Autumn is when dogs start mixing again. Daycare fills up as people go back to work, training classes restart, and the holiday boarding calendar begins. Wherever dogs gather and share air, the family of infections we call kennel cough spreads easily. Most cases are mild and self-limiting, but a few are not, and the difference is worth knowing.
What kennel cough actually is
It is not one infection. It is a group of bacteria and viruses that irritate the airway lining, and several can be present at once. That is why a vaccinated dog can still catch something: the vaccine covers the most common agents, not every possible cause.
It spreads through the air when dogs cough or sniff at close range, and on shared surfaces such as water bowls, fences, toys and hands. Any place dogs gather qualifies, which in Penticton means daycare, kennels, grooming, training classes, the dog beach and the off-leash park.
Most dogs pick it up from proximity rather than contact, so a dog who never touched another dog can still come home with it.
The sound is the clue
The classic cough is dry, harsh and loud, often described as honking, and it usually comes in bursts. It is frequently followed by a retch or a gag that produces white foam, which owners reasonably mistake for vomiting.
Excitement, pulling on a collar and cold air all set it off. A dog who coughs hard the moment they stand up or get excited, then settles, fits the pattern.
Importantly, most affected dogs are otherwise bright. They eat, they want to walk, and they behave normally between coughing fits. Signs usually appear three to ten days after exposure, which is why the connection to last week’s boarding stay gets missed.
When it is more than a nuisance
Phone us if you see any of the following, rather than waiting it out:
- A cough lasting more than a week, or getting worse rather than better
- A dog who is lethargic, off food, or has a fever
- Faster or laboured breathing, or coughing that continues at rest
- Thick discharge from the nose or eyes
- Any cough in a puppy, a senior dog, a flat-faced breed, or a dog with an existing heart or airway condition
- Blue-tinged gums, or a dog struggling to breathe, which is an emergency
The reason we take a cough seriously in those groups is that the same infections can progress into the lower airways, and a vulnerable dog can go downhill faster than an otherwise healthy adult.
There is also a longer list of things that cause a cough and are not infectious at all, including heart problems, a collapsing airway in small breeds, something inhaled, and in this valley, smoke irritation. Our medical services team listens to the chest and works out which of those it is, because the answers are completely different.
What to do at home while it runs its course
- Rest. Short lead walks only, no daycare, no dog park, no play dates until well after the cough stops.
- Use a harness instead of a collar, since pressure on the throat triggers coughing.
- Keep the air gentle. Skip aerosols, smoke and heavy fragrance indoors, and a steamy bathroom for ten minutes can ease a dry throat.
- Isolate from other dogs for at least a week or two after signs stop, including the ones in your own house where practical.
- Wash hands, bowls and bedding, and change clothes before visiting another dog.
- Do not give human cough remedies. Several are actively dangerous to dogs, and none are appropriate without advice.
- Tell the facility. Kennels and daycares want to know, and it protects the next dog.
Planning boarding for the holidays
Penticton facilities book out well ahead for Thanksgiving and December, so now is the time to sort this out. If your dog is travelling with you instead, our pet travel services team can help with the paperwork.
Ask the facility for their requirements in writing. Most ask for core vaccination plus protection against the main kennel cough agent, and some require it a set number of days before arrival, which means it cannot be arranged the afternoon before you travel. Anything outstanding can be sorted at a wellness program appointment, which covers the check, the paperwork and the lead time together.
Beyond paperwork: visit before you book, do a trial day or single night for a dog who has never boarded, send their own food pre-portioned, and write down the routine. Expect a tired dog on collection. Do not expect a coughing one, and if a cough appears a few days later, let both us and the facility know.
Cats and small pets
Cats have their own respiratory infections that spread in boarding and shelter settings, with sneezing, runny eyes and a sore mouth rather than a honking cough. A cat who stops eating because they cannot smell their food needs to be seen, because cats who refuse food for more than a day develop separate problems.
Coughing is not only infectious in this valley. Our guide to wildfire smoke and pet health covers the other common cause of an irritated airway here, and the two can look similar from the sofa.
Frequently asked questions
My dog is vaccinated. How did he still catch it?
Because several different organisms cause kennel cough and the vaccine covers the most common ones rather than all of them. Vaccinated dogs who do catch something usually have a milder, shorter illness, which is the point of it.
How long is my dog contagious?
Assume at least a week or two after the cough stops, and longer for some agents. Keep them away from other dogs for that period, and tell anyone whose dog yours has been near.
Is it the same as canine influenza?
No, though they look similar at home. Canine influenza is a specific virus and tends to cause a sicker dog with a fever. Both spread where dogs gather, and the practical advice, which is rest, isolation and a call if things worsen, is the same.
Can I catch it from my dog?
Essentially no for healthy adults. One of the bacteria involved can very rarely affect people with significantly weakened immune systems. Normal hand washing is sufficient.
Can my cat catch it from my dog?
It is uncommon but not impossible, since some of the organisms can cross. If your cat starts sneezing or develops runny eyes in the same week, mention it when you call.
How soon before boarding should the vaccination be done?
Ask the facility, because requirements vary, and then leave a month of margin where you can. Some require it a minimum number of days before arrival, and a dog who has never had it may need more than one visit.
Speak to the team at Peach City Animal Hospital
If your dog has a cough, or you have boarding booked and are not sure what is due, phone us.
Published by the team at Peach City Animal Hospital.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination or advice about your individual pet. If you have an urgent concern about your pet, contact Peach City Animal Hospital or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.
Peach City Animal Hospital
#102 – 402 Industrial Ave E, Penticton, BC V2A 3J1
Phone: (778) 900-0111
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Sunday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM