I don't know about you, but everyone around seems to be coughing! It is that time of year, when no sooner does one child finish a cold, than the other one goes down! It got me thinking about kennel cough in dogs, which is really misnamed as the vast majority of dogs who get this infectious disease, have never been near a kennel! The disease's proper name is tracheobronchitis, and is passed from dog to dog! The symptoms of K.C that a vet would recognise, are inflammation of the airways and windpipe, and in severe cases, bronchitis. Sound familiar?!

The bug can be viral or bacterial, and you would hear your pet retching, coughing or trying to clear his throat. The incubation period is about 7-10 days, and the infection would in all probability last for the same time period. The dog would remain infectious to other dogs as long as he is coughing, so it is important to keep him quiet and away if possible from other dogs. A trip to the vet is recommended as most of the time a course of antibiotics will resolve the problem. This is also a chance for you to put jogging around the park on hold, as rest for your pet will speed his recovery!

By the way does anyone think that cough medicine for children actually works?

A spoonful of sugar is probably not a good idea when you are giving your pet an antibiotic, but concealing the tablets in their food is usually effective!

I ask the kids to wash their hands after school in a rather futile attempt to keep the bugs at bay, but Toffee would never consider washing her paws, so an apple a day it is!