The draw of the pet store is convenience. The puppy or kitten is right there and you can instantly access them. However, concerns about health, temperament, and breed standards do not often come into play. These four diseases/viruses are some of the most common, and because they are so common, I want to make sure that they are understood. Kennel Cough

    (exerpts from Vet Info)

    The most common cause of tracheobronchitis in dogs is probably Bordetella bronchiseptica infection, a bacterial infection. Immunity to this infection is not long lasting even after having the illness. Immunity probably lasts 6 to 12 months in most dogs and when it wears out they can get the infection again. There are vaccinations for Bordetella.

    Tracheobronchitis, commonly referred to as "kennel cough" is usually caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. It can also be caused by several viruses. Some vets feel that it is best not to treat this condition with antibiotics since it is almost always self limiting and the organism is a normal inhabitant of the upper airways. Treatment may lead to resistance problems and difficulty treating the most serious complication, pneumonia, if it occurs.

    The incubation period from the time a dog is exposed until clinical signs appear varies depending on which infectious agent is the cause. In general it appears to be about 3 to 5 days with Bordetella. The infection tends to be mild except for a very harsh cough that often prompts owners to think that their dog "has something caught in his throat". In some dogs it can lead to pneumonia or more serious signs. Cough suppressants can be used to control the cough and antibiotics may be necessary for stubborn infections or to try to stop the spread of the bacteria in multiple dog households.

    A dry hacking cough is the most common sign of this disease. Most vets assume that a dog has tracheobronchitis when the owner calls on the phone and says "my dog has a bone caught in his throat". The type of cough really does cause many people to assume that there must be something caught in the dog's throat and many dogs retch at the end of the coughing. In some cases, pneumonia may occur as a complication of this disease.