Upper respiratory infections are contagious to dogs that haven't had proper vaccinations.
A URI or Upper Respiratory Infection is an infection in the upper respiratory tract, which includes the trachea, bronchi, nasal cavities and throat. Upper respiratory infections are not inherently dangerous, but the symptoms that they cause can be detrimental to the health of a dog. Proper care and treatment is vital in relieving symptoms and eliminating the infection.
Symptoms
Dogs with upper respiratory infections can experience a number of classic symptoms including coughing, sneezing, pawing at or rubbing the nose, shaking the head, and discharge from the eyes and nose. Dogs with URIs may experience difficulty breathing, low-grade fever, anorexia, lethargy and exercise intolerance. It's easy to mistake some of these symptoms for other ailments, so consult a veterinarian for assistance in diagnosing this ailment.
Causes
Infections in a dog's upper respiratory tract are common, and there are a number of potential causes. A combination of different pathogens can lead to the development of this ailment, including mycoplasma, bacteria and viruses. These infections are linked to lung flukes and canine nasal mites in rare cases. Most upper respiratory tract infections begin in one part of the upper respiratory tract, such as the nasal cavities, and spread to the rest of the related systems such as the bronchial tree, pharynx and larynx.
Diagnosis
When a dog comes to a veterinarian presenting symptoms consistent with upper respiratory infection, the veterinarian will perform a basic physical examination to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms. The veterinarian may need to perform additional tests and lab work to determine the cause of the infection and how far it has spread in the upper respiratory tract so she can administer the proper treatment.
Treatment
Uncomplicated cases of infections in the upper respiratory tract require cough suppression and a prevention of any secondary infections. The main treatment option for such a situation is antibiotics coupled with supportive care. When a parasite causes the infection in the nasal passages or lungs, the dog will need anti-parasitic medications. The most effective method of treatment for most upper respiratory tract infections is outpatient supportive care, which entails good nutrition, fresh water, restriction of exercise, enforced rest, a clean and comfortable environment, and treatment of the symptoms of the infection to keep the dog comfortable.
Prevention
You can prevent most canine upper respiratory infections through the application of vaccinations, and proper quarantine procedures. The most common type of upper respiratory infection is kennel cough, caused by bordetella; this communicable infection is preventable with the bordetella vaccination and by quarantining infected dogs to prevent the infection from spreading.
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