Is coughing dog a danger to my cat?

Q Our dog, a four-year-old neutered female whippet, is being treated for kennel cough, which we think she caught from another dog in the park.

Is it possible for our 10-year-old cat to catch kennel cough from her?

A Canine kennel cough is caused by a combination of several viruses and a bacterium called bordetella bronchiseptica. It is the bacterial part that can be transmitted to cats.

As the name suggests, it is most commonly seen in kennels, where a large number of dogs are in contact with each other. And the same applies to cats.

It is also possible, as you have suggested, for a dog to pick up the infection after playing with other dogs in the park.

The most obvious clinical sign in both dogs and cats is a harsh cough that can be quite distressing for pet and owner.

In cats there may also be a runny nose, sneezing and an eye discharge, normally clearing up within 10 days.

In dogs the coughing can continue for weeks, even with antibiotic treatment, but will usually get better eventually. Good nursing is important to speed up recovery.

Transmission to cats occurs when a cat breathes in infectious aerosol droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by an animal close by. Good hand hygiene reduces the risk of contagion.

Until your dog has been cured it would be sensible to try to keep the cat and dog apart, especially if they are good friends and frequently sleep in close contact with each other.

Q

Our vet has said that some diseases don’t need vaccinating against every year, but she is advising yearly boosters for leptospirosis.

Why is this, and is the disease common? We have a three-year-old cocker spaniel.

A I agree with your vet’s advice for several reasons. Firstly, vaccine immunity against leptospirosis does not last beyond a year and therefore yearly boosters are necessary.

Secondly, it is a particularly unpleasant disease for dogs with a high mortality risk.

And, thirdly, it is a severe risk for people in contact with an affected dog.

Infection is acquired by exposure to the bacteria in the urine of diseased animals.

In the countryside, cows, pigs, rats and other rodents can harbour leptospira bacteria following infection from another animal or contaminated water. In towns, rats are the most common source of infection.

Its prevalence varies according to location and also the uptake of the vaccine by dog owners.

My experience has been a steady, relatively low number of cases in unvaccinated dogs all year round.

Dogs can present with non-specific signs initially.

These are often a high temperature, reduced appetite and lethargy. Soon signs become more obvious, with jaundice, vomiting, thirst and severe muscle pain.

Blood samples normally show severe kidney and liver damage.

If dogs are to be treated it needs to be done in strict hospital isolation to protect other dogs and staff.

Even after recovery, dogs can remain infectious for some time, therefore the decision to treat needs to be considered carefully because of the risks.