Can dogs have kennel cough without coughing

What Is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough—also known as canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) or infectious tracheobronchitis—is a highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs. It’s an infectious bronchitis that causes the trachea and bronchioles to become inflamed, resulting in a dry, hacking cough. This cough can sometimes sound like your dog has something stuck in their throat.

Kennel cough can be caused by multiple microorganisms, including Bordatella bronchiseptica bacteria, canine adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and mycoplasma, along with many other bacteria and viruses. It’s typically spread when a healthy dog is exposed to the respiratory secretions of an infected dog.

Kennel cough can cause mild symptoms in some dogs but can progress to a life-threatening pneumonia in other dogs. This is why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of kennel cough and seek treatment immediately. There is also a kennel cough vaccination that can prevent your dog from getting kennel cough.

Here’s everything you need to know about kennel cough in dogs—from what it is and its symptoms to kennel cough treatment and prevention.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

Symptoms of kennel cough include:

A persistent dry, hacking cough
Coughing during the night that keeps you and your dog awake
Retching with the production of white foam
Tracheal sensitivity: your dog coughs when you apply gentle pressure to their trachea

Severe symptoms include:

Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Fever
Labored breathing

Causes of Kennel Cough

A healthy dog can get kennel cough by inhaling aerosolized bacteria or viruses from an infected dog.

The bacteria and/or virus can be spread from an infected dog through coughing or sneezing, and dogs can also get it from infected objects (toys, food/water bowls).

Dogs can develop kennel cough approximately three to four days after they are exposed. Dogs are typically exposed to kennel cough when they are in crowded areas that have poor airflow and warm, moist air, such as:

Animal shelters
Boarding kennels
Dog daycare facilities
Grooming facilities
Dog parks

How Vets Diagnose Kennel Cough in Dogs

In most cases, a presumptive diagnosis of kennel cough can be made based clinical signs, history, and response to therapy.

Identifying the underlying virus is often not required. However, diagnostic testing is recommended in patients where pneumonia is suspected; those that do not respond to supportive care; those with signs of systemic disease; and if an outbreak is occurring in multiple dogs.

Bloodwork (specifically complete blood count) can sometimes reveal an elevated white blood cell count in those dogs with pneumonia as a complicating factor.

Chest radiographs and usually unremarkable in patients with mild to moderate cases of kennel cough. Radiographs are helpful in ruling out pneumonia, collapsing trachea, congestive heart failure, bronchitis or other causes of coughing in dogs.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Assay are commonly used tests for viral detection. Samples for this test are obtained by nasal or oropharyngeal swabs (like COVID testing or human strep throat testing). False negative and positive results are possible.

Other testing may include transtracheal washing and bacterial culture in cases of persistent or recurrent coughing.

Treatment for Kennel Cough

The treatment for kennel cough will depend on your dog and the severity of the kennel cough. Do not use a collar and leash if your dog has kennel cough or is recovering. Change to using harnesses during walks, as collars with leashes place extra pressure on the trachea, which induces coughing.

Mild Cases of Kennel Cough

For mild cases of kennel cough, treatment may only include supportive care, which focuses on rest, nutrition, and hydration.

A cough suppressant may be prescribed by your dog’s veterinarian to help reduce the frequency of the cough.

It should take about one to two weeks for a dog to recover from a mild case of kennel cough. Some dogs can completely recover on their own with no treatment required.

Severe Cases of Kennel Cough

Complicated cases of kennel cough can cause your dog to become very sick. A dog with severe kennel cough will most likely be coughing, acting very lethargic, and not wanting to eat or drink.

If a dog has developed pneumonia, then treatment can involve:

Hospitalization
Intravenous fluids
Antibiotics
Possibly oxygen therapy

The cost of kennel cough treatment in complicated cases can sometimes be over $1,000 depending on the number of days of hospitalization required.

Are There Home Remedies for Kennel Cough in Dogs?

For mild cases of kennel cough, there are a few at-home remedy options. However, keep an eye out for signs that the kennel cough is getting worse or not getting better.

Add Honey to Warm Water

Honey can be a great home remedy for kennel cough as it can help soothe your dog's throat and minimize coughing.

You can give your dog 1/2 tablespoon to 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with a little warm water in a bowl. This can be offered up to three times a day depending on how often your dog is coughing.

Use a Humidifier

A small humidifier can be placed near your dog while they are resting.

The humidifier will moisten the air that your dog breathes, which can help with irritation of the respiratory tract.

Use Your Shower to Do Steam Therapy

If you’re taking a hot shower or bath, let your dog stay in the closed bathroom with you—but not in the shower or bath. The hot shower can provide steam therapy and also help to decrease irritation.

Try Holistic Antioxidants Made for Dogs

Holistic antioxidants for dogs, such as dimethylglycine (DMG), can be used to help modulate and boost the immune system to fight off the virus faster.

Make Sure Your Dog Is Getting Plenty of Rest

Rest is very important for your dog while recovering from kennel cough.

Try to reduce the amount of exercise your dog gets on a daily basis while they are recovering from kennel cough—this can help with healing and reduce coughing spells.

Is Kennel Cough Fatal?

Many dogs with kennel cough can recover without complication; however, some dogs can become very sick with life-threatening pneumonia.

Dogs that are more susceptible to complications from kennel cough include:

Puppies that have immature immune systems (especially young puppies that have not been fully vaccinated)
Older dogs that have a decreased immune defense or other serious diseases (heart failure, diabetes, or cancer)
Pregnant dogs that may have a lower immunity
Dogs that have pre-existing respiratory diseases (tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis, severe respiratory allergies)

Recovery and Management of Kennel Cough

While your dog is home recovering from kennel cough, make sure to avoid irritants such as household cleaners, cigarette smoke, and dust. These things can cause more irritation and prolong your dog’s recovery.

If you take your dog outside, consider using a harness instead of a collar. The harness will allow you to go for a walk without applying pressure on their trachea like a collar would, which can worsen your dog’s cough.

Kennel Cough in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatments FAQs

How long does kennel cough last?

Dogs with mild kennel cough are usually sick for about one or two weeks and recover well. These dogs usually only experience mild clinical signs and quickly recover from kennel cough, which translates to a good prognosis.

Dogs that have complicated cases of kennel cough can be sick for three to six weeks, with a long road to recovery. If dogs are severely affected by kennel cough and develop pneumonia, they could possibly die.

How do you treat kennel cough at home?

Holistic antioxidants for dogs, such as dimethylglycine (DMG), can be used to help modulate and boost the immune system to fight off the virus faster.

Nebulization can be performed using either a nebulizer from a human or canine pharmacy, or you can use a steamy bathroom. Run a hot shower and allow the bathroom to fill with steam. Then have your dog stay in the bathroom (not in the shower) for 5-15 minutes a few times daily. This helps to moisten the airways and decrease irritation.

A room humidifier can also be used in the room that your dog sleeps in at night to decrease irritation in the respiratory tract.

Do not use a collar and leash. Change to using harnesses during walks, as collars with leashes place extra pressure on the trachea, which induces coughing.

Keep your pet rested during recovery. Avoid any heavy play or exercise and allow your dog to get plenty of rest.

Avoid anything that may irritate your dog’s respiratory tract during recovery, such as aerosol sprays, household cleaners, incense, and cigarette smoke.

Is sneezing a sign of kennel cough?

Sneezing can be a sign of kennel cough and often shows up as a “reverse sneeze.” Usually this is secondary to irritation of the throat or nasopharynx, but it can also be caused by postnasal drip.

How long is kennel cough contagious for?

Shedding of the virus can go on for one to three weeks after infection with kennel cough. It is best to keep your dog away from other dogs during this time to avoid transmission. Your veterinarian will instruct you when it is safe to allow your dog to interact with other dogs again.

What can I give my dog for kennel cough over the counter?

Never give your dog human medications. Holistic antioxidants for dogs, such as dimethylglycine (DMG) can be used to help modulate and boost your dog’s immune system to fight off the virus faster. This can be found as a supplement through most pet retailers.

What can be mistaken for kennel cough?

“The canine distemper virus and canine influenza virus both start off with symptoms nearly identical to kennel cough,” he said. Other conditions that can cause coughing include a collapsing trachea, bronchitis, asthma, and even heart disease.

How do I know if it's kennel cough or something else?

The most obvious symptom of kennel cough is a forceful, hacking cough, which will often sound like your dog has something stuck in their throat. The cough can be dry and hoarse or productive, in which case it can be followed by a gag, swallowing motion or the production of mucus.

Can a dog spread kennel cough without symptoms?

A dog can carry kennel cough and show no symptoms at all yet still pass on the infectious organisms to other dogs. As such, a dog might seem safe for your pet to interact with and still be carrying kennel cough. Not much you can do in that case. Other dogs will present more symptoms.

Can a dog have a mild case of kennel cough?

Kennel cough can cause mild symptoms in some dogs but can progress to a life-threatening pneumonia in other dogs. This is why it's important to recognize the symptoms of kennel cough and seek treatment immediately. There is also a kennel cough vaccination that can prevent your dog from getting kennel cough.