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Rachel Sullivan
9-3-13
English Composition 1001
Professor Skutar
Not Just a Cough
Dog owners let their dogs interact with all kinds other dogs at the park and don’t take a
second thought. People don’t realize animals can catch certain diseases as easily as people can
catch a cold. Most people don’t know that animals can get sick like humans. There is a very
common coughing disease among dogs. This cough is called kennel cough. People take their
dogs to the vet if their dogs have kennel cough. The veterinarian must know about kennel cough
and how to treat it.
Kennel cough also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, bordetellosis,
rhinotracheitis, and canine cough is a respiratory disease only among canines or dogs. A
respiratory disease is “any disease of the breathing organs, especially the lungs,” (Gilman Page
759). Kennel cough is inflammation in the dog’s voice box and windpipe. Kennel cough is
caused by “any one or a combination of several viruses, bacteria and mycoplasmas,” (Saunders
Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary Page 1). A virus is a “minute parasitic microorganism
much smaller than a bacterium that, having no independent metabolic activity, may replicate
only within a cell of a living plant or animal host,” (Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, &
Health Professions Page 1). Bacteria are “simple, single-celled, primitive organisms which are
widely distributed throughout the world in air, water, soil, plants and animals including humans.
Many are beneficial to the environment and other living organisms, but some cause harm to their
hosts and can be lethal,” (Black's Medical Dictionary, 42nd Edition Page 1). Mycoplasma is “a
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genus of micro-organisms which differ from bacteria in that they lack a rigid cell wall. They are
responsible for widespread epidemics in cattle and poultry,” (Black's Medical Dictionary, 42nd
Edition Page 1). The main viruses and bacteria that cause kennel cough are “canine Para
influenza virus, canine adenovirus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica,” (Saunders Comprehensive
Veterinary Dictionary Page 1) and “Other organisms involved are the canine herpesvirus, a
reovirus, and a mycoplasma. Bacterial secondary invaders may complicate the syndrome.”
(Black's Veterinary Dictionary Page 1) So there are many factors that can cause kennel cough.
Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) is “A virus from the cerebrospinal fluid of a dog with
neurological dysfunction,” ( Evermann Page 1). Canine adenovirus is a type of DNA virus that
causes upper respiratory tract infections. (Incomplete particles of canine adenovirus type 1:
Occurrence and structure by: Sira, Dobbsa, Abouhaidar, and Campbell Page 1). Bordetella
bronchiseptica is “a genus of gram-negative bacteria that cause respiratory disease in a number
of species. A normal inhabitant of the respiratory tract in dogs,” (Saunders Comprehensive
Veterinary Dictionary Page 1). Canine herpesvirus is “A virus isolated from vesicles affecting the
genital system of the female dog and associated with infertility, abortion, and stillbirths. Infected
pups usually die soon after birth. Those that recover may remain carriers of the virus,” (Black’s
Veterinary Dictionary Page 1). A reovirus is “A genus of viruses that contain double-stranded
RNA and are associated with various diseases in animals, including human respiratory,” (The
American Heritage Medical Dictionary Page 1). Kennel cough is deeper than just a cough it’s a
disease.
Kennel cough can be identified easily. Kennel cough is very common in kennels and dog
pounds. Kennel cough is extremely contagious among dogs. Any breed of dog can catch it and
can transfer it to another dog unless vaccinated. Kennel cough can be transmitted by the air or
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direct or close contact. Kennel cough only involves the upper air passages. The main symptom of
a dog with kennel cough is “a fit of coughing which is aggravated by exercise or excitement. The
cough is a harsh, dry (hacking) and nonproductive cough,” (Black's Veterinary Dictionary Page
1). Other symptoms “occasionally fever, serous nasal discharge and lymphadenopathy,”
(Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary Page 1). Lymphadenopathy is “a disease
process that involves a lymph node or nodes,” (Mosby's Dental Dictionary Page 1). If dog has
kennel cough it will have a rough cough or breathe very loud and horse which is very easy to
hear and notice. Some dogs will also develop sneezing with this ailment. A dog with kennel
cough may get a liquid build up in its lungs. Dogs with kennel cough may also lose energy, grow
tired, seem sluggish, nasal discharge, throw up, not eat, and or not do regular activities. The
effects of kennel cough don’t usually “last longer than a few weeks or a few months,” (McGrawHill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Page 1). Kennel cough has a big effect on
dogs.
Kennel cough can be prevented and or treated. If a dog is going to come in contact with
many other dogs like a park, dog party, dog training class, dog show, pound and or kennel hence
the name kennel cough; there’s a way to prevent the animal from getting the disease. There is a
vaccination for the dog. The vaccination is “An intranasal live B. bronchiseptica vaccine,”
(Black's Veterinary Dictionary Page 1). The vaccination must be “up to date,” (The Crystal
Reference Encyclopedia Page 1) in order to keep the dog completely safe from kennel cough.
Also dogs are less likely at risk to get the disease if the pet owner “minimizes exposure to
infectious agents,” (McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Page 1).
Kennel cough is caught it doesn’t really need to be treated; but veterinarians can give antibiotics
to help heal the pet faster. According to McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and
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Technology “Antitussives, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids are used to relieve coughing, and
antimicrobials are used to treat or prevent bronchopneumonia,” (McGraw-Hill Concise
Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Page 1). Many dogs who get kennel cough “completely
recover within 2 weeks,” (McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Page
1). Kennel cough is easy to get and easy to get rid of but it’s better to prevent it.
Vets, short for veterinarians, are animal doctors. Veterinarians major in pet medicine in
order to keep animals healthy. “Veterinarians spend a lot of time diagnosing and treating ailments
of animals, providing vaccines and other medications, dressing wounds, and performing surgery
and repairing broken bones.” (Handley Page1) Vets’ jobs are to prevent animals from getting sick
or treating animals when sick.
Veterinarians’ careers are much more complex than just loving to work with and take care
of animals. The veterinary field may seem huge but veterinarian career field hasn’t grown
abundantly. According to America Faces Critical Shortage of Veterinarians “America hasn't
expanded capacity at its 28 veterinary colleges in over three decades,” (America Faces Critical
Shortage of Veterinarians Pages 1). Vets’ careers are more than just loving to work with animals.
Veterinarians must go to college for eight years. Veterinarian must learn about the different types
of animals and the different types of breeds. Veterinarians must learn about animals’ body
structures like bones, muscle and organs. Veterinarians must be familiar with all the types of
diseases and which animals can catch it. Vets must know how to perform different types of
surgery to different animals. Vets must know how to fix broken bone in an animal’s body. Vets
know how to handle animals. Veterinarians must know what medicines to give each type of
animal. Vets must know how to treat animals. Veterinarians have information about animals they
need to know in order to properly work on animals.
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Kennel cough is one disease that veterinarians must be able to identify and treat. Owners
of dogs will notice the unhealthy coughing and breathing. Dog owners will mostly likely be
concern of the unnatural behavior and take their pet to the vet. The vet will carefully and closely
examine the dog. The veterinarian will look for the harsh coughing and the hard breathing. If the
veterinarian identifies that as the problem(s) the vet will know that it is kennel cough. The vet
will give specific instructions and possibly medicine to treat the animal. Veterinarians must know
how contagious and common kennel cough is and should know about it and expect to see it
throughout their career.
Kennel cough and veterinarians connect to each other because it has to do with animals,
it’s a disease that must be treated and veterinarians must know about kennel cough. A
veterinarian is an animal doctor. Kennel cough is something that dogs, which are an animal, get
catch. Its veterinarian’s jobs to know very much about animals like the different types of
animals, injuries and diseases animals can get, and how to cure those injuries and diseases.
Kennel cough is disease that a certain animal can get and must get a cure or treated by a
veterinarian. Kennel cough is so common that veterinarians see it frequently. Kennel cough is a
disease which dogs can catch and veterinarians must have knowledge about it and be able to
identify it and treat it.
Kennel cough is a respiratory disease that can be identified from the symptoms it
displays. The disease is very contagious but easy to get rid of. The veterinarian’s job is to heal,
avoid problems, and take care of animals. A veterinarian must have a lot of knowledge about
animals from school. A veterinarian must identify when a dog has kennel cough and inform the
owner of the dog on how to treat the disease. The dog will then receive treatment and will no
longer be contagious of kennel cough to other dogs. The veterinarian career has a strong
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connection to the common disease kennel cough among dogs in different ways.
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