How to tell the difference between kennel cough and distemper?

For pet owners, the health of our dogs always tugs at our heartstrings. When dogs show abnormal symptoms such as coughing, we often fall into anxiety and worry, eagerly wanting to figure out what's wrong with our furry friends. Kennel cough and distemper have some similarities in symptoms, but their severity and treatment methods are quite different. Accurately distinguishing between the two is a crucial step in helping dogs recover their health as soon as possible.

Kennel cough, as the name implies, is a respiratory disease that is quite common in places where dogs are densely populated. It is highly contagious and usually spreads easily in places where dogs frequently gather, such as kennels and pet hospitals. For an affected dog, coughing is often the most prominent symptom. This kind of cough is rather distinctive, sounding like a "goose - like" call, sharp and with a distinct dry - cough sound. At first, the cough may occur only occasionally, especially after the dog exercises, gets excited, or at night, when the frequency of coughing may increase. When owners hear their dogs coughing like this, their hearts will inevitably skip a beat, and they will start to worry about their dogs' health. As the disease progresses, the cough may become more frequent, and there may even be a small amount of clear nasal discharge. However, in general, the dog's mental state and appetite are less affected in the early stage. They will still show some interest in playing and food, which may give the owner some relief, mistakenly thinking that the dog just has a common cold and cough.

In contrast, distemper is a more serious and dreadful disease. It affects not only the dog's respiratory tract but also many important systems such as the digestive tract and nervous system. In the early stage of distemper, the dog may also have a cough symptom, which sounds somewhat similar to that of kennel cough, making it easy for owners to get confused. But in addition to coughing, there are a series of other obvious symptoms of distemper. The dog's body temperature will rise repeatedly, reaching about 40 °C and lasting for several days. When the owner touches the dog, they can clearly feel that its body is hot, which will make the owner very worried.

At the same time, the dog's eyes will have purulent secretions, increased eye discharge, and the hair around the eyes is often stuck together by the secretions, looking very pitiful. In terms of the digestive tract, the dog will have a loss of appetite, or even completely refuse to eat, and may also be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes, the feces will be bloody, and the overall physical condition will deteriorate rapidly. As the disease worsens, when the virus invades the nervous system, the dog will show neurological symptoms such as convulsions and ataxia. It will walk unsteadily, unable to maintain balance, and may even suddenly fall to the ground and convulse. This scene will make the owner extremely frightened, filled with helplessness and despair.

From a professional diagnosis perspective, distinguishing between kennel cough and distemper cannot rely solely on symptom - based judgment. Veterinarians usually conduct several tests to make an accurate diagnosis. For kennel cough, through a detailed inquiry about the dog's living environment, recent contact history, etc., combined with clinical symptoms, a preliminary diagnosis can generally be made. If necessary, an X - ray examination may be carried out to observe whether there are any abnormalities such as inflammation in the dog's respiratory tract. The diagnosis of distemper is more complex and rigorous. In addition to the routine symptom observation and medical history inquiry, veterinarians will use a specific distemper test strip for detection. By testing samples such as the dog's blood, eye discharge, and nasal discharge, they can determine whether the dog is infected with the distemper virus. In addition, a blood routine examination may also be carried out to check the changes in various indicators such as white blood cells to assist in the diagnosis of the disease.

As pet owners, when we find that our dogs have abnormal symptoms such as coughing, we must not make blind judgments on our own. We should always take our dogs to see a veterinarian in a timely manner. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for both diseases. If it is kennel cough, with appropriate treatment such as the use of cough - suppressing drugs and antibiotics to control secondary infections, the dog can usually recover after a period of time. However, if it is unfortunately distemper, due to its severe condition, it is necessary to actively cooperate with the veterinarian for comprehensive treatment, including antiviral treatment and symptomatic treatment to relieve various symptoms. Even so, the road to the dog's recovery is full of hardships, and it requires the owner to devote a lot of time and energy to take good care of the dog.

Every dog is a little angel in our lives, and their health is our greatest happiness. Understanding the difference between kennel cough and distemper can, at a critical moment, buy precious treatment time for our dogs, helping them overcome the disease and regain their former vitality and happiness.