WHAT IS IT? The condition has become known as Tracheobronchitis, Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, Bordetellosis, or Bordetella. The term “Kennel Cough” grew popular as it often manifests after dogs have been in close contact with other canines in places like boarding kennels.
CAUSE: Can be caused by several different bacteria and viruses, but it’s often a combination of both. As affected dogs cough the infectious particles spread through the shared air space or through close or direct contact (e.g., licking or nuzzling) with infected dogs, or exposure to droplet-contaminated items such as toys, bedding, people’s hands, or water bowls. Symptoms usually develop within 2-3 days of exposure but can take up to 10 days to begin.
SYMPTOMS: Sudden onset of hard hacking persistent cough varying from dry & forceful but may also produce mucous. May also lead to sneezing, runny eyes, and even nasal discharge. In severe cases dogs may become fevered, lethargic and experience rapid laboured breathing and loss of appetite.
PROGNOSIS: Typically not serious and historically resolved in 7-days. Many have reported that in returning to dog sports since COVID that new strains have been lasting as long as 3-4 weeks. Vulnerable dogs include very young pups, geriatric dogs and dogs with co-morbidities.
VACCINATION: Bordetella Vaccine is an annual nasal spray that may protect against some of the strains.
TREATMENT: It needs to run its course, sometimes as long as 4 weeks. For average cases veterinarians will recommend isolation at home with humidifier until symptoms resolve. Serious cases may require a course of steroids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory or cough suppressant prescription(s) to keep your dog comfortable.
POST-RECOVERY EXPOSURE: Veterinarians typically recommend that recovered dogs should be kept away from dog social situations for 2 weeks following last symptoms. However, Section 8.1 of the published CKC Conformation Show Rules & Regulations states that no dog may be brought onto the grounds or premises of a show if it has recovered from distemper, parvovirus, kennel cough or other communicable disease within the last 30 days.
What else can you do?
CAVEAT: I am not a veterinarian. I do not work in a vet clinic. The insights I offer are anecdotal as what has worked with my own dogs in my experience. Prior to 2021 I had never experienced Kennel Cough in my own dogs since acquiring my first ACD in 1997. I chalked this up to healthy dogs, eating well with good immune systems. Since returning to dog sports in November 2021 after various COVID Shutdowns, I have had three courses of the condition run through my house:
- Nov-21: Lucky (7 mo) & Peaches (11 mo), moderate symptoms for 7 days
- Apr-22: Lucky (11 mo) & Peaches (15 mo), mild symptoms for 5 days
- Oct-23: Shazam (7 mo), mild symptoms for 4 days
Social media dog show forums in my community have been sharing that current strains have been lasting 2-3 weeks in many dogs and some have evolved into more serious (and some fatal) conditions like pneumonia. I consider my dogs fortunate that their symptomology has been short-lived and each recurrence has been less serious than the one before. To me this indicates a rebuilding of natural immunity and perhaps that the protocol I’ve been using for each instance is working for them.
I vaccinate for DAP-V & Rabies conservatively (and titer often) however do not feel the Bordetella Vaccine is appropriate for my dogs. Instead I chose not to isolate my sick dogs from the healthy ones because I feel that the minor exposure in my home was a calculated risk to strengthen everyone’s natural immunity. I did this knowing the contagion might spread so I watched carefully for symptoms in my pack but gratefully had none. With each case I had healthy dogs remain healthy through the duration of the sick dogs’ symptoms.
MY KENNEL COUGH PROTOCOL:
I make no claims or guarantees that what I do is going to work for you and your dogs. If your dog is sick, please have them seen by a veterinarian to ensure that they really do have Kennel Cough and not Canine Corona Virus, Pneumonia, Canine Influenza or something else. Please run this protocol past your vet to give them an opportunity to coach you in case your dog has other relevant health considerations.
I always have this list of items in the cupboard and in the freezer “just in case” since many of the items are sourced online for me and take time to ship. This protocol is based on my 40-50lb Australian Cattle Dogs.
BOIRON Drosera Composé Homeopathic Granules: 3 granules on waking and bedtime, ideally in the cheek to dissolve. If they don’t tolerate the granules in that location, then down the hatch.- QUART BUCKET of Water: Dissolve 3 granules BOIRON Drosera Composé in the water & make available around the clock until one week after the last symptom.
- QUART BUCKET of Bone Broth: Available from waking til bedtime until symptoms resolve. Here is an article and recipe I call Dog Broth 101.
- NATURPET Lung Care: Dose by weight as per label on waking and bedtime until 3 days after last symptom. Available on Amazon.ca.
- BOIRON Stodal Children’s Honey Cough Syrup: 5ml on waking and bedtime until 3 days after last symptom; Offer by syringe following NaturPet Lung Care (tastes terrible) to improve compliance. Caution to purchase the “Honey” version and not sugar-free as the sweetener used is toxic to dogs!!
- PLANET BEE Hive Healer: ½ tsp per day until 3 days after last symptom; I use wet fingers to peel it off measuring spoon to make a ball and offer as a treat. This unique Canadian product contains raw honey, propolis, Royal jelly and bee pollen.
- EXERCISE: 50% of normal to reduce burden on lungs until 5 days after last symptom; Active dogs may be contained in an x-pen or crate occasionally in the day to force rest/napping.
