Signs of Kennel Cough in Puppies

Respiratory diseases can spread quickly in puppies that are confined to closed quarters with other dogs. According to the "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook," kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is the term used to describe a number of highly contagious viruses that affect a puppy's respiratory system. A vaccination for the most common of these viruses, bordetella bronchiseptica, will prevent kennel cough in most puppies.

  1. Cough

    • If your puppy develops kennel cough, the most common sign is a persistent hacking cough that pet owners sometimes compare to a "honking" sound. The cough is dry and produces little or no sputum. The puppy may suffer from frequent coughing attacks.

    Retching

    • Because intense coughing may trigger the puppy's gag reflex, his coughing spells may end in a gag and the expulsion of a small amount of foamy mucus or vomit. Between coughing spells, the puppy may feel fine and play energetically.

    Sinus

    • Your puppy may develop nasal congestion that produces visible drainage around his nostrils, comparable to post-nasal drip in humans. Normal nasal discharge is clear, thin and watery. If it becomes yellow or thickened, the puppy may have a secondary infection.

    Additional Signs

    • Occasionally, a bout with kennel cough becomes severe if the puppy develops a secondary infection in response to the respiratory virus. While a mild case may resolve itself within two weeks, if the puppy becomes listless, develops a poor appetite or a fever, he may require hospitalization to treat a bacterial infection. The risk of developing pneumonia increases with a secondary infection.

    Diagnosis and treatment

    • Along with your description of the cough, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination to determine if a bacterial infection is present. He may also ask whether your puppy has been exposed to other dogs recently. He may prescribe medications to loosen or thin the puppy's mucus secretions. Your dog should be isolated until his symptoms are completely gone so as not to expose other dogs to the virus.