What Is Kennel Cough in Dogs
📝 Summary
Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious, multi-pathogen respiratory infection, worst in puppies and in cold, crowded, damp settings. Signs are a harsh dry cough and normal temperature; treatment is supportive and self-limiting. Vaccination and good husbandry prevent it.
1 How it presents
Any dog can catch it, with puppies most at risk. It spreads through the air and by contact with sick dogs, often in outbreaks. Cold, sudden environmental change, and high humidity encourage it; the incubation is 5-10 days. Common agents include canine parainfluenza, distemper, adenovirus types 1 and 2, herpesvirus, and reovirus, with Bordetella bronchiseptica the usual secondary invader. Signs are a rough, paroxysmal dry cough with gagging and retching, watery to mucopurulent nasal discharge, harsh breathing sounds, and usually normal temperature; exam shows only airway inflammation.
2 Diagnosis and treatment
Confirmation comes from culturing virus or bacteria from tracheal secretions. There is no specific cure; care is supportive, expectorant and cough-suppressing, and aimed at preventing secondary infection, using agents such as ammonium chloride, codeine, cephalosporins, or sulfonamides. The disease is often self-limiting and most dogs recover on their own.
3 Prevention
Routine vaccination against the common viral causes, plus good husbandry, warmth, and building the dog’s resilience and cold tolerance, are the practical defenses. Isolate coughing dogs to limit spread.
Want to learn more about pet health?
Explore our pet health channel for more science-based care guides
Read More Articles →