Kennel Cough
My dog is coughing – could it be Kennel Cough?
Coughing is something that we quite commonly encounter in our canine patients, but it can be very worrying for owners. If your dog is coughing, it is important that you take him or her to your vet for an examination. There is a long list of causes of coughs, some of which are more serious than others, so careful history taking and examination by the vet are needed to decide if further investigations and possible treatment are required (looking for heart and lung problems or other non-infectious airway disease). However, the most common cause of a dog developing a sudden onset cough is an upper airway infection known as ‘kennel cough’.
Does my dog need to have been in kennels to get Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough is not a very good name for the condition because the dog need not have been in kennels to catch it. In fact, kennel cough is not caused by just one type of infectious agent – it is a general term for any contagious upper respiratory tract infection. There may also be more than one infectious type of ‘bug’ involved at a time. The most common causes of kennel cough are a bacteria called Bordetella and a virus called Parainfluenza.
I want to take my coughing dog to the vet – what should I do?
When you book your dog in for an appointment, please let the receptionist know that your dog is coughing and keep him or her outside until the vet comes to call you – kennel cough is infectious and we don’t want to put our other patients (some of whom can be very ill) at risk. If it is too warm for your dog to stay in the car, we have some sheltered benches outside where you can wait – just report to reception to let us know you are here.
What are the effects of Kennel Cough?
Dogs with kennel cough usually develop a hacking cough (often sounding as though there is something stuck in the dog’s throat), and the cough may be productive – i.e. affected animals will sometimes cough up white froth. The condition usually comes on quite quickly, and although affected dogs may not have been in kennels they will usually have been socialising with other dogs in the previous few days. The cough may worsen with exercise and also when affected animals pull on the lead. Dogs with kennel cough are often bright or just a bit off colour, but they can have a temperature and may become really poorly. When coughing dogs are being examined by the vet, he or she, will usually give a gentle ‘pinch’ to the trachea (airway) which often causes patients with the condition to cough.
Is there treatment available for Kennel Cough?
Treatment depends on severity and individual circumstances. Kennel cough is usually self-limiting, so not all affected dogs need treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs will often be given to provide some relief. Occasionally, antibiotics will be used but these are reserved for more ill patients or those who may be at particular risk. This approach is in line with that of the human medical profession who are trying to prevent the overuse of antibiotics which may lead to the development of strains of infection which are resistant to antibiotics.
The cough usually improves over the next few days but may persist mildly for a week or two. For the first week or so you may need to restrict your dog’s exercise, as running about and using a lead can aggravate the cough. In addition you will need to prevent socialisation with other dogs for a few weeks, as affected dogs can remain infectious for several weeks, even once the coughing has subsided.
Very occasionally there are longer term problems after kennel cough, so please do keep in touch with your vet if you think your dog is not improving as expected.
Can Kennel Cough be prevented?
There is a vaccine against kennel cough which we offer, although it is not part of our routine vaccine regime. The vaccine is administered by squirting it up the nose, so there are no injections, but some dogs find this unpleasant (or at least a surprise!) The vaccine lasts for a year. It does not completely prevent the possibility of a dog developing an infectious cough, but it does reduce the chances that any such infection will be serious.
Most dogs that go to kennels are required to have the kennel cough vaccine and we would recommend it for dogs going into kennels, even if the kennels do not insist on it. The kennel cough vaccine is also a good idea if your dog regularly socialises or attends classes where he or she has close contact with other dogs. Unfortunately, the friendlier the dog, the more likely he or she is to pick it up!
If you have any queries or concerns about kennel cough, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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