What is kennel cough?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Kennel cough is a contagious airway infection of dogs, usually caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus-2, often together. It causes a harsh, honking cough that starts 3 to 14 days after exposure and usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Most dogs stay bright, but puppies and older dogs can develop pneumonia.
Also called canine infectious tracheobronchitis, canine infectious respiratory disease, Bordetella.
Key facts
- Signs usually start 3 to 14 days after exposure and last 1 to 3 weeks. PDSA
- Dogs can keep spreading it for 2 to 3 weeks after the cough has stopped. PDSA
- It spreads fastest where dogs are kept close together: boarding, day care, kennels and vet hospitals. Merck Veterinary Manual
- WSAVA lists the kennel cough vaccines as non-core: for dogs whose lifestyle puts them at risk. WSAVAstudy
- The vaccine reduces the chance and severity of illness but does not stop every infection. PDSA
What causes kennel cough?
Kennel cough is not one germ. It is a group of airway infections, most often caused by the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza virus and canine adenovirus-2, frequently in combination. The germs travel in droplets when a dog coughs or barks, and on shared bowls, toys and hands.
Any place where dogs breathe the same air raises the risk. That includes a boarding kennel or a sitter's home with several dogs, a day-care group, a grooming salon, a vet's waiting room and the dog park in your housing society. A dog does not need to stay in a kennel to catch it.
Is it a mild cough or something worse?
Most dogs cough and stay otherwise well. The signs in the right column suggest pneumonia and need a vet the same day.
| Usually mild | See a vet urgently | |
|---|---|---|
| Cough PDSA | Dry, hacking or honking, sometimes ending in a gag or retch | Wet cough, or coughing that gets worse after a few days |
| Energy and appetite PDSA | Normal or nearly normal | Dull, not eating, or a fever |
| Nose and breathing Merck Veterinary Manual | Little or no discharge | Thick nasal discharge |
| Who it is Merck Veterinary Manual | A healthy adult dog | A puppy, an older dog or a dog with another illness |
What can the kennel cough vaccine do?
Vaccines against Bordetella and parainfluenza come as a nasal or oral dose, which protects after a single dose, or as an injection, which needs two doses a few weeks apart. Both are usually repeated every year. WSAVA calls them non-core: not every dog needs them, but a dog that boards, goes to day care or meets many dogs is the one they are made for.
Because several germs cause kennel cough, a vaccinated dog can still catch it, usually more mildly. Many boarding sitters in India ask for it, but no national rule sets which vaccines a sitter must ask for, so check each sitter's policy and ask your vet at least two weeks before a stay.
How long should a coughing dog stay away from other dogs?
PDSA advises keeping a coughing dog away from other dogs and public spaces while it has signs and for 2 to 3 weeks after the cough clears. Let the dog rest somewhere warm; PDSA notes that some dogs breathe easier sitting in a steamy room, never left alone there. Never give a cough medicine meant for people.
When you take the dog to the vet, phone ahead and say it is coughing, so the clinic can keep it out of the shared waiting area.
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Questions owners ask
How long does kennel cough last in dogs?
- The cough usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks, starting 3 to 14 days after the dog was exposed. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with other illnesses can take longer to recover and are more likely to develop pneumonia, so a cough lasting more than a few days needs a vet check.
Can a vaccinated dog still get kennel cough?
- Yes. Kennel cough is caused by several viruses and bacteria, and the vaccines cover only some of them. Vaccination makes illness less likely and usually milder, which is why many boarding sitters ask for it, but it does not guarantee that a dog will never cough.
Is kennel cough dangerous?
- In most healthy adult dogs it is a nuisance rather than a danger, and they recover on their own. It can turn into pneumonia, especially in puppies, older dogs and dogs with other illness. Fever, thick nasal discharge, fast breathing or refusing food are signs to see a vet the same day.
Can humans or cats catch kennel cough from a dog?
- Cats can be infected by Bordetella bronchiseptica, one of the bacteria behind kennel cough, so keep a coughing dog apart from cats in the home. People are rarely affected; those with a weakened immune system should ask their own doctor and wash their hands after handling a coughing dog.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in health conditions
- ArthritisArthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a long-term joint disease in which worn cartilage lets the joint surfaces rub, causing stiffness, swelling and pain. It is very common in older dogs and cats. It cannot be cured, but pain relief from a vet, a healthy weight, gentle regular exercise and a few home changes keep most pets comfortable for years.
- Bloat (GDV)Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is when a dog's stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off its blood supply. It mainly affects large and giant deep-chested breeds. Unproductive retching, a swelling belly, drooling and restlessness are the signs. It is a surgical emergency that can kill within hours.
- BOASBOAS, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, is a breathing disorder of flat-faced dogs. Narrow nostrils, an overlong soft palate and a small windpipe block airflow, so affected dogs snore, snort, tire quickly and overheat easily. It is worse in heat, humidity and obesity. Surgery can widen the airway, and a lean weight helps.
- Canine distemperCanine distemper is a serious viral disease of dogs that can attack the skin, airways, gut and nervous system. It spreads in droplets from coughing, sneezing and barking, and through body fluids. There is no specific cure, and some dogs do not survive even with treatment. The D in the DHPPi vaccine prevents it.
- Canine parvovirusCanine parvovirus, or parvo, is a highly contagious virus that attacks a dog's gut and immune system. It spreads through infected faeces, survives a long time in the environment and hits unvaccinated puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months hardest. Vomiting and bloody diarrhoea can kill within days, and it is prevented by the core vaccine.
- Cat fluCat flu is the everyday name for an upper respiratory infection in cats. More than 90% of cases are caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus or both. Cats sneeze, have runny eyes and nose and may stop eating. Most recovered cats remain carriers, and stress can bring the virus back. Vaccination usually prevents severe disease.
- Cherry eyeCherry eye is when the tear gland inside a dog's third eyelid slips out of place and shows as a smooth, red, cherry-like lump in the inner corner of the eye. It is common in young Bulldogs, Beagles, Shih Tzus and Pugs, and needs a vet, usually for surgery to put the gland back.
- Chronic kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slow, lasting loss of kidney function, common in older cats and also seen in older dogs. Early on there are often no signs; later a pet drinks and urinates more, eats less and loses weight. It cannot be cured, but a kidney diet, water and regular checks can slow it.
- DehydrationDehydration means a pet's body has lost more water than it has taken in, through heat, panting, vomiting, diarrhoea or illness. Early on the gums turn sticky; then the skin loses its spring and the eyes sink. A mildly dehydrated pet needs water and a watchful eye; a weak, vomiting or collapsing one needs a vet now.
- Dental diseaseDental disease in pets is mostly periodontal disease: plaque bacteria inflame the gums (gingivitis) and then destroy the tissue and bone holding the teeth (periodontitis). It is the most common disorder vets diagnose in dogs, and very common in cats. Bad breath, tartar and red gums are the early signs. Daily brushing prevents most of it.
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Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- PDSA: Kennel cough (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: The risks of kennel cough (Riney Canine Health Center) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Bordetellosis (Riney Canine Health Center) (opens in a new tab)
- European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD): Guideline for Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in cats (opens in a new tab)
- WSAVA: 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group, Journal of Small Animal Practice) (opens in a new tab)