When we find out that our dog has a Bordetella infection, the worry and anxiety in our hearts are beyond words. Every dog owner regards their dog as an indispensable member of the family. Seeing the dog in discomfort, we wish we could bear the pain for it. However, before learning how to treat a dog's Bordetella infection at home, we need to have a comprehensive understanding of this disease.
Bordetella, commonly known as kennel cough, is a common respiratory infectious disease. It mainly spreads through airborne droplets. Just like the common cold in humans, in places where dogs are densely populated, such as pet stores, veterinary hospitals, dog parks, etc. it is very easy for dogs to infect each other. After being infected, dogs usually develop a severe cough. That coughing sound makes it seem as if the dog has something stuck in its throat, and it is extremely painful. Some dogs may also be accompanied by symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, listlessness, and loss of appetite.
If your dog is unfortunately infected with Bordetella, before deciding to treat it at home, you must first take it to see a veterinarian. The veterinarian can accurately determine the severity of the dog's condition through professional examinations, such as auscultation, X-ray examination, and blood routine tests, and provide the most suitable treatment advice. After all, the physical condition and the severity of the disease vary from dog to dog, and a professional diagnosis is the key to treatment.
After obtaining the permission and guidance of the veterinarian, we can start the treatment and care at home. First of all, provide the dog with a warm, quiet, and comfortable environment. A warm environment is conducive to the dog's physical recovery and prevents the condition from worsening due to the cold. You can lay a soft mat in the dog's kennel so that it can rest well. A quiet environment is also very important because when a dog is sick, it needs sufficient sleep to regain its strength, and a noisy environment will make it difficult for the dog to fall asleep.
In terms of diet, pay special attention to the dog's nutrient intake. A sick dog is weak and requires more nutrients to fight the disease. You can choose some high-protein and easily digestible foods for the dog, such as high-quality dog food, cooked chicken, fish, etc. If the dog has a poor appetite, you can try dividing the food into small portions and feeding it several times. You can also appropriately give the dog some nutritional paste to supplement the energy and nutrients it needs.
Medication is an important part of treating a dog's Bordetella infection at home. Generally speaking, the veterinarian will prescribe some medications according to the dog's condition, such as antibiotics and cough suppressants. Antibiotics can help the dog fight the bacterial infection, and cough suppressants can relieve the dog's coughing symptoms. When giving the dog the medicine, be sure to follow the veterinarian's instructions strictly and give the medicine on time and in the correct amount. Some dogs may not like taking medicine. In this case, we need to be more patient. We can mix the medicine with the dog's favorite food so that it can take the medicine without realizing it.
In addition to medication, some natural methods can also be used to help the dog relieve the symptoms. For example, you can give the dog some honey water. Honey has the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving coughs, which can reduce the pain of the dog's cough. However, it should be noted that do not give the dog too much honey, and puppies under one year old are not suitable for drinking honey water. In addition, you can use a humidifier to increase the humidity of the indoor air. Moist air can relieve the dryness of the dog's respiratory tract and alleviate the coughing symptoms.
During the treatment of the dog, closely monitor the changes in its condition. If the dog's coughing symptoms do not improve, or more severe symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea occur, be sure to take it to see a veterinarian in a timely manner. This may mean that the dog's condition has worsened and requires more professional treatment.
The health of our dog is what we care about most. When it is infected with Bordetella, we should accompany it through this difficult time with patience and love. Although treating it at home may be a bit arduous, as long as we take good care of it with our hearts, the dog will surely recover soon and become that lively and lovely little baby again. Let's cheer for the dog's health together so that it can always stay by our side and bring us endless joy and warmth.