Kennel Cough

Overview

Kennel cough is a complex upper respiratory disease that has both a viral and bacterial component. It is very common in boarding and shelter environments due to its highly contagious nature. Most cases of kennel cough are mild, but some pets can develop pneumonia.

Causes

Bordetella bronchiseptica is the bacterial pathogen associated with kennel cough. There are many viruses implicated to cause kennel cough including canine adenovirus, parainfluenza, and herpesvirus.

Symptoms

In mild cases, a dry cough is seen. These pets generally still feel fine and are eating and drinking well. As the disease progresses, the cough can turn moist and the patient will gag and produce mucous. Exercise and excitement will worsen the cough. If the patient develops pneumonia, they will develop a fever, become lethargic, anorexic, and have trouble breathing.

Treatment

In mild cases of kennel cough, antibiotics and cough suppressants are usually effective. If pneumonia is suspected and confirmed with chest radiographs, the patient may need to be hospitalized. Intravenous fluids and antibiotics are key to recovery. All patients should be rested for at least 10-14 days and separated from other animals until several days after successful treatment.The kennel cough vaccine is still recommended. Due to the complexity of the disease, it is difficult to develop a vaccine that is 100% effective. It has been proven to lessen the clinical signs of kennel cough if a patient is exposed. It is very rare for a vaccinated patient to develop severe kennel cough.