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As vets, we struggle to find a disease that has more misconceptions and misunderstandings than canine kennel cough. Let's clear some of those up, shall we?
Starting with the basics...
Common symptoms include:
- harsh, hacking cough
- lethargy
- inappetance
- fever
The condition is produced through several highly infectious agents. In mild and uncomplicated cases, dogs are usually otherwise healthy despite a persistent cough. In more severe cases, pneumonia may develop.
Here's a video of what typical kennel cough sounds like
Given that this disease is the #1 respiratory condition diagnosed in dogs, it's important you have the right information about the disease. Below are three common misconceptions about canine kennel cough.
1. "My dog hasn't been in a kennel, so he can't have kennel cough!"
Admittedly, the name "kennel cough" is extremely misleading. It is widely misunderstood as something only acquired from a kennel or pet boarding facility. In our opinion, veterinarians should more appropriately use the term infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB), instead of “kennel cough."
ITB is an airborne disease, just like the common cold in humans. One cough can spread aerosolized droplets carrying the disease up to twenty feet. This means, your dog can catch the disease from meeting a dog in the park or even passing one on the street. The higher number of dogs in a given area will naturally increase the dog's risk of contracting ITB, and therefore will have a higher risk in a kennel type environment.
2. "My dog has been vaccinated, so he can't have kennel cough!"
While vaccines are highly effective, no vaccination for any disease is 100% effective. Given that there are many strains and different viruses that make up the condition, there is not a vaccine available that provides immunity against all of the causative agents of this disease. A vaccine will usually protect against only one of the most common agents (i.e. Bordetella), so once in a while vaccinated dogs will still contract ITB.
3. "Ok, My dog has kennel cough. He needs antibiotics!"
Most of the the time, ITB is cleared, on it's own, by the dog's own immune system. If you think about the human common cold: most people manage the symptoms, are a little uncomfortable, and feel better in a week with no antibiotics required.
Once in a while, however, some people have a cold that turns into something more serious (like a sinus infection or pneumonia, for example.) Similarly in dogs, most cough for a 1-2 weeks and then recover. Some, however, can’t clear it on their own and require antibiotics. Especially if your dog has a fever, or has other concurrent conditions such as other lung disease, heart disease, or is receiving chemotherapy, antibiotics might be required.
ITB is not the only disease or condition that can cause coughing in your dog. The best bet? If your dog is coughing, have him or her checked out by your vet. We'll perform a complete physical exam and determine the best course of action to have your pup on the road to recovery.
Have a puppy? Check out Take a Lead puppy school at PPVH!