Immune Booster for Kennel Cough?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Immune Booster for Kennel Cough?

    I don't have any of my books out right now (they are packed away)

    Truman has kennel cough. Are there any herbs or supplements to give him for a little immunity "boost"?

    Thanks
    • Bronze
    Unfortunatley once the immune system is comprimised there is not much you can do with herbal remedies. They are more for preventative medecine.
     
    Did you vet Rx antibiotics? Another little tip that has been know to work is you can do is get some Benalyin with codeine in it and give your dog a childs portion a couple times a day. Talk to your pharmacist when you buy it and they will tell you the correct dosage.
     
    I am sure you know already but for those who don't, here is a little bit of info about Bordatella and what kind of virus it really is. This might help you to figure out if there is a herbal remedy out there. If you find one let me know cause I have yet to find one.
     
     
    Causing Organism:  The disease is caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, a gram-negative bacterium which inhabits the upper respiratory tract, but is associated with both upper and lower airway disease, including pneumonia.  There are often other respiratory infectious agents present at the same time (ex. Viral, canine distemper virus, canine herpes virus, etc).  The organism is resistant in the environment surviving up to 3 weeks in water.
     
    Transmission:  Animal to animal by direct contact and airborne transmission.  Incubation period is 3 to 10 days, and in dogs it averages 6 days.  Infected dogs may shed the Bordetella organism for 3 to 4 months after apparent recovery from the disease.  Disease outbreaks frequently occur during the summer vacations and at other times when dogs are kenneled away from home, come into contact with infected carriers, and then spread it around their neighborhood when they come out. 
     
    Symptoms:  Fever, sneezing, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, when examined with a stethoscope one would hear abnormal breathing sounds coming from the lungs and a cough with varying degrees of difficulty in breathing which depends on the severity of the infection.  Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common bacterial agent associated with tracheobronchitis (known as “kennel cough”).  If severe enough, it can cause death to the animal.  It affects the upper respiratory tract and upper and lower airway systems.
     
    Other Species Affected:   cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rodents, wildlife and humans.  This is a zoonotic disease because if someone#%92s dog has this, it can be spread to this list of animals including us by just being around the animal and breathing it in through the air