The Perfect Dog Blog

Kennel cough (KC) is a common term used to describe infectious tracheobronchitis in dogs. Kennel cough is the most common cause of sudden-onset, paroxysmal, “honking” or hacking cough (often in association with gagging and retching behavior) in dogs.

Recent contact with a single or group of infected dogs (with or
without clinical signs) predisposes your dog to developing Kennel Cough.

The disease is usually mild and self limiting and often resolves with no, or minimal, medical intervention. Under certain circumstances such as immunocompromised dogs, dogs with chronic abnormalities of the respiratory tract, or dogs with increased exposure to infectious agents outside of the Kennel cough complex, the disease can be more severe and necessitate a thorough physical examination and diagnostic evaluation of the animal.

A discussion of the infectious agents involved in the Kennel Cough complex, as well as methods of immunization against these agents, should minimally include Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2). Most routine canine vaccination programs include CPIV as well as CAV-2.

Parenteral (injectable) vaccination with CAV-2 protects dogs against both infection and disease because local immunity is induced in the respiratory tract.

Additionally, parenteral (as well as intranasal) vaccination with CPIV provides protection against CPIV induced disease.

As such, the unique characteristic of a kennel cough vaccination program is often the selection of an appropriate type of B. bronchiseptica vaccine.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a well adapted pathogen of the canine upper respiratory tract. This bacterial organism produces several virulence factors that are responsible for its ability to cause disease.