Canine infectious respiratory disease, known as kennel cough is recognized as a dry, hacking cough in dogs. It is caused by a number of different microbes affecting the upper respiratory tract.
Kennel cough spreads airborne from dog to dog through droplets when a dog barks, coughs or sneezes. This is why dogs that are at places such as a kennel, doggy day care and animal shelters are at higher risk since they tend to be in close proximity.
Kennel cough needs to be addressed immediately as the infection can settle in the lungs which can cause issues such as pneumonia. There are herbs that can help support your dog in this case such as echinacea or a tiny bit of garlic (you don’t want to give too much garlic to your animal).
It is a good idea to help your dog’s cough by soothing it with herbal expectorants such as:
- Slippery Elm
- Marshmallow
- Mullien
- Liquorice
- Elecampane
- Plantain
Kennel cough can create a spasmodic type of cough in your dog, this can leave them feeling exhausted with pain in their chest and back muscles. Using herbs to help calm and relax them can help, these include:
- Catnip
- Valerian
- Skullcap
It is recommended to use nutritive herbs such as alfalfa when your animal is the midst of a kennel cough. This is especially important if you have noticed that your dog doesn’t feel like eating at this time. It is a good idea to pay close attention to your animal when they are unwell so that you can give them the proper care they need. Our animals are unable to to tell us with words how they are feeling. This is why we must practice patients and attentiveness when it comes to our animals.
Consult with a holistic veterinarian or holistic practitioner to lead you in the right direction. If you feel uncertain, holistic practitioners have the expertise and wisdom to direct you to top quality herbal products for your animal. Do not use any remedies if you are not certain which and how to use them, it is best to work with a practitioner. This blog is for educational purposes only.
If you are interested in a consultation from Maria for your animal, feel free to learn more here.
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