Whether you run a dog boarding business, a veterinary clinic, or a grooming facility, or you’re a pet owner whose dog has visited one of those places, you’ve probably heard of kennel cough. This highly contagious respiratory illness found in dogs can spread quickly where lots of dogs congregate, like dog kennels in a dog boarding business or at a dog park. In this blog, we’re here to provide you with everything you need to know about how to prevent kennel cough to ensure your dogs remain happy and healthy.
What is Kennel Cough?
Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that results in a persistent, dry cough and hacking. It can often resemble the sound of a goose honking and can be accompanied by gagging or retching as the dog attempts to clear their throat.
What Causes Kennel Cough?
Kennel Cough is caused by a combination of viral and bacterial infections, including bordetella bronchieseptica, canine parainfluenza, canine adenovirus 2, and canine distemper, which work together to weaken the dog’s immune system. Factors such as stress, crowded conditions, and improper ventilation can contribute to its spread.
It is typically transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected dog coughs, barks, or sneezes. It can also be spread through direct contact with an infected dog or contaminated surfaces such as water bowls or bedding.
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Kennel Cough?
To determine if one of the dogs in your care has contracted the respiratory illness, monitor them to see if they display any of the following symptoms:
Kennel Cough Symptoms
- Persistent dry cough that sounds painful
- Gagging or retching
- Clear or frothy phlegm
- Runny nose
- Eye discharge
- Sneezing
If they have a severe case of this illness or if it goes untreated, they may begin to present symptoms such as:
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Fever
If your dog displays any of these symptoms, seek veterinary care immediately.
Can Kennel Cough Go Away On Its Own?
It can go away on its own if it is a mild case. If your dog is a healthy adult with a strong immune system, they’ll likely recover without needing extensive medical treatment. However, if their symptoms last longer than 3 weeks, they begin to present severe symptoms, or you have a puppy or elderly dog in your care, it’s best to seek veterinary care.
How Long Does Kennel Cough Last?
It usually lasts between 1 to 3 weeks. In mild cases, the cough and other symptoms tend to resolve in 7 to 10 days. If the duration of the illness goes beyond 3 weeks, this is classified as a moderate to severe case, and you should seek veterinary care.
Can Humans Catch Kennel Cough?
It’s highly unlikely that a human will catch kennel cough if they are a healthy individual. However, a human can catch it if they have a weakened immune system. If you have a weakened immune system and begin to experience respiratory symptoms after exposure to a dog with kennel cough, it’s best to consult with a doctor.
Is Kennel Cough Contagious To Other Pets?
Kennel cough is highly contagious to other dogs and can spread to other animals, but the risk varies by species. It’s pretty uncommon for cats to contract it, although it is not unheard of. Cats who contract it will experience symptoms like sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, and fever. It’s typically a mild infection, but it can be more severe for kittens or cats with weakened immune systems.
As for other pets, such as rabbits or guinea pigs, there have been very rare reports of kennel cough infecting them. However, this is a highly unlikely occurrence. If you’re concerned about the respiratory illness spreading to your other pets, be sure to isolate your dog from your other pets, regularly clean their bedding, water dishes, and anything else they regularly come into contact with, and be sure to vaccinate your dog against the bacterial and viral infections that can lead to kennel cough.
How Do You Get Rid Of Kennel Cough?
If your dog already has kennel cough or an outbreak has occurred in your boarding facility, here are some measures you can take to help your dog get over it:
Rest And Isolation
The first thing you should do if a dog contracts kennel cough is isolate them from other dogs to prevent the spread of the infection. You should also allow your dog plenty of time to rest, avoiding strenuous activity which could potentially worsen their cough.
Hydration
Be sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. Keeping them hydrated can thin the mucus and soothe their throat. You can also use a humidifier to help make breathing easier and reduce irritation in their airways.
Medications
Veterinarians may prescribe cough suppressants if the dog’s cough begins to cause difficulty or worsen to offer some relief. If your vet confirms a case of Bordetella bronchiseptica, they may prescribe antibiotics as well, especially if your dog is at risk of a secondary infection. Anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation in their airways.
Supportive Care
Your dog will require your supportive care as they recover from their illness. Encourage them to eat, even if they have a lower appetite, by offering them soft foods or warming the food slightly. Continually monitor their symptoms to ensure they don’t worsen or they don’t begin to show signs of lethargy, difficulty breathing, or loss of appetite. If they do, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Environmental Management
The environment your dog is in can greatly impact how quickly the illness spreads and how long it takes your dog to get over it. Whether you run a kennel with multiple infected dogs or your dog is dealing with kennel cough at home, there are a few things you can do to manage their environment.
Regularly clean and disinfect the dog’s living area, including their toys, bedding, and food and water bowls, to prevent the spread of the infection to other pets. You should also keep them away from irritants such as smoke, dust, or strong odors.
Vaccination
To prevent your dog or the dogs in your care from contracting kennel cough, be sure they are properly vaccinated. While there’s no kennel cough vaccine, you can vaccinate your dogs against the Bordatella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus, which can cause canine infectious tracheobronchitis.
If you operate a commercial dog kennel business where dogs are frequently exposed to one another, you may want to consider requiring dogs to have these vaccinations before they stay with you.
How Do You Prevent Kennel Cough Outbreaks?
Of course, the best way to prevent kennel cough outbreaks is to ensure that your dog or the dogs at your facility are vaccinated against Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza. However, there are other measures you can put in place to prevent an outbreak. Whether you run a commercial dog kennel business or have a kennel for your dog, here are some features you can incorporate into your kennel to help defend against the spread of canine infectious tracheobronchitis :
Ventilation Systems
Incorporating ventilation systems into your kennel, such as fans and vents, improves the air quality in the kennel, removing odors, dust, and other harmful particles and reducing the respiratory issues that can come as a result.
Isolation Kennels
You can also create a kennel that is properly spaced from other dogs or add custom doors or partitions to prevent a dog infected with the disease from spreading it to other dogs.
Wash Down Solutions
The best way to prevent kennel cough is to ensure that you regularly clean and disinfect the kennel and its components, such as outdoor runs, bedding, feeding and watering dishes, and toys. Adding wash-down solutions to your kennel, such as a retractable hose, exterior wash-down, a wash tub, and drains, can make regular cleaning quicker and easier.
Avoid Crowded Conditions
You want kennels that are properly spaced to prevent overcrowding and reduce the risk of the cough spreading. We ensure that all our kennels are adequately spaced to make this possible for dog boarders and owners of multiple dogs. Check out our various kennel sizes to find the one with the right amount of space for your dogs.
Equip Your Dog Kennel Against Kennel Cough
At The Dog Kennel Collection, we understand that the health and comfort of your dogs is your number one priority. That’s why we offer customizable features and options for our commercial dog kennels and our residential dog kennels. Whether you run a dog boarding business where there is an increased risk for the spread of the cough, or you want to create a space that can help your dog recover from it, our customizable features are the perfect solution. You can add climate control features, ventilation systems, wash-down solutions, and more to prevent the outbreak and spread of kennel cough.
