Kennel cough is highly contagious and spreads fast in shared dog spaces. Find out what it is, how it spreads, what signs to look for and how vaccination can help prevent it.
Kennel cough doesn’t sound like that big of a deal – after all, a cough in humans usually isn’t that bad. But despite the innocent-sounding name, kennel cough can have a severe impact on dogs, and even if your pooch never goes to a kennel they’re still at risk of contracting it, says vet Dr Nick Emerton, General Manager for Clinical Excellence at VetPartners.
“Kennel cough first became highly prevalent where there were a lot of dogs in a small area, sharing the same airspace – and it is an airborne pathogen,” he says. “So, it got its name because the biggest risk was if your dog went into kennel, but that’s by far not the only risk of kennel cough.”
What is kennel cough and how is it spread?
Known to vets as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), kennel cough (or canine cough) is an infection caused by either bacteria or viruses (depending on the strain) that results in inflammation of your dog’s voice box and windpipe.
“It’s not life threatening, but it does cause severe upper respiratory symptoms in many dogs,” Dr Emerton says. “They feel terrible, and the symptoms can be quite serious in some cases.”
Kennel cough is transmitted by saliva and airborne particles, and it spreads rapidly from one dog to another. It’s a stubborn bug that can lie dormant on objects such as toys and water bowls for weeks.
Some of the ways your dog could get kennel cough include:
- Being patted by someone who has recently patted a dog infected with the illness
- Picking up a stick or using a water bowl of a dog who has kennel cough
- Breathing in airborne droplets from an infected dog who sneezes or coughs
- Licking or nuzzling an infected dog.
Kennel cough doesn’t affect people, but it can cause illness in cats. However, this is very uncommon, says Dr Emerton.
What are the signs of kennel cough?
As you’d expect, coughing is the biggest sign of kennel cough. It’s a hacking cough that’s sometimes described as sounding like a goose honk. Other signs of kennel cough include:
- Gagging or retching
- Sneezing
- Vomiting
- A runny nose or watery eyes.
Usually your dog will recover from kennel cough at home, but if they develop any of the below signs, you should take them to your vet, because their lungs might need extra support:
- Low appetite
- Fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Low energy
- A wet cough.
How is kennel cough diagnosed?
Vets diagnose kennel cough by looking at their symptoms, and they might take a nasal or throat swab or do a chest X-ray if they want to check your dog’s lungs and make sure they haven’t developed pneumonia.
But before you go to the vet, call first and let them know your dog has a cough. Because it is highly contagious, the vet will need to take precautions to protect other animals in the clinic.
If possible, take a video on your phone of your dog coughing; watching this may help your vet make a diagnosis.
How can you protect your dog against kennel cough?
The best defence against kennel cough is vaccination. In New Zealand, different clinics may have different vaccine protocols, says Dr Emerton. “Some protocols need vaccination at 12 weeks and again at 16 weeks for puppy protection.”
It’s recommended adult dogs get a booster every 12 months, and if your dog is at high risk of kennel cough your vet might recommend vaccinations more regularly. Get the lowdown on dog vaccinations here, and ask your vet for advice about the best timing for your pup.
“Vaccination is highly recommended to protect against – or at least minimise the symptoms of kennel cough if your dog’s unlucky enough to get it,” Dr Emerton says.
You can also reduce your dog’s risk of kennel cough by keeping them away from shared water bowls at parks, shops and community spaces, and avoid sharing toys with other dogs.
How is kennel cough treated?
“Kennel cough syndrome is caused by two different pathogens, says Dr Emerton. Bordetella bronchisepticum (BB) or Canine parainfluenza (CPiV).
“BB responds to antibiotics but CPiV is a virus and does not respond to antibiotics, like the human cold. As it is difficult to tell if a dog with kennel cough has BB or CPiV, vets will often use antibiotics as a matter of course.”
Anti-inflammatory medicines might also be prescribed if your dog has a fever or significant inflammation.
To support your dog’s recovery, it’s best to avoid neck leashes that might make their cough worse. Bringing them into the bathroom while you shower can sometimes help as the steam can help stop their airways from drying out. And if they haven’t recovered from kennel cough after a fortnight, or they seem to be getting worse, talk to your vet.
Most importantly, make sure you keep your dog in isolation until they fully recover. Since kennel cough is easily transmitted, don’t put other dogs at risk by visiting the dog park or going to doggy daycare. Besides, they don’t need the excitement – resting at home, along with plenty of water and regular food intake, is usually the best medicine for your pup.
