Monitor — routine vet appointment
Suspected kennel cough in dogs
Harsh dry hacking cough after kennelling, daycare, or training class — most cases settle in 1–2 weeks; vet contact if not improving, breathing changes, or systemic illness.
Recognise the signs
- Dry, harsh, honking cough
- Often sounds like 'something stuck in throat'
- Triggered by excitement, lead pressure, drinking
- Otherwise bright, eating, normal
- 1–2 weeks duration typically
First aid steps
- Rest at home, no walks until vet check.
- Isolate from other dogs (highly contagious).
- Use a harness rather than a collar.
- Phone the vet — most cases self-limit but exam is wise; secondary pneumonia is possible.
Do NOT
- Do not give human cough medicine.
- Do not exercise while coughing.
- Do not delay if the dog is unwell, breathing fast, or off food.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Off food, lethargic, fever
- Breathing difficulty
- Cough lasting beyond 2–3 weeks
- Puppy or senior dog with kennel cough — higher pneumonia risk
Signs that can usually wait for a routine appointment
- A bright dog with a dry hack but otherwise normal can be monitored at home with rest for a few days.
Common causes
- Bordetella bronchiseptica and viral infections
- Highly contagious where dogs mix
What the vet will need to know
- Recent kennelling, daycare, training class, dog show
- Vaccination status (intranasal Bordetella)
- Cough character and triggers
Aftercare
- Antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection if signs worsen.
- Anti-inflammatories sometimes prescribed.
- Rest 1–2 weeks.
- Avoid contact with other dogs for 2–3 weeks after symptoms resolve.
Prevention
- Intranasal Bordetella vaccine before kennelling, daycare, training class, or shows.
- Avoid known sources during outbreaks.
Frequently asked questions
Does kennel cough need antibiotics?
Most cases self-resolve in 1–2 weeks. Antibiotics reserved for severe cases or secondary bacterial infection.
How long is my dog contagious?
Up to 2–3 weeks after symptoms resolve. Avoid mixing with other dogs during this window.
Will the vaccine cover all kennel cough?
It covers Bordetella and parainfluenza, the main agents. Some cases involve other organisms not covered.