Kennel Cough in Dogs: What Pet Parents Should Know This Summer
With summer travel season in full swing, many pet owners are preparing for boarding, daycare, or social dog outings. If your plans include placing your pup in shared pet spaces, it’s important to understand a contagious, yet preventable, illness that could affect your dog’s health: kennel cough.
What Exactly Is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough, or canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that’s most commonly caused by the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. It spreads rapidly in environments where many dogs come into contact – kennels, dog parks, doggie daycare, grooming salons, and overnight boarding facilities. Transmission typically occurs through coughing, sneezing, or direct nose-to-nose contact. Because it affects the respiratory system and is easily passed between dogs, it’s often referred to as the “common cold” of the canine world.
Recognizing the Symptoms
If you notice any of the following signs in your dog, it’s a good idea to check in with your veterinarian:
- Decreased appetite
- Eye or nasal discharge, often appearing green or yellow
- Lethargy (sleepiness or reduced activity level)
- Vomiting (commonly due to excessive coughing)
- Persistent coughing, sneezing, or gagging
If your dog shows severe lethargy, trouble breathing, or stops eating or drinking entirely, it may be an emergency and should be addressed by a veterinarian immediately.
How Is It Diagnosed?
In most cases, a veterinarian will begin by performing a physical exam, which includes auscultation of the lungs and airways using a stethoscope. Your dog’s history of exposure to other pets and clinical signs often help support the diagnosis. Other tools may be used to rule out more serious conditions, such as:
- Blood tests to monitor immune response or check for other possible infections
- Chest X-rays to look for signs of pneumonia or other lung issues
- PCR testing using nasal or throat swabs, which helps identify the cause in more stubborn or severe cases
Because PCR tests may take days to return results, starting treatment without delay is key, especially if your dog is showing signs of discomfort.
How Is Kennel Cough Treated?
Mild cases of kennel cough are typically managed with rest, cough suppressants, and possibly anti-inflammatory medications to soothe throat irritation. If a bacterial infection is suspected or confirmed, antibiotics may be prescribed, including:
- Azithromycin
- Doxycycline
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Clavamox)
In some cases, particularly when a dog cannot tolerate oral medications, vets may opt for a long-acting injection like Convenia. Most dogs begin to feel better within 10–14 days, though it’s standard to continue medication for at least 5 days beyond the resolution of symptoms. If your pet doesn’t improve, a follow-up exam and additional diagnostics are recommended.
For more serious cases, especially in young puppies, elderly dogs, immunocompromised pets, or those with pneumonia – hospitalization may be required. Treatment may include oxygen therapy, IV or subcutaneous fluids, nebulization with bronchodilators, nutritional support, and IV antibiotics.
Can Kennel Cough Be Prevented?
In many cases, yes. While there are several pathogens that can cause kennel cough, the Bordetella vaccine provides protection against the most common one. Vaccination doesn’t offer 100% immunity, but it greatly reduces the risk and severity if your dog is exposed. For dogs who regularly visit high-traffic pet areas, some vets recommend booster shots every 6 months. Puppies sold in pet stores tend to experience more severe forms of kennel cough due to their high-stress transport and group housing conditions.
Is It a Serious Condition?
For most dogs in good health, kennel cough is not fatal and resolves with treatment. However, in puppies, seniors, or pets with underlying health conditions, complications can occur. Rarely, serious issues such as pneumonia or hypoglycemiamay develop. In some dogs, kennel cough can also trigger chronic bronchitis, even after the infection clears, causing lingering coughs that require extended care and management.
Similar Conditions to Consider
Kennel cough can appear similar to other conditions, so it’s important to rule out different causes of respiratory symptoms. These include:
- Distemper or pneumonia
- Canine influenza, adenovirus, or parainfluenza
- Heartworm disease or congestive heart failure
- Allergies or inhaled irritants like smoke or pollution
- Foreign material in the airway or collapsing trachea
- Aspiration from megaesophagus
To help protect against other infectious causes of coughing, make sure your dog stays current with DAPPV vaccinations (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus). If your pet doesn’t respond to antibiotics, your vet may need to investigate further with advanced diagnostics.
Is Kennel Cough Contagious to People?
No, kennel cough is not zoonotic and cannot spread to humans. It is, however, highly contagious among dogs. Keep your sick pet separated from others until fully recovered, and monitor any other dogs in the household for symptoms. Cats and exotic pets are not at risk of catching kennel cough.
Final Notes
If your dog is headed to daycare, boarding, or any shared space this summer, confirm with your vet that their Bordetella vaccine is up to date. Staying ahead of kennel cough through preventive care can help ensure a safer, healthier summer for your pup.
As always, if you notice any unusual symptoms or just have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinary team – we’re always here to help.
Dr. Shayla Fleming, DVM
Dr. Shayla Fleming is from Phoenix, Arizona and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a kid. She grew up with dogs, birds, reptiles, and fish! She graduated from Aurora University in Illinois with dual bachelor degrees in Biology and health science. She moved back to Arizona to attend Midwestern University for Veterinary School and enjoys being in the sun again. She has a dog named Jack, a bird named Flynn, and a tortoise named Ralph. In her free time she enjoys hiking, going to the lake, and reading.
