Developed in collaboration with Andrea Johnson, DVM | Co-Founder | PetVet365
Last reviewed: March 01, 2024
In a healthy dog, kennel cough usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. But for senior dogs and dogs with other medical conditions, kennel cough can linger for up to 6 weeks.
It is possible for kennel cough to develop into pneumonia. So, keep an eye on your dog’s symptoms and contact your veterinarian if your dog’s condition doesn’t improve within 3 to 4 weeks. You should also contact your veterinarian if your pet has more symptoms than just a cough. Lack of appetite, fever or lethargy are all signs that the disease could be more than just kennel cough.
Kennel cough is a common respiratory tract infection that most dogs will likely catch at least once in their lives. The incubation period for kennel cough – the time between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms – is between 2 and 14 days. During this time, the dog will be contagious. Some dogs can be carriers for months without showing symptoms.
Now that you know how long kennel cough lasts, let’s take a look at the symptoms, causes, and treatment of kennel cough in dogs so you know what to expect.
Key Facts
- Kennel cough is a broad term for a type of bronchitis in dogs.
- It is also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, bordetella, and canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), depending on the source of the infection.
- It is highly contagious and can be acquired anywhere your dog comes in contact with another dog.
- The most common source is the bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium.
- It can also be caused by a combination of microorganisms.
- The main symptom is a dry, hoarse, hacking cough.
- Most dogs can clear the infection on their own within a few weeks. Senior and immunocompromised dogs may need veterinary intervention.
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough, also known as “honking cough” or canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a common respiratory tract infection that most dogs will likely catch at least once in their lives. It is a type of highly contagious bronchitis. The infection attacks cells in the respiratory system, which weakens the mucus coating on the dog’s respiratory tract, inflaming its trachea (windpipe), larynx (voice box) and bronchia. This inflammation results in a harsh, hacking or honking cough.
The incubation period for kennel cough – the time between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms – is between 2 and 14 days. During this time, the dog will be contagious. Some dogs can be carriers for months without showing symptoms.
Causes of Kennel Cough
Dogs contract kennel cough from being around other infected dogs, often from being boarded in a dog kennel or an animal shelter, which is how it gets its name. However, your dog can pick up kennel cough anywhere it comes in contact with another dog, like doggy daycare, the dog park, sharing toys or a water bowl, or even on your daily walk around the neighborhood.
Kennel cough is a common respiratory tract infection in dogs caused by various viruses and bacteria, oftentimes simultaneously. These include:
- Canine adenovirus type-2
- Parainfluenza virus
- Canine coronavirus
- Canine distemper virus
- Canine herpes
- Canine reovirus
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
The most common source of kennel cough is the bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium, which is why it is often referred to as simply bordetella. When a combination of bacteria or microorganisms causes kennel cough, it is generally referred to as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). The broad term “kennel cough” encompasses all of these.
How Long Does Kennel Cough Last?
The length of healing from kennel cough can vary a great deal from one dog to another, mainly depending on what causes the disease: bacteria or a virus. The parainfluenza virus usually causes a mild case that clears up in about 6 days. But if the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria infects the dog, the disease might last longer, with symptoms lingering around 10 days.
A dog already in good health will likely handle the disease better than an unhealthy one. Young adult dogs also tend to deal better with infections than either very young puppies or senior dogs. Also, it's essential to know that dogs can still spread kennel cough even after their symptoms go away. So, vets usually suggest keeping recovering dogs isolated for two weeks to limit disease spread.
What Could Complicate Recovery?
Sometimes, a dog can catch kennel cough from both the Bordetella bacteria and the parainfluenza virus at the same time. When this happens, the dog often remains sick for about 14 to 20 days. Some dogs might also get kennel cough after dealing with canine flu, the distemper virus, or Mycoplasma canis. These dogs could run a higher risk of catching pneumonia as a follow-up infection, leading to an extended illness.
Symptoms of Kennel Cough
The symptoms of kennel cough vary depending on the severity of the infection and the overall health of the dog. Loud, hoarse coughing is a tell-tale symptom. It is often described as sounding like a goose honk, like the dog has something stuck in its throat, or like a reverse sneeze. In addition to the persistent dry cough, other symptoms may include:
Common Symptoms of Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis
- A mild fever
- Swollen tonsils
- Runny eyes and nasal discharge
- Wheezing
- Lack of appetite
- Depressed behavior
- Cough when throat is rubbed
- Cough during or after exercise
- Phlegm or foam spit up at the end of a coughing fit
Kennel Cough Home Treatments
Most dog's immune systems can fight off the infection on their own, but there are ways you can help speed up your dog's recovery:
- Make sure they get plenty of rest,
- Try not to play/exercise too hard,
- Make sure they get plenty of food and water,
- Add water to dry food to reduce throat irritation,
- Avoid exposure to smoke, dust, pollen, household cleaners, and other environmental pollutants,
- Use a harness that fits around your dog's chest rather than a collar to reduce pressure on your dog’s throat during walks, and
- Keep their living area clean, dry, and well ventilated.
When to Contact Your Veterinarian
Kennel cough can leave dogs vulnerable to secondary infections and possibly lead to pneumonia which can be life threatening. Puppies, older dogs, and dogs with compromised immune systems should be monitored more closely. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any of the following:
- Cough continues for more than 7 days
- A loss of appetite
- Fever
- Lethargy.
Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bordetella bacteria, cough suppressants like dextromethorphan, or corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatories to help reduce inflammation if it is severe or long-lasting.
Your veterinarian may prescribe a customized, compounded medication. These medications are mixed by trained, licensed compounding pharmacists and often come in dosage forms designed to make giving or applying the medication easier and more accurate.
Preventing Kennel Cough in Dogs
There is such a wide range of strains of bacteria and viruses that cause kennel cough that preventing it outright is difficult, but veterinarians still recommend getting your dog vaccinated.
There is a vaccine against the main bacterial cause, bordetella, that comes in injection or nasal vaccine form. There also are vaccinations that offer protection against some of the viruses, including canine influenza, canine distemper, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine adenovirus type-2.
Like the flu shot in humans, these vaccines provide some immunity from the infection and reduce symptom severity if your dog does get it, which is especially important for puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with other underlying conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do if My Dog Has Kennel Cough?
Contact your veterinarian. Typically, mild cases of kennel cough are treated with a week or two of rest, but your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to prevent a secondary infection or cough medication to ease the symptoms. If your dog is still a puppy, is immunocompromised, has other underlying conditions like a collapsing trachea, or is older, the chance of a secondary infection increases.
What Are the Stages of Kennel Cough?
Symptoms of kennel cough usually take 3-5 days to develop after exposure. The classic honking, hacking cough which is often followed by a big retch at the end, lasts for one to two weeks in an average case in a healthy dog.
What Happens if Kennel Cough Goes Untreated?
Most dogs will be able to fight off the disease without veterinary intervention. However, there is the potential to develop into something worse, such as pneumonia. It is always best to have the dog seen by a veterinarian.
How Do You Know If Kennel Cough Is Serious?
Kennel cough itself is not fatal. In rare cases, the virus could lead to bronchopneumonia in puppies and chronic bronchitis in senior or immunocompromised dogs, so it is very important to get your dog checked by a veterinarian.
How Effective Are Kennel Cough Vaccines?
Whether your dog acquires immunity from a vaccine or a natural infection, it does not last long. Consult with your veterinarian for a recommendation based on your dog’s specific circumstances, like if your pet goes to doggy daycare or a boarding kennel often. Most facilities require a booster vaccination before boarding, and some veterinarians recommend a booster vaccine every six months to ensure maximum protection against infection.
How Often Should My Dog Be Vaccinated Against Kennel Cough?
According to the vaccination guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the oral or intranasal form of the bordetella vaccine can be administered as early as 8 weeks of age and can be boosted 2-4 weeks later. The injectable form is typically administered as early as 8 weeks of age with a booster given 4 weeks later. It is recommended that adult dogs that frequent daycare or boarding facilities be vaccinated every 6-12 months.
How are Bordetella vaccines administered?
Bordetella vaccination is given by injection, orally, or in nasal mist form. The oral vaccine is administered directly into the cheek pouch. This allows local immunity to develop on the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and windpipe where the infectious agents first attack and provides more rapid protection against infection than the injectable vaccine.
How Is Kennel Cough Diagnosed?
There isn’t a specific test for kennel cough. If your dog has symptoms and they have been in contact with other dogs during the incubation period, it’s a good chance it’s kennel cough. Your veterinarian may take swab samples to determine if the cause is viral or bacterial related, but that generally does not affect treatment options.
Can Dogs Get Kennel Cough More Than Once?
Yes, dogs can get kennel cough more than once because there are a variety of strains. Dogs can build some immunity to one strain, only to be infected with another. If it is caused by bordetella bronchiseptica, your dog should be immune for around 6 to 12 months.
Are There Any Home Remedies for Kennel Cough?
There are some natural treatments you can try at home to make your dog more comfortable. If you live in a dry environment, increase humidity levels in your home. You can do this with a humidifier or, if that is not practical, turn your shower into a steam bath and let your dog sit in the bathroom for a while. This may decrease the severity of symptoms.
Honey has antimicrobial and antifungal properties and can help reduce the inflammation in your dog’s throat. One-half to one tablespoon (depending on the size of your dog) of honey mixed with warm water in a bowl should offer some relief. You can do this up to three times a day until symptoms resolve.
Can I Give My Dog Benadryl for Kennel Cough?
Yes, but be careful. Benadryl is relatively safe but not well absorbed when given orally in dogs. Contact your veterinarian and follow their instructions. They will suggest a dose specific to your dog’s weight. Be certain that you measure the dose accurately.
Can I Give My Dog Anything Over the Counter for Kennel Cough?
Contact your veterinarian and follow their instructions. Most over the counter medications for coughing have ingredients that are not pet safe. The vast array of formulas make choosing a safe medication very difficult.
Sources
This article is meant to provide general and not medical advice. We strongly recommend that a veterinarian be consulted for the specific medical needs of your animal.
VCA Animal Hospitals
Purina
Hepper Blog