Kennel cough in dogs

What is kennel cough?

Kennel cough is the collective name for infections, bacteria and/or viruses that cause respiratory infections in dogs. It can be caused by many different types of infections, the most common being the canine parainfluenza virus type-2 and the canine respiratory virus.

Symptoms of kennel cough in dogs

• Sudden and acute onset coughing attacks
• Strong cough
• Persistent and loud cough
• Intense coughing that can cause gagging – and vomiting up mucus
• Fever

How is kennel cough diagnosed?

Vets usually diagnose kennel cough based on your dog’s symptoms – and by listening to your dog’s lungs.

If your dog has a general affected condition, the vet may take blood samples, and they may do an X-ray to rule out pneumonia, which can be a secondary condition.

Treatment of kennel cough in dogs

Ensure your dog gets plenty of rest, and be sure to take your dog’s temperature on a daily basis. Your dog may have a peak in fever at the beginning of contracting kennel cough.

Some dogs may be prescribed cough suppressants or expectorants if they have a particularly nasty and persistent cough.

The vast majority of dogs recover from kennel cough quickly – although a mild cough may persist for a week or two. Healthy adult dogs are likely to recover faster than younger or older dogs.

When should I contact the vet about kennel cough?

Contact your vet if:

• Your dog’s condition worsens
• Your dog has difficulty breathing
• Your dog has a persistent or returning fever

Pneumonia can be a complication of kennel cough – usually caused by a secondary infection of bacteria.

Is kennel cough contagious?

Kennel cough can be transmitted between dogs – through direct contact, coughing or sneezing, or through shared objects like bowls or toys.

Kennel cough infections can spread quickly through crowded dog-walking routes, dog nurseries and dog competitions – basically anywhere there are a lot of dogs.

Can my dog socialise with other dogs if it has kennel cough?

You should not let your dog socialise with other dogs if it has suspected kennel cough – as this is highly contagious.

Scientific studies suggest that dogs with kennel coughs should stay isolated from other dogs for about two weeks from the onset of coughing symptoms. It’s during these first two weeks that dogs can be contagious with the CPIV-2 and CRCoV viruses.

If, after two weeks, your dog still has a fever or seems generally unwell, you should continue to keep them isolated from other dogs – to avoid the spread of infection. Ensure your dog gets lots of rest and be sure to take your dog’s temperature daily.

Chronic cough in dogs

A chronic cough is a cough that has persisted for at least 2 month - and occurs daily.

Bronchitis is the most common reason for chronic coughing in dogs – and is due to a chronic inflammation around a dog’s airways.

For more advice on health problems in dogs, see our common dog health issues guide.

FAQs about kennel cough in dogs