Canine Cough (aka Kennel Cough)

The health of your pet is important to us and keeping your pet safe, healthy and happy while they are in our care is our number one priority.

To help ensure the well-being of your pet and guard against the spread of infectious diseases, such as canine cough (aka kennel cough), we have a vaccination policy (click here for more information) and we adhere to a strict cleaning and disinfecting protocol. All of our staff is trained thoroughly on our cleaning protocols and on signs and symptoms of dog illnesses and policies on what actions to take. However, even with this strict policy and even though a dog has received the Bordetella vaccine, they may still contract canine cough.

We Need Your Help to be Effective

It goes without saying that sick pets should not be brought to a boarding or daycare facility.

  • Keep in mind that the virus is spread by either airborne or direct contact situations; symptoms may not appear for a period of up to 10 days; and your dog may have been exposed prior to visiting our facility.

  • Please consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment options.

  • If your dog is diagnosed with canine cough after a stay at our facility, please notify us. Providing this information can help us protect the health of other dogs staying at our facility.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about canine cough:


WHAT IS CANINE COUGH?


Canine cough is a highly-contagious respiratory disease. The virus that causes the infection is part of a complex of viruses and bacteria associated with other canine respiratory pathogens (germs). Only your veterinarian can diagnose canine cough and provide treatment, if necessary. It is important to report a coughing symptom to your veterinarian because it could be a sign of a more serious disease.


HOW IS CANINE COUGH SPREAD?


As with other respiratory pathogens, canine cough is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact, respiratory secretions, aerosols generated by coughing and sneezing, and contact with contaminated environments. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs. The risk of infection is highest when large numbers of dogs are housed together or in close confinement, such as dog parks, shelter facilities, boarding and daycare facilities, training groups, and dog shows, etc.


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CANINE COUGH?


Most cases are mild consisting of a dry hacking cough, sneezing and nasal discharge, and last from one to two weeks. Some dogs may carry the virus and show no symptoms, yet they can shed the virus and infect other dogs. Symptoms may not appear during the incubation period for up to 10 days. If your dog has canine cough, you may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

  • A strong cough, often with a “honking” sound

  • Runny nose

  • Sneezing

  • Lethargy

  • Loss of appetite


MY DOG IS VACCINATED, CAN THEY STILL GET IT?


Yes. It depends on several factors including the age of the dog, the state of the dog’s health and immune system, the specific strain of the virus, etc.


WHY REQUIRE A VACCINATION IF THE VACCINE IS NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE?


Although not 100% effective (like any vaccine), the vaccine does help prevent outbreaks of the disease and helps mitigate symptoms if the virus is contracted.


WHAT ACTION DOES RANCHO LUNA LOBOS TAKE IF A DOG APPEARS TO HAVE CANINE COUGH?


Keep in mind that only a veterinarian can diagnose canine cough as the symptoms are similar to other diseases. However, if a dog in our care appears to have the symptoms of canine cough, we contact the owner to pick up their dog.  In the meantime, we keep the dog isolated.


DOES RANCHO LUNA LOBOS PAY FOR TREATMENT OF CANINE COUGH OR REFUND MY DOG’S STAY?


No. Just as you would not expect your school to pay for your child contracting a cold, we do not pay for the treatment of canine cough. It is a risk when a large group of dogs congregate in one place—much like children or adults congregating together and contracting a cold or the flu. While we do our very best and take every measure possible to prevent an outbreak of canine cough, it can still happen. With that, we are still caring for your pup and making sure their needs are still being met while in our care, and as such, cannot offer a refund or reduced rate for their stay even if they have contracted canine cough.

Please Note:

Always contact your veterinarian for medical advice. This information is for general information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose any illness or take the place of professional medical advice from your veterinarian.

What is Rancho Luna Lobos protocol for informing clients about possible signs of illness including Canine Cough?

We are incredibly transparent about any signs of illness we see in our facilities. Internally, we track the number of cases we see each week and when it comes to client communication, we have developed a fine tuned process to ensure no one is out of the loop.

  • When we first receive reports of coughing, clients who have recently attended daycare or boarding are notified via email or text right away.

  • The date of the last reported case is promptly displayed in our internal reservation system and confirmation emails will include information on what Canine Cough is

  • All new clients are informed before scheduling their first day evaluation, and new puppies are not permitted to begin until we go a week without a reported case

  • If Rancho Luna Lobos is still receiving reported cases after 7 days, a text message will be sent to recent clients letting them know it is still going around and to watch for symptoms

  • After 10 days from the SMS, another email or text is sent in the event there are still reported cases

  • This process will repeat, rotating every 7 – 10 days until our facility goes 14 days without a report case

  • Once 14 days without a reported case, a final email is sent out to everyone who was previously notified, letting them know we are clear of the cough

This process gives every pet owner the opportunity to cancel if they are concerned, it prevents us from furthering the spread by postponing our first day evaluations, and it helps keep everyone informed on symptoms in the event they begin to see them from their own dogs.

“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANINE COUGH”

While commonly called Kennel Cough, Canine Cough is the more accurate name as dogs can contract it anywhere, including:

  • Veterinary clinics

  • Parks

  • Dog friendly environments

  • Your neighborhood

Canine Cough, aka Kennel Cough, aka Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD), is caused by both viruses and bacteria which can be transmitted through saliva, feces, blood, and insects. Humans can also be carriers on their clothes or shoes if they handled an infected dog. Infected dogs may not show any symptoms, just as is the case when a human is sick.

Depending on the pathogen that caused the disease, dogs are sometimes most contagious before they exhibit symptoms which helps facilitate outbreaks as it was not known they were sick at the time they were playing and interacting with other dogs. Not surprisingly, where there are high concentrations of dogs it’s not uncommon for outbreaks to occur.

Your dog’s veterinarian must take specific steps to diagnose your dog that may include a pathogen panel or blood work. A diagnosis cannot be given based solely on the observation of clinical signs.

How does a professional pet care provider prevent the spread of Canine Cough?

By being a professional pet care provider that follows a strict cleaning protocol that may include, but is not limited to:

  • Using a commercial-strength UV system that kills 99.9% of germs floating in the air.

  • Daily deep cleaning of all accommodations.

  • Daily sanitizing and disinfecting of yards, play equipment, toys, fences, and bowls.

  • Daily vaccination confirmations for all dogs.

What are questions to ask your vet?

If your vet says that your dog has Canine Cough (or Kennel Cough, etc.) ask the following:

  • Do we have a diagnosis?

  • Have we identified the organism?

  • Where there any additional diagnostics or test done (e.g., x-ray, blood work)?

  • How severe is the infection?

  • What is the treatment plan?

  • How long does our dog need to be kept away from other dogs?

  • What follow up needs to be taken to ensure our dog is no longer infected?

Symptoms

“The trademark symptom of the aptly named Canine Cough is a harsh cough. At the same time, dogs may also be sneezing and/or have eye or nasal discharge (or both). Typically, dogs improve within seven to 10 days with basic nursing care, and the disease does not generally require extensive diagnostic testing or specific drug therapy.

If a dog has seasonal allergies, exhibited symptoms may be similar to the above.

References:

Dubovi, E. J. (2016), Canine Respiratory Disease Complex: More “Complex” Than We Thought [Webinar]. Retrieved from www.vetfoloi.com.

Larson, L. J. & Schultz, R. (2016), What Every Pet Professional Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccination Programs [Webinar]. Retrieved from www.vetfolio.com.

Stahl, M. (Ed.), (2018), Infectious Disease Handbook. Heroes for Healthy Pets.