Protect Your Dog From a Common Respiratory Disease

Infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB) is the medical term for "canine cough." The most prevalent upper respiratory infection of dogs of all ages, ITB is recognized by a persistent, hacking or honking, gagging, sometimes spasmodic cough. ITB can last for days or weeks if left untreated. It is also extremely contagious.

What causes ITB? ITB can be caused by various viruses and bacteria acting alone or in combination. These include:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica, the bacteria most often isolated in dogs with ITB
• Canine parainfluenza virus
• Canine adenovirus-2

Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria are widely present in dogs. Whooping cough in humans is caused by a closely related organism.

Is your dog at risk?

• ITB is easily transmitted when dogs cough or come in contact with each other or with contaminated premises.
• Most dogs have not been vaccinated for Bordetella and could potentially be carriers of ITB.
• Puppies are at a greater risk of Bordetella infection because they have not been vaccinated or previously exposed.

Risk of ITB is increased if any of the following risk factors apply:

• Dog lives in a multi-dog household (introduce new dog or friends/relatives bring dogs over to visit)
  
• Free access to unmonitored outdoor activity (ITB often gets passed from "neighbor dogs")
• Visits to dog parks
• Often kenneled for boarding or grooming, or commercially transported (airplane, etc)
• Chronic heart or lung disease
• Attending dog training classes
  

Why protection from ITB is important:

• Severe ITB can lead to prolonged or chronic bronchial disease and pneumonia
• Even after recovery from ITB, dogs take weeks or even months to clear Bordetella organisms from their respiratory tracts
• Dogs with ITB may experience spasmodic coughing
• ITB is a disease of inconvenience that deprives dogs (and owners) of sleep, limits activity and may require treatment with antibiotics and cough-suppressant drugs

Protecting your dog from ITB:

• If your dog is at risk of ITB (see risk factors above) then we recommend administering the Bordetella vaccine
• If you have any questions about whether or not your dog is at risk please call our office

ITB is preventable as long as you keep your dog protected on a yearly basis with routine vaccinations.