Introduction
Infectious canine tracheobronchitis, more commonly known as “kennel cough,” is a highly contagious, acute upper-respiratory tract disease complex that can be caused by one or a combination of several different bacterial, viral, or micoplasmal agents. Dogs of any age are at risk, but puppies 6 weeks to 6 months of age tend to be more severely affected. Fortunately, the signs of kennel cough are easy to recognize. If you notice that your dog is exhibiting these signs, particularly if your dog has recently been boarded, to a dog show, to the dog park, or otherwise exposed to a number of dogs in close quarters, please make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Kennel Cough in Dogs
Most dogs with kennel cough show a classic course of mild disease characterized by sudden onset of a deep, dry, hacking cough without any other signs of illness or discomfort. Owners often think that their dog has “something stuck in its throat,” because the only thing that they notice is the cough; nothing else seems wrong with their dog. The signs of tracheobronchitis normally appear about 4 to 5 days after exposure to an infected dog, which usually occurs in a high-dog-density boarding or dog park situation, where dogs congregate in what might be less than ideal hygienic conditions.
Affected dogs may have coughing fits and then gag, especially after exercise, and may retch and produce white, foamy mucus after a bout of coughing. Sometimes the cough is accompanied by a change in the dog’s bark. Otherwise, most dogs with kennel cough are clinically normal. There is no gender or breed predisposition to developing “kennel cough.” However, puppies and unvaccinated older dogs are more prone to developing the condition.
In uncommon cases, and more so in puppies or unvaccinated adult dogs, infectious tracheobronchitis can progress to a more severe disease that includes bronchopneumonia and rhinitis. Signs here may include fever, nasal and ocular (eye) discharge, a deep cough that can be moist and productive, inappetence, lethargy (tiredness), exercise intolerance, and dyspnea (difficulty breathing).
While the clinical manifestations of kennel cough may not seem particularly serious, the infection is highly contagious and therefore should be treated immediately. Moreover, the disease can rapidly progress to more severe respiratory illness in puppies or other immunocompromised animals.