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 Kennel Cough

Kennel cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis, is a condition caused by inflammation of the trachea (wind-pipe) and bronchi (upper airways). It can be caused by infection with common respiratory viruses (such as canine parainfluenza virus) or by the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica, which is closely related to the organism causing whooping cough in humans.  The more severe forms of kennel cough are due to infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica.

The disease is highly contagious and is spread via droplets from coughing dogs, which are then inhaled by other uninfected dogs.  Thus outbreaks of the disease tend to occur in situations where large numbers of dogs are sharing the same air-space, such as in boarding kennels.  After infection, there is an incubation period of 3-10 days before signs of disease develop.  The most common symptom is a harsh, dry hacking cough, which can sometimes be severe enough to lead owners to suspect that their dog has something stuck in its throat.  Other symptoms include a runny nose, retching, and in more severe cases, lethargy, inappetance and breathing difficulties.  The cough generally persists for around 7-10 days, although in some cases it may take 3 weeks to clear up.  It is important to be aware that dogs can remain infectious for up to 10 weeks after the initial infection.  Most cases of kennel cough are not life-threatening, although the hacking cough can prove irritating to both pet and owner.  In these cases the use of cough suppressants provides welcome relief to all concerned.  In more severe cases, where secondary bacterial infection or occasionally pneumonia is suspected, then treatment with antibiotics is necessary.

Vaccination is a widely used to prevent outbreaks of kennel cough in high risk situations, such as boarding kennels, dog-training classes and dog shows.  Most reputable boarding kennels will insist that dogs are vaccinated against kennel cough.  The kennel cough vaccine is administered via the nostrils (rather than by injection) and ideally should be given 2 weeks before the dog goes into kennels.  It lasts for 12 months, so if you are lucky, you may be able to fit in more than one holiday!         

July 2008