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ESCANABA -- Canine infectious respiratory disease is a long title for what most people refer to as kennel cough. This upper respiratory infection is similar to the human cold.

There are several different organisms that can cause it, and it's generally airborne. Vets say the best treatment is to prevent it with vaccines, then let it run its course, usually 7-10 days.

“I am not recommending that you keep a dog in a plastic bubble to keep them from getting sick,” explains Dr. Sue Laskaska. “You have to let a dog be a dog just like you have to let a kid be a kid."

Some of the symptoms of canine infectious respiratory disease are coughing, fever, and sudden lack of energy.

Three-month-old black lab mix, Charlie, is recovering from a bit of a respiratory infection.

“I think it's real important,” said Charlie’s owner, Holly Johnson. “It’s important we take him to the vet, especially since we really don't know much about Charlie or where he came from since he was from a local rescue. So we just want to stay on top of it and make sure everything's OK with him."

Mary Adams wrote on our Facebook page:  "I had, unfortunately, experienced it a few years ago, and it ran through the six dogs I had and a couple of cats. I thought, at times, I was going to lose a dog."    

Vets say the condition can be contagious to other dogs.

“If a dog is kept in a home environment, doesn't go to the shelter, doesn't go to the boarding kennel, doesn't go to the groomers, and doesn't have a lot of contact with other dogs, then there's really no source of infection for them," Dr. Laskaska said.

But if your dog does have a respiratory condition, vets can easily treat it with cough suppressants.