Kennel cough in dogs: symptoms, treatment and Bordetella vaccine

That honking, goose-like cough after a stay at a boarding kennel is familiar to many dog owners. Most cases of kennel cough are mild and pass on their own, but some dogs — especially puppies — get much sicker. Here is how to recognize it, care for your dog and decide when to see the vet.

What causes kennel cough?

The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that kennel cough is inflammation of the upper airways caused by a number of viral and bacterial organisms, often several at once. Vaccines exist for some of the main ones:

Organism	Type	Vaccine available
Bordetella bronchiseptica	Bacterium	Yes
Canine parainfluenza virus	Virus	Yes
Canine adenovirus-2	Virus	Yes
Canine distemper virus	Virus	Yes (core vaccine)
Other respiratory viruses and bacteria	Various	Some

Stress and environmental factors — poor ventilation, temperature and humidity extremes — make dogs more susceptible and the disease more severe, according to Merck.

Kennel cough symptoms

• Spasms of harsh, dry coughing, often described as honking
• Retching or gagging after coughing (owners often think something is stuck)
• Cough triggered by excitement, exercise or pressure on the collar
• Otherwise normal appetite and energy in most dogs

Merck notes that body temperature and white blood cell counts usually remain normal in uncomplicated cases.

Signs it may be more serious

Merck warns that fever, pus-containing nasal discharge, depression, loss of appetite and a productive cough, especially in puppies, usually indicate an additional infection such as distemper or bronchopneumonia. Kennel cough can progress to fatal bronchopneumonia in puppies or to chronic bronchitis in weakened, ill or aged dogs. Read about distemper in dogs.

How kennel cough is diagnosed

Kennel cough is usually suspected when a dog has the typical harsh cough and a history of exposure to other dogs. Lab tests are usually normal. Chest X-rays help determine severity and rule out other causes of coughing.

Other causes of coughing	Clues
Collapsing trachea	Small breeds, chronic honking cough
Heart disease	Older dogs, cough at rest or at night, tiring easily
Heartworm disease	Persistent cough, exercise intolerance — see heartworm in dogs
Foreign body	Sudden onset, gagging
Chronic bronchitis	Cough lasting at least 2 months

Kennel cough treatment

Merck describes treatment for uncomplicated cases:

• Most affected dogs should not be hospitalized, because the disease is highly contagious and generally improves on its own.
• Good nutrition, hygiene and an improved living environment help recovery.
• Cough suppressants are sometimes prescribed for persistent dry coughing.
• Antibiotics are usually not needed except in severe chronic cases.
• Corticosteroids or nebulized treatments may be used in some dogs.

Never give human cough medicine without your veterinarian’s advice: some contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

The Bordetella vaccine and other respiratory vaccines

Vaccines are available against distemper, parainfluenza, canine adenovirus-2 and Bordetella bronchiseptica — some of the main organisms responsible for kennel cough. Bordetella vaccines come in different forms (intranasal, oral and injectable). Your veterinarian recommends which vaccines and which schedule fit your dog based on lifestyle: boarding, daycare, grooming, dog shows and dog parks raise the risk.

Vaccine	Notes
Distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza	Often combined; distemper is a core vaccine
Bordetella (intranasal or oral)	Often required by boarding and daycare facilities
Bordetella (injectable)	Alternative for some dogs
Canine influenza	Lifestyle vaccine in some regions

Ask boarding facilities how far in advance they need the vaccine; some require it a set number of days before the stay.

Preventing kennel cough

• Keep vaccinations up to date for your dog’s lifestyle.
• Choose boarding and daycare facilities with good ventilation and clean, uncrowded housing.
• Avoid shared water bowls at dog parks when there is an outbreak.
• Keep coughing dogs home.
• Reduce stress before boarding (practice short stays first).

Home care schedule

Time	What to do
Morning	Check breathing, appetite and energy; offer food and water
During the day	Short, calm leash walks for toileting; no rough play
Evening	Humid room or bathroom steam session if your vet agrees
Before bed	Note coughing frequency and any new signs
Daily	Wash bowls and bedding; keep away from other dogs

Boarding, daycare and grooming

Kennel cough spreads where dogs share air and space. Before boarding or daycare:

• check vaccine requirements and timing with the facility;
• ask how they handle coughing dogs;
• look for good ventilation and clean, uncrowded housing;
• keep your dog home if it is coughing, and tell the facility.

Groomers and trainers appreciate the same courtesy — reschedule if your dog is coughing.

Older dogs and dogs with other diseases

Merck notes that kennel cough can progress to chronic bronchitis in weakened, ill or aged dogs. If your dog has heart disease, airway problems such as a collapsing trachea, or other chronic illness, call your veterinarian at the first sign of a new cough rather than waiting to see whether it resolves. Chronic coughing that lasts at least two months is a different problem from infectious kennel cough and needs a full work-up.

How long to keep a coughing dog away from others

There is no single rule that fits every case, because different organisms are shed for different lengths of time. Ask your veterinarian when your dog can return to daycare, classes, boarding or dog parks. As a courtesy, keep your dog home until the cough has fully resolved and your vet agrees, and tell anyone your dog had contact with in the days before signs appeared, so they can watch their own dogs.

A quick decision guide

Situation	Action
Adult dog, harsh cough, eating and active	Call your vet; home care and isolation
Puppy with cough	Vet visit
Cough with fever, discharge or lethargy	Vet visit promptly
Labored or fast breathing, blue gums	Emergency
Cough lasting beyond a few weeks	Recheck to rule out other causes

Key takeaways

Most kennel cough is mild and resolves within a few weeks with rest and isolation. Vaccines reduce risk but do not cover every cause. Puppies, older dogs and any dog with fever, discharge, lethargy or breathing trouble need prompt veterinary care.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Better approach
Taking a coughing dog to daycare	Isolate until your vet clears it
Using a collar on a coughing dog	Switch to a harness
Giving human cough syrup	Ask your vet first
Ignoring a cough in a puppy	Puppies can develop pneumonia — see a vet
Assuming every cough is kennel cough	Heart and airway diseases can look similar

Related: parvo in dogs, dog first aid kit and the dog health guide.