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Home Treatment for Kennel CoughThe virus itself is relatively harmless. Left untreated, it should run its course and disappear in about three weeks. However, complications may arise, leading to chronic afflictions that could affect the dog's respiratory system. The vet may prescribe antibiotics that will solve the problem fairly quickly. Although harmless, this could prove a costly affair, especially since you can let the infection run its course and offer relief using home remedies at very low cost. Treating the symptoms while allowing the virus to run its course minimizes complications and builds immunity. The dog is less likely to contract the viral infection again than if it had been treated with antibiotics. Besides ensuring that your dog has plenty to drink and is kept out of the cold, you can also give it a steam bath. This easy treatment helps your dog inhale steam, thereby opening up the airways and relieving the symptoms. Simply run a hot shower and close bathroom door, until the room is filled with steam. Take the dog inside the bathroom -- wait with your pet if it is unwilling to stay there alone -- and keep it there for about 20 to 30 minutes inhaling the steam. This will relieve the symptoms, ease breathing and shorten the duration of kennel cough. If you have used the above treatment, the kennel cough should clear up within three weeks. If the symptoms persist even after, consult a vet to determine the underlying cause. Also Read: |