What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel Cough is the more common name for infectious bronchitis in dogs. This is a highly contagious and common infectious, respiratory infection in dogs causing symptoms such as coughing and fever. Exposure can occur anywhere dogs gather, including the park or groomers.
There are three main diseases that can cause Kennel Cough, Bordetella bronchiseptica which we can protect against in a yearly Kennel Cough Vaccine, and Canine parainfluenza virus and Canine adenovirus-2 which your fur baby should be protected against if they are up to date with their yearly booster vaccines.
Although the name Kennel Cough suggests only kennelled or boarded dogs are at risk, in fact all dogs are at risk simply going about their day-to-day life. Dogs out walking, at dog training, agility clubs, in the groomers, or attending puppy groups or dog park are also at risk of catching Kennel Cough.
Dogs classically suffer from a persistent, hacking cough, which often sounds like a goose honk. Sometimes coughing is followed by violent gagging, giving the impression the dog is trying to vomit or has something caught in their throat. Other symptoms which may occur includes fever, sneezing, a runny nose, eye discharge, loss of appetite and tiredness. Once infected your fur baby can suffer from Kennel Cough anywhere from a few days to 2-3 weeks.
Much like the human flu virus, Kennel Cough can be very dangerous for puppies and animals in stressful situations or which have weakened immune systems by causing pneumonia, which it is why it is so important to get your healthy fur baby vaccinated to prevent the spread to immunosuppressed animals.
What Vaccinations are available?
We offer a very easy nasal vaccination that gives 12 months cover from one of the main Kennel Cough causes, Bordetella bronchiseptica. This is easily administered by placing the liquid into their mouth between their cheek and gum. No injection needed for this vaccine.
The two other diseases that can cause Kennel Cough, Canine parainfluenza virus and Canine adenovirus-2, are covered for in the yearly injectable vaccine boosters for dogs. So it is very important to keep all these up to date each year for the best protection.
Important Information
The Kennel Cough vaccine is a live vaccine, this means that after the vaccination your fur baby can be shedding this disease onto their fur and environment over the next 35 days. This is often why many Boarding Kennels require a Kennel Cough Vaccination to be given many weeks before entering their property.