Q&A for How to Treat Kennel Cough

Yes, in fact, most of the time kennel cough with resolve itself without any treatment. However, this is only true in healthy dogs. If your dog has any underlying conditions, they may require treatment. In either case, it's worth taking your dog to a vet.

There's a vaccine for kennel cough that will stop it in its tracks most of the time. However, it's not 100% effective since there are multiple bacterias and viruses that can cause kennel cough. Still, getting your dog vaccinated is a good first step.

You often don't need any medication at all, since kennel cough typically goes away on its own. If your dog has underlying condition or the cough is especially bad, your vet may prescribe antibiotics to combat the kennel cough.

Antibiotics in the tetracylcine family are most commonly used as the first option treatment for kennel cough.

In a healthy dog, their immune system will fight the infection, which will eventually clear up after 2 - 3 weeks. However, be alert for deterioration, such as a worsening of the cough or lack of appetite, as this could indicate a complication such as pneumonia.

The short answer is no. However, a few rare strains of bugs that cause kennel cough can cross the species barrier and infect cats or people. This is very rare, though, and in the majority of people, having a cough at the same time as the dog is just an unhappy coincidence.

While amoxicillin is safe to give to the majority of dogs, it is best to speak to your vet before dosing. Many of the strains of bug that cause respiratory infections are not killed by amoxicillin, and your vet will know which bugs are problematic in your area. It is not good to give an ineffective antibiotic, as this can create bacterial resistance, meaning that the amoxicillin may not be effective when you do need it.

If the kennel cough was caused by bortadella, then there is a slight risk that the dog may pass kennel cough on to a cat. However, in most cases, kennel cough is the result of a species specific infection, so only other dogs would be at risk.

A dog that has stopped coughing does not need to be isolated any longer. The cough is usually the last symptom to go away. After the cough is gone, the dog is unlikely to pass the infection on and she can be put in with other dogs again.

Different brands of kennel cough vaccine last for different times. One of the first vaccines to be developed, Intrac, only lasted 6 months. However, newer and more effective vaccines are now available (like Nobivac KC) that last for 12 months. If in doubt, check your dog's vaccine certificate, as the vet records when the next dose is due.

That depends on the vaccine brand. Some last 3 months, others 6 months, and others 12 months. However, most vets are well aware of how tricky it is to give the vaccine and will opt to use the longest acting vaccine on the market at that time.

Yes. Kennel cough is an umbrella term that describes the symptoms, not the cause. For example, once a dog has recovered from kennel cough caused by Bug A, that dog should be immune to Bug A in future. However, that same dog, if he is exposed to Bug B, which causes kennel cough symptoms, has no immunity to this new challenge and will show symptoms all over again.

The kennel cough vaccine protects for either 3, 6, or 12 months, depending on the brand used. Thus, depending on the brand, the dog may no longer be protected. Also, the vaccine protects against the most serious causes of kennel cough, but it does not protect against every single bug that can cause an infectious cough.