Introduction
Kennel cough is a highly contagious upper-respiratory disease that can quickly spread from dog to dog. Puppies, middle aged dogs, and older dogs are all at risk for the disease.
Fortunately the symptoms of kennel cough are easy to recognize. If you notice that your dog has any of these symptoms, and your dog has recently been kenneled or exposed to other dogs, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. You will also need to restrict your dog from having contact with other dogs until he or she has finished antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms of Kennel Cough in Dogs
The symptoms of kennel cough are a dry and hacking cough, coughing fits that occur after exercise or activity, and gagging motions followed by the cough. Sometimes foamy mucus can be produced by the gagging. The cough can be constant, periodic, or only present after activity. Sometimes the cough has a hollow, barking sound.
Kennel cough does not usually cause any other symptoms. Dogs with kennel cough do not normally have a fever, their appetite is the same, they are just as energetic as always, and they do not have discharge around the eyes or nose. If your dog has kennel cough, you may be perplexed that the only symptom you notice is a cough; nothing else may seem wrong with your dog.
While the symptoms of kennel cough do not seem dangerous, kennel cough still needs to be treated immediately. Not only is the disease contagious, but it can lead to secondary bacterial infections as well. These secondary infections can cause damage to the upper respiratory system and may develop into pneumonia. Puppies, older dogs, and dogs with impaired immune systems are especially at risk of developing dangerous secondary infections from kennel cough.