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Canine Cough also known as Kennel Cough (Tracheobronchitis)

When canines are placed in groups they are often exposed to the organisms that cause tracheobronchitis. This is very much like all the colds that children contract as they attend pre-school. A dry hacking cough is the most common sign of this disease.

Canine Cough is caused by several different infectious agents or a combination of infectious agents. Kennel Cough is often caused by a bacteria or a virus. The bacteria are called Bordet Ella Bronchiseptica and the viruses are called Para influenza and Adenovirus.

The cough can be caused by any one of these or a combination of them working together. They cause damage to the lining of the canine’s trachea and upper bronchi. The damage typically is not severe and will heal once the offending organisms are eliminated.

Canine infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in dogs. Fortunately, the majority of cases are not serious and resolve on their own in 1 to 2 weeks. But in rare cases some dogs can develop life- threatening complications; you should take precautions to prevent your pup from becoming infected with this highly contagious disease.

What causes kennel cough?

Kennel cough can be caused by a number of different airborne bacteria (such as Bordetella bronchiseptica) and viruses (such as canine parainfluenza) or a mycoplasma (an organism somewhere between a virus and a bacteria).

Typically, more than one of these pathogens (disease-causing agents) must bombard the dog at once to trigger illness.

Such a multifaceted attack is most likely to occur when a dog spends time in close quarters with many other dogs. Dogs that attend dog shows, travel frequently, stay at kennels, or who have recently been to a humane society have a higher risk of developing kennel cough than dogs that stay at home most of the time.

Kennel Cough is caused by an infection of one or more bacteria and/or viruses. The following table details the common responsible infections:

Virus Name	Symptoms	Additional Information	Duration of Illness	Vaccine?
Canine Parainfluenza Virus	Cough, clear nasal discharge.	Most common cause of kennel cough. Cats can be infected	6-8 Days after 3-10 day incubation period	Yes
Canine Adenovirus Type 2	Inflammation of voice box, tonsils and windpipe (trachea). Cough, sore throat, laryngitis	Can cause pneumonia and lung lobe consolidation	9 days	Yes
Canine Distemper Virus	Sometimes no symptoms. Coughing can sometimes be the only symptom although this disease can be very severe, to the point of being deadly. A full discussion of symptoms will have to wait for another article.	Generally, the coughing associated with a distemper infection is due to other infectious organisims causing a secondary infection.		Yes
Canine Herpesvirus	Usually secondary to infection with one of the other causes of kennel cough.	Not contagious to people		No
Canine Reo Virus	Usually secondary to infection with one of the other causes of kennel cough.			No
Canine Influenza	Primary cause of coughing, usually mild, but can cause fever, lethargy, even death	Can cause pneumonia	3 days to 3 weeks	No
Bacteria Name	Symptoms	Additional Information	Duration of Illness	Vaccine?
Bordatella bronchiseptica	Sneezing, mucous from nose, cough, can sometimes result in pneumonia as it encourages other bacteria and viruses to join it	Most common bacterial cause of kennel cough. Can occur by itself or in combination.	Can be shed up to 3 months after infection	Yes
Mycoplasma and ureaplasma	Nasty cough, green sputum (pus and mucus), swollen lymph nodes, pneumonia	These bacteria usually live in the nose and mouth, but immune impairment allow them to create an infection.	months	No

The most common causes of kennel cough are Parainfluenza and Bordetella. Symptoms generally start 3-10 days post infection and typically include an acute-onset of honking cough and retching in an otherwise healthy dog.The primary sign of kennel cough is a dry- sounding, spasmodic cough caused by pathogens that induce inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (air passages into the lungs).

At the end of a coughing spell, a dog will often retch and cough up a white foamy discharge. Some dogs also develop conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelids), rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane), and a nasal discharge. Sometimes, there is a complaint of gagging or vomiting. Affected dogs usually remain active and alert and continue to eat well.

If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, isolate it from other dogs and call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can typically diagnose kennel cough from a physical exam and history. The cough is very characteristic and can be easily elicited by massaging the dog's larynx or trachea .

But if the dog is depressed; feverish; expelling a thick yellow or green discharge from its nose; or making abnormal lung sounds, your veterinarian may want to perform diagnostic tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) chest x-ray, and laboratory analysis of the microorganisms inhabiting your dog's airways. These tests can help determine whether the dog has developed pneumonia or another infectious illness such as canine distemper.

Immunization can be an important part of a kennel- cough prevention program and is recommended. But since the illness is caused by multiple organisms - making effective immunization difficult - you should focus on minimizing your dog's exposure to the disease-causing organisms themselves. Don't share your dog's toys or food and water bowls with unfamiliar dogs. And if your dog is in an indoor kennel or show, make sure the indoor area is adequately ventilated so airborne organisms are transferred outside.

Before any treatment regimen is administered, it is imperative that a proper veterinary examination and appropriate diagnostics be performed.

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