Infectious tracheobronchitis, a.k.a. kennel cough, is caused by several bacteria and viruses. It is highly contagious and the most common causes are the bacteria Bordetella brochoseptica, canine adenovirus–2 and to a lesser degree, canine parainfluenza virus.
The disease is usually mild, and commonly, the only symptom is coughing. The cough can be mild to very harsh, often being described as a ´honking´ sound. My receptionists quickly usher any coughing dog to an isolated examination room, as kennel cough is highly contagious and can easily spread by sneezing and coughing.
Recovery takes one to two weeks. Exercise, barking or pressure on the throat (when your dog pulls at his leash) aggravates the cough. A good idea to keep the collar from pressing on his trachea is to temporarily use a harness. Cough suppressants and antibiotics are often used to decrease the severity of the cough, and may hasten recovery.
While your puppy has been vaccinated with an intranasal vaccine for kennel cough, your pup may still be occasionally prone to slight coughing, sneezing and clear nasal discharge. Dogs from shelters are also prone to occasional coughs even if they have been vaccinated since they may have been exposed to harmful bacteria before the vaccination created immunity in their nasal passages.
The vaccination is effective for approximately 6 months, and re–vaccination is recommended every 6 months for dogs at high risk in shelters, race tracks, doggy day care, dogs who frequently board and possibly dogs who visit dog parks. Ask your veterinarian for vaccination recommendations for your puppy.
Sharon E. Anderson, DVM
