do not replace kennel cough treatment for an already infected dog. If symptoms persist, rush your pup to the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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