Kennel Cough

Infectious Tracheobronchitis
This is characterized by a harsh, convulsive cough. It is persistent, contagious, and often develops into secondary complications, such as chronic bronchitis. This disease can eventually be fatal especially in the very young, very old, or already ill. If your dog is exposed to many other dogs, or will be boarded at a kennel, it should be vaccinated against this. It is so-called, because it spreads rapidly under "kennel" conditions -- many dogs kept relatively close together.

"Kennel Cough" is a generic name for a set of symptoms caused by a number of organisms. These include parainfluenza as well as bordatella, as well as many others. Dogs vaccinated with the bordatella vaccine can still get "kennel cough" because of all the bugs involved, but it tends to be much less severe.

Bordatella vaccine is squirted into each nostril of the dog and should be repeated semi-annually. Parainfluenza vaccine should be a normal part of your dog's regular shots.

The vaccination is not effective for the first 24 hours, so if you are getting your dog vaccinated because you will be boarding it, get it done at least several days in advance!

For more information: Vet Info for Dogs at: Vet Info