Your dog starts making a harsh, honking cough that sounds like something is stuck in their throat, often finishing with a gag or a retch. There is a good chance you are hearing kennel cough, one of the most common infectious illnesses in Australian dogs. For most healthy adult dogs it is a noisy, miserable nuisance rather than a serious illness, and it clears up with rest. Knowing the signs, the red flags and how to protect your dog before boarding or daycare makes all the difference. This guide covers what kennel cough is, how it spreads, how to care for a coughing dog, when to see the vet and how to prevent it.
What kennel cough actually is
“Kennel cough” is the everyday name for canine infectious respiratory disease, also called canine infectious tracheobronchitis or simply canine cough. It is a contagious infection of the windpipe (trachea), voice box and airways that causes inflammation and that distinctive cough.
It is not caused by a single germ. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, several bacteria and viruses can be involved, and dogs are often infected with more than one at a time. The main players are:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterium and the usual headline act
- Canine parainfluenza virus
- Canine adenovirus type 2
- Other viruses, including canine respiratory coronavirus and canine herpesvirus, in some cases
Because so many different germs can cause similar symptoms, kennel cough is a bit like the common cold in people. Dogs can catch it more than once, and no single vaccine covers every possible cause.
How kennel cough spreads
Kennel cough spreads easily from dog to dog in three main ways:
- Through the air, in droplets when an infected dog coughs or sneezes
- By direct contact, such as a nose-to-nose greeting
- On shared items, including water bowls, toys, bedding, fencing, and even a groomer’s or handler’s hands and clothes
The name is misleading, because your dog does not need to have set foot in a kennel to catch it. Anywhere dogs gather closely is fair game: boarding kennels, doggy daycare, grooming salons, puppy school and obedience classes, vet waiting rooms, off-leash parks, dog beaches and even a busy footpath.
Signs usually appear around three to ten days after exposure, and occasionally up to two weeks later. That means a dog can look perfectly healthy while already incubating the infection, which is why cases often appear in clusters a week or two after a boarding stay or a busy weekend at the park.
Signs to watch for
The hallmark sign is a sudden, forceful, dry cough that many owners describe as a goose-like honk. It often ends in a gag or retch, sometimes bringing up a little white froth that is easy to mistake for vomiting or choking. Coughing fits tend to be worse with excitement, exercise or pressure from a collar. Other common signs include:
- A persistent dry, hacking or honking cough
- Gagging or retching after coughing, sometimes with clear or white foam
- Sneezing, snorting, a runny nose or watery eyes
- Mildly lower energy or a slightly reduced appetite in some dogs
Most dogs with uncomplicated kennel cough stay bright, alert and keen for dinner, which helps tell it apart from more serious illness. In healthy adult dogs it usually settles within one to three weeks.
Is it kennel cough or something else?
Coughing has many causes, including heart disease, a collapsing windpipe, lung disease, allergies and something lodged in the throat. That honking snort some dogs make can also be reverse sneezing, which is usually harmless. Our guide to why dogs reverse sneeze explains the difference. If you are unsure what you are hearing, a short video of the cough on your phone is very helpful for your vet.
When to see the vet
Many cases clear on their own, but some dogs need prompt care because kennel cough can progress to pneumonia. Contact your vet if your dog:
- Is a young puppy, a senior, or has an existing heart or breathing condition
- Is a flat-faced breed such as a Pug, French Bulldog or British Bulldog
- Seems flat or lethargic, goes off their food, or has a fever
- Has thick yellow or green discharge from the nose or a moist, productive cough, which can suggest a secondary infection
- Has a cough that is getting worse rather than better after a few days, or is still going after two to three weeks
Treat it as an emergency if your dog is struggling to breathe, breathing rapidly at rest, or has blue-tinged or very pale gums.
Flat-faced dogs already work harder to breathe, so any respiratory infection deserves closer attention. Our guide to brachycephalic breeds covers why.
How kennel cough is treated
For an otherwise healthy dog, kennel cough is usually managed with supportive care at home while the immune system does its job. Depending on how unwell your dog is, your vet may:
- Recommend rest and monitoring only, for mild cases
- Prescribe a cough suppressant to ease a persistent cough and help your dog rest, when there is no sign of pneumonia
- Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to settle an irritated throat
- Prescribe antibiotics if a bacterial infection or pneumonia is suspected or confirmed. They are not needed in every case.
- Recommend chest x-rays and more intensive care for dogs that are unwell or not improving
Never give your dog human cough or cold medicines or leftover antibiotics. Some human medicines are unsafe for dogs, and antibiotics only help in specific situations.
Caring for a coughing dog at home
- Swap the collar for a harness. Pressure on the windpipe from a collar and lead tends to trigger coughing fits.
- Rest and keep exercise gentle. Short, calm toilet walks are fine. Skip runs, ball games and rough play for a week or two.
- Keep them warm and comfortable. Offer a quiet, draught-free bed away from household traffic.
- Keep water handy. Fresh water within easy reach soothes the throat.
- Avoid airway irritants. Keep your dog away from smoke, dust, aerosol sprays and strong cleaning fumes.
- Keep them home. Stay away from parks, daycare, classes and other dogs while they are coughing.
Short on walks while your dog recovers? Our indoor enrichment ideas help keep a resting dog’s brain busy without setting off the cough.
How long is a dog contagious?
Dogs can keep shedding the germs for a couple of weeks and sometimes longer, even as they start to feel better. A sensible rule is to keep your dog away from other dogs until at least a week after the cough has completely stopped, or until your vet gives the all clear. Wash bowls, bedding and toys in hot, soapy water, and wash your hands after handling a coughing dog, especially if you also have contact with other dogs.
Why kennel cough peaks in winter and school holidays
Kennel cough is around all year, and the cold itself does not cause it. Australian vets do tend to see more coughing dogs in the cooler months and around peak holiday periods, and many practices see a couple of small outbreaks each year. The reasons are mostly about how dogs (and their owners) behave:
- More boarding. School holidays, especially the July break and the Christmas period, send lots of dogs who do not normally mix into kennels together.
- Busy daycare and classes. Daycares fill up and puppy schools keep running through winter.
- More time indoors and closer together. Shared air and surfaces make it easier for germs to move between dogs.
- Cold, dry air and stress. Both can irritate the airways and take the edge off a dog’s natural defences.
Before you book boarding or daycare
- Check vaccination early, not at drop-off. Most reputable Australian boarding kennels and daycares require proof of kennel cough vaccination, and many ask for it to be done at least a week or two before the stay. Check your facility’s exact cut-off when you book.
- Ask your vet which vaccine suits your timeline. The intranasal vaccine builds local protection in the airways quickly, while an injectable first course needs two doses a few weeks apart. If your dog has never been vaccinated, start planning well ahead.
- Choose the facility carefully. Look for good airflow, sensible separation between dogs, clear vaccination rules and a good cleaning routine. It is reasonable to ask how they handle a coughing dog and whether they have had recent cases.
- Keep the lead-up calm. A predictable routine before boarding helps keep stress down.
- Watch for two weeks afterwards. A cough that appears in the days after pick-up is not unusual, given the incubation period.
Our guide to choosing a safe doggy daycare has more on what to look for.
Preventing kennel cough
Vaccination
In Australia, kennel cough protection usually comes as part of the C5 vaccine, which adds canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica to the core C3 vaccine (distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus). The RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase describes it as a non-core vaccine recommended for dogs who regularly come into contact with other dogs, including on walks, at the park, daycare, puppy preschool or boarding. That covers most Australian dogs.
The vaccine is often given as drops into the nose, or by injection, and is generally boosted every year. Your vet will tailor the timing to your dog’s age and lifestyle. Our C3, C5, F3 and F4 vaccination guide explains the full schedule and typical costs.
Keep expectations realistic. Like the human flu shot, the kennel cough vaccine does not guarantee your dog will never catch it, because many different germs can be involved. Vaccinated dogs that do get sick usually have a milder, shorter illness and shed less.
Everyday habits
- Keep a coughing dog home and away from other dogs. It is the single most considerate thing an owner can do.
- Bring your own water bowl to the park rather than using communal bowls.
- Wash food and water bowls, bedding and toys regularly in hot, soapy water.
- Wash your hands after patting unfamiliar dogs, particularly if you have a puppy or senior at home.
- Support general health with good food, fresh water and regular exercise.
Frequently asked questions
Can my dog catch kennel cough if they are vaccinated?
Yes. The vaccine reduces the severity and spread of the disease but does not cover every possible germ. Vaccinated dogs usually have a milder case and recover faster.
Does my dog need the vaccine if they never go to kennels?
It is worth discussing with your vet. Dogs that visit parks, training classes, the groomer or daycare can still be exposed, so “never boards” does not mean “never at risk”.
How long does kennel cough last?
Most healthy adult dogs improve within one to three weeks. Puppies, seniors and dogs with other health problems can take longer and are more likely to need veterinary treatment.
Can people or cats catch kennel cough?
Kennel cough is overwhelmingly a dog disease. Bordetella bronchiseptica can very rarely infect people with weakened immune systems, so sensible hand washing is wise, and anyone immunocompromised should speak to their GP if concerned. Cats can occasionally pick up Bordetella, but they have their own respiratory infections, most notably cat flu.
Is kennel cough dangerous?
For most healthy adult dogs it is uncomfortable but self-limiting. It can lead to pneumonia, particularly in puppies, seniors, flat-faced breeds and dogs with heart or airway problems, so see your vet if your dog seems unwell rather than just coughy.
Key takeaways
- Kennel cough is a contagious airway infection caused by a mix of bacteria and viruses, most often Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus.
- The classic sign is a dry, honking cough that often ends in a gag. Most healthy adult dogs recover in one to three weeks with rest.
- See your vet for puppies, seniors, flat-faced breeds, or any dog that is lethargic, off food, feverish or breathing hard.
- Use a harness, keep exercise gentle and keep a coughing dog away from other dogs until at least a week after the cough stops.
- Cases rise in winter and school holidays because of boarding and close contact. Sort vaccination well before drop-off.
- The C5 vaccine and good hygiene are your best defences, even though no vaccine is a full guarantee.
This article is general information for Australian dog owners and is not a substitute for advice from a registered veterinarian. If your dog is unwell, contact your vet.
