Kennel cough is a common upper respiratory infection that dogs can contract from a variety of sources, including the parainfluenza virus and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptiva. Parvo, which is caused by a virus, is an extremely contagious disease that usually causes diarrhea. It is spread when a dog is exposed to a sick dog, or to diarrhea or feces that contain the virus.
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Mild Kennel Cough
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Mild cases of kennel cough often clear up on their own. Recovery can take two or three weeks, however, and if your dog is suffering from the coughing, consider taking it to the vet. The vet can provide a cough suppressant to make your dog more comfortable and may also provide antibiotics to fight the ailment.
Severe Kennel Cough
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If the dog has a fever or is coughing up greenish phlegm, the ailment may be severe. In addition to cough suppressants and antibiotics, your vet may suggest a bronchodilator, which will make it easier for the dog to breathe. The vet may also want to X-ray the dog's lungs to make sure that the kennel cough hasn't led to pneumonia.
Parvo
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Parvo is a serious disease that leads to death in 16 to 48 percent of the dogs that contract it. It is especially dangerous for puppies, because their immune systems cannot fight the virus. A parvo infection may not show any symptoms, or it may lead to lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea (which may contain blood).
A dog with parvo can infect other dogs days before it begins to show signs of illness.
Treating Parvo
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The vet will make sure that the dog does not lose too much fluid through vomiting and diarrhea, and may provide an electrolyte solution, delivered intravenously, subcutaneously or orally. In a severe case, the vet may give the dog an antibiotic to protect it against additional infections.
Prevention
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Vaccinating your dog is the best way to protect it against kennel cough and parvo. The series of vaccinations that American Veterinary Medical Association recommends for puppies includes inoculations against both diseases.
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