Kennel Cough: What Pet Parents Should Know Before Boarding Season
From Your Veterinary Clinic & Boarding Team
At our clinic, we’re proud to provide both medical care and boarding services under one roof. As the summer travel season kicks off, more dogs are heading into kennels, playgroups, and daycare and we want to help you be prepared. One of the most common illnesses we see during this time is kennel cough, a highly contagious yet manageable condition that spreads easily where dogs gather.
Here’s what we want you to know to help keep your dog happy and healthy – whether they’re boarding with us or elsewhere.
What Is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough, officially called canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a bacterial upper respiratory infection that spreads between dogs through coughing, sneezing, or even brief nose-to-nose contact. The primary culprit is Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterium easily transmitted in shared pet spaces.
It’s especially common in group environments like dog parks, grooming salons, daycare, and boarding facilities. In fact, it’s often referred to as the “common cold” of dogs due to how quickly and easily it spreads.
Symptoms of Kennel Cough
If your dog has been around other dogs recently, it’s important to monitor for these signs:
- Vomiting that typically occurs after excessive coughing
- Persistent sneezing, coughing, or gagging
- Eye or nasal discharge (yellow or green in color)
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy (appears tired or less active than normal)
If your dog experiences labored breathing, stops eating or drinking, or becomes extremely lethargic, those could be signs of a more serious issue. In those cases, contact your veterinarian immediately.
How We Diagnose Kennel Cough
If you bring your dog to our clinic for a suspected case of kennel cough, we’ll start with a comprehensive physical exam, listening to their lungs and airways with a stethoscope (auscultation), and reviewing recent exposure to other pets.
In certain situations, especially if symptoms are severe or not improving we may recommend:
- Chest X-rays to check for pneumonia
- Bloodwork to evaluate immune function and rule out other causes
- PCR testing using nasal or throat swabs (helpful in persistent or complex cases)
Because some test results, like PCR panels, can take several days, we typically begin treatment based on symptoms and exposure history.
How We Treat Kennel Cough
Mild to moderate cases often respond well to supportive care. Treatment may include rest, cough suppressants, and anti-inflammatories to ease throat irritation. If we suspect bacterial involvement, we’ll prescribe antibiotics such as:
- Azithromycin
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Clavamox)
- Doxycycline
If your dog is difficult to medicate at home, we can administer a long-lasting injection like Convenia, which stays active for two weeks.
Most mild cases resolve within 10–14 days, though we advise continuing medication for a few days beyond symptom resolution. If symptoms persist, we may schedule a follow-up exam and further testing.
For more serious cases, such as those involving young puppies, senior dogs, immunocompromised pets, or pneumonia, hospital-level care may be required. This could include nebulization, oxygen therapy, IV fluids, and more aggressive treatment.
Preventing Kennel Cough
Prevention starts with vaccination. The Bordetella vaccine offers protection against the most common strain that causes kennel cough. While it doesn’t cover every possible pathogen, it greatly reduces the risk of infection and often results in milder symptoms if illness occurs.
For dogs who board frequently or spend time in group settings, we recommend updating their Bordetella vaccine every six months. Puppies from pet stores are at higher risk of developing more severe forms due to their early-life conditions and transport exposure.
At our clinic, we require the Bordetella vaccine for all boarding guests, and we’re happy to provide it during a pre-boarding checkup.
Is It Dangerous?
In most healthy adult dogs, kennel cough is not life-threatening. But in pets with weaker immune systems or existing health concerns, complications like bacterial pneumonia or low blood sugar can occur.
Kennel cough can also lead to chronic bronchitis, where inflammation lingers even after the infection has cleared, causing a persistent cough that may need additional treatment.
As always, the earlier we intervene, the better the outcome so don’t wait to reach out if something doesn’t seem right.
What Else Might Cause a Cough?
There are several conditions that can resemble kennel cough, and if your pet doesn’t respond to treatment as expected, we’ll explore other possibilities. These include:
- Distemper, pneumonia, or valley fever
- Canine influenza, adenovirus, or parainfluenza
- Heart failure or heartworm disease
- Environmental irritants (like smoke or pollution)
- Foreign material lodged in the trachea
- Aspiration from megaesophagus or collapsing trachea
Keeping your pet current on their DAPPV vaccine (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) helps guard against many of these serious diseases.
Can Humans or Other Pets Catch It?
No, kennel cough is not contagious to humans and does not affect cats or exotic pets. However, it is very contagious to other dogs, so if your pet is diagnosed, please keep them isolated until fully recovered.
If you have other dogs in the home, monitor them closely. Contact us if you notice any symptoms, we’re here to help guide you through the process.
Final Thoughts from Our Team
Whether your dog is visiting us for medical care or staying with us in our boarding facility, their health and safety are our top priorities. If you’re planning a trip this summer, be sure to schedule a wellness visit ahead of time to confirm your dog is protected – including an up-to-date Bordetella vaccine.
If you have questions about your dog’s symptoms, need help with vaccine records, or are preparing for boarding, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Dr. Shayla Fleming, DVM
Dr. Shayla Fleming is from Phoenix, Arizona and has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a kid. She grew up with dogs, birds, reptiles, and fish! She graduated from Aurora University in Illinois with dual bachelor degrees in Biology and health science. She moved back to Arizona to attend Midwestern University for Veterinary School and enjoys being in the sun again. She has a dog named Jack, a bird named Flynn, and a tortoise named Ralph. In her free time she enjoys hiking, going to the lake, and reading.