Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

A dry, honking cough in a dog that otherwise seems well is usually kennel cough. It's very contagious, and most dogs get better at home. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with other illnesses can get really sick, so they need a vet sooner.

What it is

Kennel cough isn't one disease. Its medical name is canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), and it covers several infections that inflame the windpipe and airways. The usual causes are:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterium
• Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV)
• Canine adenovirus 2
• Canine respiratory coronavirus, canine influenza virus and, less often, distemper virus
• Mycoplasma, a type of bacterium

Dogs often carry more than one at once, and that's when the illness tends to be worse.

How it spreads

• Droplets in the air when an infected dog coughs or sneezes
• Nose-to-nose contact between dogs
• Shared bowls, toys, leads and other items an infected dog has used

It spreads fastest where many dogs meet: boarding kennels (which is where the name comes from), daycare, grooming salons, shelters, dog shows, dog parks, training classes and vet waiting rooms. Symptoms usually show 2 to 10 days after contact. A dog can pass the infection on before it starts coughing, and for some weeks afterwards.

Symptoms

• A dry, harsh cough that sounds like a goose honk, sometimes followed by retching or white foam
• A cough that gets worse with excitement, exercise or pressure on the throat, for example from a collar
• Clear nasal or eye discharge, sometimes
• Sneezing

A dog with a mild case keeps eating and stays bright and active. The cough usually settles within 1 to 3 weeks.

Signs of something more serious

Call a vet the same day if your dog has:

• Fast or laboured breathing, or blue or pale gums
• A wet, productive cough
• A high fever, or thick yellow or green nasal discharge
• No interest in food, or marked tiredness
• A cough that's getting worse after several days

These can mean the infection has spread to the lungs (pneumonia). Puppies, older dogs and dogs with other illnesses are most at risk. If your dog is struggling to breathe, go to the nearest emergency vet clinic. Our own clinic is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 to 16:00, and Tuesday and Wednesday 09:00 to 17:00.

Diagnosis

The vet listens to the chest, checks the temperature and asks about recent contact with other dogs, boarding and vaccination. A mild case is usually diagnosed from the history and the exam alone. If your dog is very ill or the cough won't go away, the vet may take chest X-rays or blood tests, or swab the nose or throat to find which germs are involved.

Treatment

Many mild cases clear up with rest, and antibiotics don't work against viruses.

• Rest. Keep exercise gentle and avoid anything that gets your dog excited.
• A harness, not a collar. Pressure on the throat sets off the cough.
• Clean air. Keep smoke, sprays and other irritants away.
• Water and food. Offer water at all times, and warm or soften food if your dog eats less.
• Away from other dogs. Keep your dog away from other dogs until the cough is gone, and ask your vet when it's safe to return to walks, daycare or boarding.

The vet may prescribe a cough suppressant if the cough keeps your dog from resting. Those aren't suitable for a wet cough or pneumonia. Antibiotics are used when a bacterial infection is likely or the illness is severe. Dogs with pneumonia may need fluids, oxygen and a stay at the clinic. Never give your dog human cough medicine or other human medication without asking a vet.

Prevention

Vaccination doesn't stop every infection, but it makes the illness milder and less likely to turn into pneumonia. Vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica and CPIV are available as an injection or as drops in the nose or mouth. The WSAVA, the global body that sets vaccination guidelines for small animals, counts them as optional (non-core) vaccines. They're most useful for dogs that board, go to daycare or the groomer, or meet many other dogs. Ask your vet whether your dog needs them, and how long before a stay they should be given.

Other things that help: keep a puppy away from unfamiliar dogs until the vaccine course is finished, wash bowls and toys, and avoid places with a known outbreak.

What to do next

If your dog is coughing, book a check-up with our veterinary service, or contact the clinic with questions about vaccinations. If you're planning a stay, see dog boarding.