Upper Respiratory Infection
Kennel Cough
The shelter is much like a child day care – as soon as one dog has a cold, most all the dogs in the shelter get a cold. Just like people who have colds, kennel cough develops when the dog is stressed or when the immune system is compromised. Kennel cough usually goes away as soon as the dog has a warm, quiet and soothing place to sleep, where they can drink lots of water, eat healthy food and receive lots of TLC!
Kennel cough is typically a dry, hacking cough. There may be some discharge from the nose and a clear liquid that is coughed up. It’s generally a mild, self-limiting illness of the trachea and bronchi encountered in all age groups of dogs, but especially in those under unusual stress.
Because kennel cough is contagious, infected dogs should not be around other dogs until they’re over their cough. If you have a dog at home and plan to foster a dog with kennel cough, we have found that if your own dog is healthy and has been vaccinated annually, then he will most likely not get sick.
Talk to your vet about giving your own dog the Bordetella nasal vaccination. Immunity to kennel cough is usually established 3-4 days after vaccination.
Make sure your foster dog has plenty of fresh water and healthy food. If your dog is not eating, try cooking up something special and smelly such as eggs, chicken or steak. Take short, leashed walks. If you don’t see improvement of the cough or cold after 3 days, or if the condition worsens, call your Coordinator or Shelter Manager.
Strenuous activity can bring on coughing episodes, so limit activity and encourage rest. Even baths can be stressful to the system and should be avoided. However bringing your foster dog into the bathroom while you’re taking a shower can be beneficial as the steam can help loosen mucus. Incubation of kennel cough is 5-10 days; its course is 10-20 days with symptoms generally more marked the first week. Fever, lack of appetite and a yellow-green-brown nasal discharge can indicate secondary infections. Call your Foster Coordinator or Shelter Manager if any of these symptoms occur.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URI) or “kitty colds” are common occurrences in shelters. The majority are caused by one of two viruses, although they can have some bacterial components. Signs of URI include congestion, excessive sneezing, fever, discolored (green or yellow) nose or eye discharge, and/or a fever.
Please contact SSHS if you suspect your kitten(s) of having an Upper Respiratory Infection. They may be able to advise you to start the kittens on amoxicillin. DO NOT ADMINISTER AMOXICILLIN WITHOUT BEING ADVISED TO DO SO. If symptoms do not resolve after 7 days of Amoxicillin, please contact us.
If your foster cat/kitten is showing signs of URI, please do the following:
Make sure the cat/kitten is eating. Cats that are congested often won’t eat because they can’t smell the food. If they are not eating well, warm up a strong-smelling canned food, and offer it to them. You can also provide them several different options to ensure there is one they like.
Cats and kittens should be eating at least 50% of the food offered to them
After 24 hours of not eating or eating less than 50%, please give SQ fluids (you or SSHS). Continue this daily until the appetite resumes to more than 50%.
If a kitten does not eat for the next meal after the initial SQ fluids, you should begin supplemental force feeding and schedule an appointment with the shelter. Only force feed if you have been trained.
If an adult cat does not eat for an additional 24 hours after the initial SQ fluids, contact us.
If the cat/kitten has eye or nose discharge, clean their nose/eyes at least twice daily with a wet, warm washcloth. Gently wipe the eye from the nose side out to the side of the face.
If the cat/kitten is congested, place them in a room with a humidifier, or in a carrier in a bathroom with the hot shower running (steam) to aid congestion. You can also hold the kitten on your lap. Nothing should ever be added to the water like Vic’s Vapor Rub or similar products. Also, never leave a kitten alone in a bathroom with the hot shower running unless it is in the carrier.
Place nasal saline drops in the cat/kitten’s nose to aid congestion (1 drop per nostril, 2-3 times daily).
A product called “Little Noses” can also be used on URI kittens. Please use Little Noses without decongestant (saline-only solution). This product can be used as long as needed, and can be used in both nostrils up to three times daily.
Provide supplemental warmth, especially for young kittens (rice sock, snuggle safe warming disk, etc.).