How Do I Stop The Spread of Kennel Cough In a Home With Multiple Dogs?

The name "kennel cough" often is misleading because it implies it's only found in kennels or shelter situations. Partly because of the name, kennel cough is usually thought of as an affliction found in shelter dogs. However, any dog is able to catch kennel cough and many dogs are susceptible to it. If you have multiple dogs in your home and one develops kennel cough, then you need to take precautions to keep the illness from spreading to your other dogs.

Instructions

    • 1

      Isolate your infected dog. Kennel cough spreads quickly, so get the infected dog away from your other dogs as soon as symptoms present.

    • 2

      Take the infected dog to the vet as soon as possible. The vet can determine the infectious agent that's causing the kennel cough and prescribe the necessary antibiotic. Antibiotics aren't always used to treat kennel cough, but they usually are when other dogs could be infected.

    • 3

      Keep your dog isolated from the other dogs until it's no longer contagious. Follow your vet's recommendations. It's usually about three to five days.

    • 4

      Administer the antibiotics in correct doses at prescribed times and follow your vet's instructions carefully. Missing a dose or stopping the medication too early can contribute to the spread of kennel cough.