Canine cough (or kennel cough) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It causes tracheobronchitis (inflammation of the upper respiratory tract) resulting in a dry, hacking cough. It may seem like the dog is choking. Fortunately, most dogs recover from canine cough without treatment, but certain individuals such as very young or very old dogs with compromised immune systems, may develop more serious disease that does require treatment.
Canine cough is an airborne disease which can spread amongst dogs through the air, direct contact or sharing contaminated items such as water and food bowls. The disease is more likely to occur where large numbers of dogs are in close proximity to each other, such as at boarding and daycare facilities, parks and shows. It also spreads rapidly through a street or block in a suburb.
Canine cough is caused by a viral infection (any one of a variety of viruses including parainfluenza- and adenovirus) usually followed by a secondary bacterial infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica. Parainfluenza- and adenovirus are included in the normal 5-in-1 vaccine and there are two types of vaccines available to prevent canine cough caused by Bordetella – intra-nasal and injectable.
At Mooikloof Kennels & Cattery, our vaccination requirements for canine cough are as follows:
Intra-nasal (Nobivac KC): One dose no less than 72 hours prior to boarding.
Injectable (Bronchicine or Pneumodog): Initially two doses with an interval of 2-4 weeks. The initial and the booster vaccination are required for optimal immunity, therefore please ensure that both are given prior to your dog’s stay with us.
Both the intra-nasal and injectable vaccinations should be repeated annually.
Please note that it is not ideal to vaccinate pets shortly before staying at the kennels. The change in environment is potentially stressful, and this may have a negative effect on your dog’s ability to build up immunity from the vaccine. It is best to vaccinate several months before the kennel stay.