Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes inflammation in the trachea and the bronchi. The combination of infectious viral and bacterial agents poses a health risk for dogs.

Cooler temperatures mean an increase in outbreaks as dogs spend more time indoors in close quarters and their immune systems weaken, according to experts with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL.

Dogs placed in kennels while their owners travel for the holidays could be exposed to the infectious kennel cough. (Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Early diagnosis important

Catherine Campbell, DVM, TVMDL veterinary diagnostician, Bryan-College Station, said an outbreak of this complex can be detrimental to boarding facilities, shelters or even dog parks. 

“Most of these infectious agents tend to spread via aerosol droplets or even fomite transmission,” Campbell said. “It can spread at a high rate within a kennel situation and thus we get the term kennel cough.”

Kennel cough viruses include distemper, parainfluenza, canine influenza and herpes. In addition to Bordetella bronchiseptica, other bacteria like Mycoplasma cynos and Streptococcus equi subspecies Zooepidemicus can be potential instigators of kennel cough.

“I recommend early diagnostic testing and intervention,” Campbell said. “That really helps in setting expectations and getting a handle on these highly infectious agents and shutting down the spread.”

How does kennel cough spread in dog communities?

Kennel cough can be prevalent in shelters and kennels because dogs are often housed close together, facilitating easy transmission of pathogens.

Kennel cough can be easily transmitted through:

• Direct contact, e.g., licking or nuzzling.
• Breathing in cough or sneeze droplets from infected dogs.
• Exposure to droplet-contaminated items, e.g., toys, bedding or water bowls.

Healthy dogs that catch kennel cough usually recover fully after about three weeks, however, some dogs might be more susceptible to serious conditions associated with the complex.

For example, puppies are more vulnerable to critical effects because of their immature immune systems and certain vaccinations have age restrictions.

Inversely, older dogs also experience health risks as some have a decreased immune defense. Additional complications like heart failure, diabetes or cancer may also increase a dog’s susceptibility to the complex.

Canine owners should also closely watch pregnant dogs and quickly recognize unusual behavior.

Clinical signs of kennel cough

A main indicator of kennel cough is a persistent, dry cough, which some experts have described as sounding like a “goose honk.”

Other signs include sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes or eye discharge, loss in appetite and less energy.

Campbell said that it is important to identify the etiological agent early in the disease process as several diseases can present with similar clinical signs. For example, canine distemper virus has similar respiratory signs to other viral agents but can lead to more concerning health risks. Therefore, knowing the cause is critical in providing effective treatment.

Testing options at TVMDL

TVMDL’s molecular diagnostics section offers a multiplex real time PCR panel that detects seven of the most common canine respiratory pathogens. TVMDL also has a Mycoplasma species gel-based PCR test that detects general Mycoplasma species.

Megan Schroeder, Ph.D., assistant molecular diagnostics section head, said fresh lung tissue or nasal, tracheal or pharyngeal swabs are the most efficient in detecting respiratory pathogens.

All swabs should be shipped in a clean, sterile tube with a few saline drops to prevent the sample from drying out during transport.

For more information on canine respiratory disease testing options, call the College Station lab at 888-646-5623 or the Canyon lab at 888-646-5624 or visit tvmdl.tamu.edu.

This story first appeared on the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory website.