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Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment of Kennel Cough

Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment of Kennel Cough

a.k.a. Canine infectious tracheobronchitis

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Updated on September 26, 2024
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs characterized by a severe honking cough. It is typically a self-limiting disease, with symptoms resolving in one to three weeks in most cases.
SEVERITY:
Severity is typically mild but can become severe
  • Diagnosis Icon
    Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
  • Time to Cure
    Typically resolves within two to three weeks if uncomplicated and with appropriate therapy as recommended by your veterinarian. Young puppies,senior dogs or those with underlying health conditions may be more susceptible to more severe complications of the disease.
  • Treatment Icon
    Treatable by a veterinarian and by the pet parent
  • Prevention Icon
    Most dogs that are routinely housed in boarding facilities, attend doggy day care, or play at dog parks will benefit from vaccination.
  • Spread Icon
    Transmission is via aerosolized or direct nasal and oral secretions to other dogs, but transmission to cats and humans is rare.
  • Lab Icon
    Diagnosis requires presenting signs and history. To differentiate from other respiratory diseases, radiographs or PCR testing may be recommended by your veterinarian.
VERY COMMON IN
Dogs of any age and breed can get Kennel Cough.

Symptoms & Signs

A sudden onset of a severe cough is typically seen, which is typically non-productive, but may become productive if pneumonia develops. The cough is characteristically a honking cough, which can often be elicited by massaging the throat. Gagging and retching may also be seen. The cough can also be exacerbated by exercise, excitement, or pressure on the neck from the collar. An on-going infection with kennel cough can lead to pneumonia, so if the dog shows any signs of rapid breathing, lethargy, and anorexia, they should be seen by a veterinarian right away.

Diagnosis

Due to the fact that Kennel Cough has classic symptoms, diagnosis can typically be made simply based on presenting signs. The veterinarian will also take the dog’s history into account in making the diagnosis. If the veterinarian is concerned that this dog’s particular case of Kennel Cough is more complicated, and may potentially involve infection in the lungs (i.e. pneumonia), then chest x-rays and blood work may be recommended. PCR testing may also be recommended to differentiate the specific type of disease your dog is affected by. Even in the presence of the classic honking cough of Kennel Cough, veterinarians and pet parents should be careful to avoid jumping to the conclusion that the dog has this disease and not something more serious, such as heart disease, canine influenza, or heartworm infestation, all of which are much more serious.

Causation

Kennel Cough is caused by a number of infectious agents, include canine adenovirus 2 (CAV2), parainfluenza virus, canine respiratory coronavirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and mycoplasma. These infectious agents infect the cells of the respiratory system, causing damage and irritation of the trachea and bronchi of the lungs. As the infectious agent clears from the dog’s system, the damage to the trachea and bronchi heals. Kennel Cough is passed to other dogs when they come in direct contact with or inhale the bacteria or virus particles. Because it can be transmitted through the air or direct contact, it is a very contagious disease.

Treatments

icon AT-HOME CARE
Any dog with kennel cough should be isolated from other dogs for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on the severity of the infection. The dog should be kept in a well-humidified area, and a harness used for walks instead of a collar to minimize pressure on the esophagus. Affected dogs may benefit from exposure to steam from a hot shower in a closed bathroom, as well as the feeding of softened kibble or canned foods that minimize irritation to the throat. Any medications should only be given under the guidance of your veterinarian.
icon SUPPORTIVE CARE
Hospitalization may be required in dogs who develop pneumonia or other complications. Oxygen therapy, either through a nasal tube or in a specialized cage that delivers oxygen, can help to improve oxygenation in a compromised patient. Coupage, which is a type of physical therapy that involves clapping hands on the sides of the chest, may be performed by your veterinarian as an effort to help break up and expel congestion in the lungs.
icon MEDICATIONS
Antibiotics may not be needed in uncomplicated cases of Kennel Cough, but the veterinarian may prescribe cough suppressants and antibiotics to help lessen the severity of the dog’s symptoms, especially in unvaccinated patients. While many medications are often administered for ‘off-label’ or 'extra-label' use in veterinary medicine, it is important to know that off- or extra- label use of a medication can only be done by a veterinarian when there are no other more appropriate medications for a particular pet's circumstances. Your veterinarian must also know all vitamins, supplements, medications etc. your pet is taking to help avoid complications. You must also be sure to follow all instructions provided by your vet carefully and consult your veterinarian with any questions or concerns if they arise.
icon MEDICAL PROCEDURES
In more complicated cases in which either pneumonia is suspected or the dog is not responding to treatment, a tracheal fluid analysis and culture may be recommended. The procedure can be done in several fashions, but the goal is to obtain material from inside the airways. The material is examined under a microscope, and also cultured for bacterial growth. Radiographs or PCR testing may be recommended in more severe cases to help determine cause of symptoms.
icon SURGERY
None
icon SPECIALISTS
A competent general practitioner veterinarian should be able to diagnose and manage most cases of kennel cough. A specialist is typically not required in straightforward cases.

Cost Of Treatment

In more complicated cases in which either pneumonia is suspected or the dog is not responding to treatment, a tracheal fluid analysis and culture may be recommended. The procedure can be done in several fashions, but the goal is to obtain material from inside the airways. The material is examined under a microscope, and also cultured for bacterial growth. Radiographs or PCR testing may be recommended in more severe cases to help determine cause of symptoms.

Recovery

Dogs usually recover from Kennel Cough in one to three weeks, and prognosis for uncomplicated infections is excellent.

Monitoring

Any dog that has worsening symptoms or is not improving should be re-checked by the veterinarian, as treatment may be necessary if not started already, or other more serious conditions may be present.

Prevention

Several different vaccine formulations exist against the Bordetella bacteria, however multiple strains of this bacteria exist, therefore no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing infection. It is thought that vaccination decreases the severity of the disease, and this is likely true, since more complicated cases typically arise in unvaccinated individuals. If your dog is routinely housed in boarding facilities, attends doggy day care, plays at dog parks, or is exposed to a large number of dogs in other scenarios such as competitions, you should discuss if vaccinations are recommended with your veterinarian. Dogs are typically vaccinated as puppies against Bordetella and canine adenovirus-2 and parainfluenza, and as adults Bordatella is typically recommended every 6-12 months and canine adenovirus-2 and parainfluenza is generally boostered every 3 years in adults.

Questions about Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment of Kennel Cough

My dog I heated uses tampon is it an emergency

Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble understand your question as I'm not sure what you mean by "My dog I heated uses tampons..." I'm wondering if Bella ate a tampon or if you wanted to use one on her while she is in heat. I will answer both to be safe. If she ate a tampon, then yes this is a medical emergency and she has to see a vet now. Tampons can easily cause obstructions in the GI tract, especially since they are absorbent and can get large in the stomach from liquid in there. if Bella ate a tampon, you need to take her into a vet immediately to get it removed. If she is on heat, no you cannot use a tampon to control her bleeding. It's not safe to use at all, and are not meant for dogs. You can put a diaper on her to catch any bloody discharge. There are dog specific diapers online and at pets stores, or you can use one made of a human child. Just cut a hole in it for her tail. Hopefully this answers your question. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and ask you post again in the forum for free to it can get answered!

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I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

I'm glad to see that Pippin has been neutered because this eliminates that possibility of hormone-fueled behavioral changes and aggression. Behavioral changes in cats can occur at any point in time, and could be related to anxiety or stressful situations (even rearranging furniture or introducing new people to the home can be stressful to cats). Without a lot more information and observing Pippin's behaviors, I can't precisely tell you why these changes are occurring. It may be best to consult a veterinary behaviorist in your home so that they can observe everything firsthand. You can also try using calming pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway is one example), and discussing the use of anxiety medication with Pippin's vet. I hope that all goes well!

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Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He’s taking insulin and taking antibiotics for a Uti. It’s been 4 weeks and he wobles when he’s walking. He can’t jump up on the bed like he used to.He’s blood sugar is 250 it’s better than it used to. I don’t understand why he’s so wobbly.

Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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My senior cat has metastized cancer.17 yrs old. My vet gave her predizone1 and one half tabs a day.i wanted to know if i can just stop the meds.

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My dog has an ear infection

Sorry to hear Marley isn't doing so well with his ears. It is not possible to tell from tge picture tve exact nature of the irritation but if it is indeed infected (typically red, hot, painful and smelly), he will need prescription medication from his regular vet. In the meantime I recommend gently cleaning tge outer war with cotton wool and a pet safe ear cleaner to reduce the build up of wax/discharge

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My dog vomited a pinkish colour. Does this look like blood vomit? She doesn’t have diarrhoea or anything else. Yesterday i fed her plain chicken with rice.

That is very red vomit, however, this color could be linked to a number of things including blood in the vomit, inflammation of the GI tract, having chewed on a toy this color, eaten a food item this color, or gotten into a plant or other item this color. If the vomiting continues, worsens, or other symptoms appear such as a painful or bloated abdomen, diarrhea or blood in the stool, or severe distress, I would schedule a veterinary appointment right away to rule out more severe issues. In the meantime I would continue the bland diet for 24 hours, and monitor for any additional vomiting or illness symptoms.

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Disclaimer

The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. This medication should only be given under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.