Canine cough doing rounds in Whangarei

Jinx, at the SPCA animal shelter, is a picture of health but a canine cough is sweeping Whangarei. Photo/John Stone

A Whangarei vet is warning dog owners to make sure their pets are vaccinated against a nasty strain of canine cough that has gone viral around town.

Jules Wilson, of Northland Veterinary Group, also said it might be a good idea for owners to keep their dogs at home while the ''very, very infectious'' cough is doing the rounds.

''We want owners to know perhaps they shouldn't take their pets to doggy daycare or kennels unless they are up to date with their vaccinations. Even then, it's no guarantee against a dog getting this,'' Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson said vaccinated dogs were also coming down with the illness, though less seriously than ones which were not immunised.

''They can get really, really sick. It takes them two to three weeks to recover, then they seem to go down with it again for a shorter period and not quite as sick.''

The illness used to be known as kennel cough because it spreads easily when dogs are in close quarters but the more common term now is infectious canine cough, Mr Wilson said.

Viral and bacterial causes of canine cough are spread through airborne droplets produced by sneezing and coughing. Those agents are also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.

The illness seemed to have similar effects on dogs as human flu does on people, Mr Wilson said. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories were the usual treatment.

Dog daycare centres and kennels required owners to show certificates showing vaccinations were up to date.

The SPCA is also keen to spread the health message, and vaccinates animals it rehomes.

The lifelong vaccination process should start when a puppy is nine to 12 weeks old, followed with an annual booster.