Kennel Cough in Rat Terriers

Rat terriers are hardy dogs and aren't prone to any diseases or frail health, so there is no need for owners to panic if their dogs are stricken with "kennel cough." Now more commonly known in the veterinary community as tracheobronchitis, kennel cough is also referred to as bordetellosis or bordetella. It's highly contagious in dogs and is found worldwide. It will more than likely infect a rat terrier in its lifetime.

  1. Causes

    • Tracheobronchitis is the result of infection from more than one organism in the majority of cases. Bordetella bronchiseptica is the main bacteria causing the disease. Clinical signs of infection occur two to 14 days after exposure. Rat terriers continue to shed the bacteria for six to 14 weeks after the infection is resolved. The parainfluenza virus commonly appears with bordetella, creating a disease that usually lasts from 14 to 20 days, according to PetEducation.com. Canine adenovirus type 2, reovirus and canine herpes virus can also contribute to tracheobronchitis.

    Symptoms and Diagnosis

    • The most common symptom is a dry, hacking, "honking" cough followed by retching. Although watery nasal discharge may be present, rat terriers with mild infection continue to eat and remain active and alert. With more severe infection, which is rare, especially if the disease is treated upon onset, rat terriers become lethargic, develop fever, inappetence, pneumonia and are at risk of death. Severe cases are normally restricted to immunocompromised dogs and young, unvaccinated puppies. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and history of recent exposure to other dogs.

    Treatments

    • Rat terriers with mild tracheobronchitis may or may not receive antibiotics. Bronchodilators and cough suppressants may or may not be prescribed. Severely infected rat terriers receive antibiotics and sometimes, bronchodilators and aerosol therapy as well. Steroids and cough suppressants aren't usually recommended because of their respective immunosuppression effects and the need to expel extra fluid or mucous. Natural remedies include raw honey to ease the pain of coughing, wild cherry bark, peppermint leaves and yerba santa, which is good for coughs with phlegm.

    Vaccination and Prevention

    • "The best prevention is to not expose your dog to other dogs, especially young puppies," according to PetEducation.com. Rat terriers should be vaccinated with intranasal bordetella vaccine, which also protects against parainfluenza. It may be used in rat terriers as young as three weeks, with protection occurring three to four days afterwards. It's best to wait at least a week before exposing the rat terrier to other dogs in order to make sure protection is in place and because the newly vaccinated rat terrier sheds the virus for approximately three days.

    Expert Insight

    • Research shows bordetella bronchiseptica may infect some humans--most likely those with compromised immune systems. "In normal, healthy adults, there does not appear to be a risk, but young children and immunocompromised individuals should take precautions against coming into contact with animals that have symptoms of tracheobronchitis," according to PetEducation.com. Infected rat terriers should be isolated from children and immune-compromised adults and handled with care for at least 14 weeks after their illness is resolved.