Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) would like to alert industry participants to two cases of kennel cough in racing greyhounds that have been reported over the past week. The cases were associated with the central coast and northwest region of Sydney.
Kennel cough is an infectious bronchitis caused by various combinations of viral organisms (e.g. canine parainfluenza) and a bacteria (Bordatella bronchiseptica). An infected dog sheds these organisms via its respiratory secretions into the air and onto objects, where they can be inhaled by a healthy dog. Common sense dictates that dogs living in a kennel environment and/or mixing with dogs from other kennels will be particularly susceptible to disease that is spread in this manner.
The normal respiratory tract of the dog is protected to some degree by tiny hair-like structures and mucus, which act to move infectious agents back out of the body so that they can be coughed up or swallowed harmlessly. This defence mechanism can be impaired, however, in dogs that are exposed to transport stress, crowding stress, heavy dust, poor ventilation, cigarette smoke and cold temperatures.
Individual resistance to kennel cough can be maximised by maintaining a regular program of C5 vaccinations in all dogs, from the time of their puppy booster injection at ten weeks of age. Even so, the C5 vaccination does not guarantee against infection, but minimises the severity of symptoms in most cases. Prevention is, therefore, largely reliant on management factors within the kennel itself, the most important being space and ventilation, biosecurity and quarantine protocols. If your greyhound appears unwell for any reason, isolate it and do not travel with it to other properties or race tracks.
Most cases of kennel cough will resolve on their own within one to two weeks. However, dogs infected with Bordatella can shed the organism for a further two to three months. It is recommended that a dog with kennel cough receives veterinary attention so that, if necessary, the appropriate medications can be prescribed. Failure to improve at least partially within a week of treatment warrants a revisit to the veterinarian. The greyhound breed, in particular, is at risk of a complication of kennel cough, a respiratory infection called Canine Haemorrhagic Pneumonia. This disease resembles kennel cough in its early stages, but progresses to be far more serious and one of the pathogens involved can be extremely contagious.
While kennel cough is usually self-limiting and inconsequential, it is highly contagious. As such, it is imperative that any dog displaying respiratory symptoms should be isolated on the property, and GRNSW should be notified as soon as possible to aid in tracking and control. Suspected and confirmed cases of kennel cough can be reported to Disease Surveillance Manager Dr Anne Louise Knox via phone on (02) 8767 0500 or email at vets@grnsw.com.au.
