Kennel Cough in Dogs: What Northern Beaches Dog Owners Need to Know

Is your dog suddenly making a dry, hacking or “honking” noise that sounds like they have something stuck in their throat?

You’re not alone. At Allambie Vet, we're currently seeing an increase in dogs presenting with kennel cough, clinically known as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC).

Despite the name, dogs don't need to stay in a kennel to catch it. On Sydney's Northern Beaches, our dogs live very social lives, swapping greetings at off-leash areas and dog-friendly beaches, attending daycare, visiting groomers and resting under tables at local dog-friendly cafés.

Anywhere dogs socialise, respiratory infections can spread.

“My dog is coughing like something is stuck in their throat”

This is one of the most common concerns we hear from owners.

A dog with kennel cough often develops a sudden, harsh, dry cough that can sound like a “goose honk.” The episodes can be dramatic. Dogs may gag or retch at the end of a coughing episode and sometimes bring up a small amount of white, frothy saliva.

This can easily look as though your dog is trying to vomit or has something caught in their throat.

Coughing may become worse with:

• Excitement or barking
• Exercise and running
• Pulling on the lead
• Pressure from a collar around the neck

When could it be something more serious?

Don't automatically assume a gagging or coughing dog has kennel cough.

If the symptoms started suddenly after chewing sticks, bones or beach debris, playing with objects at the beach, or swallowing a significant amount of sand, contact your veterinarian for advice.

If your dog appears distressed, is repeatedly trying to swallow or retch, is pawing at their mouth or is having difficulty breathing, seek veterinary attention urgently.

Can my dog get kennel cough if they're vaccinated?

Yes and it doesn't necessarily mean their vaccination hasn't worked.

Kennel cough isn't caused by one single infection. CIRDC can involve several different viruses and bacteria, including Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus.

Vaccination provides protection against important causes of kennel cough, but no vaccine protects against every organism that can cause CIRDC.

Vaccination can reduce your dog's risk of disease and, depending on the organism involved, may also reduce the severity of illness.

Keeping your dog's kennel cough vaccination up to date therefore remains particularly important for dogs who regularly socialise with other dogs.

How does kennel cough spread?

Kennel cough is highly contagious between dogs.

Respiratory infections can spread through droplets produced when an infected dog coughs or sneezes, through close dog-to-dog contact and potentially through contaminated shared objects and environments.

On the Northern Beaches, opportunities for transmission include:

• Off-leash dog parks and reserves
• Dog-friendly beaches
• Doggy daycare and boarding facilities
• Grooming salons
• Puppy schools and training classes
• Communal water bowls
• Anywhere dogs have close contact with one another

At Allambie Vet, we're currently seeing an increase in dogs presenting with kennel cough. However, we haven't identified one particular Northern Beaches park, beach, suburb or facility as the source of these cases.

How long is my dog contagious?

This is particularly important if your dog attends daycare, visits off-leash areas or regularly socialises with other dogs.

Different viruses and bacteria can cause kennel cough, and they can be shed for different periods. This means a dog may potentially remain infectious even after their cough has started to improve.

As a practical rule, at Allambie Vet we recommend:

• Keeping your dog away from other dogs for a minimum of 14 days from the onset of coughing
• Waiting until your dog has been completely cough-free for at least 48 hours before returning to social activities
• Checking with your daycare or boarding facility before returning, as individual facilities may have their own requirements and some may require longer exclusion periods

If your veterinarian recommends a longer isolation period for your individual dog, follow their advice.

And even if your dog is feeling fantastic and hasn't coughed for a day or two, please don't take them back to the dog park, beach or daycare early.

When should my dog see the vet?

In otherwise healthy adult dogs, uncomplicated kennel cough is often self-limiting and doesn't automatically require antibiotics. Viruses are commonly involved, so antibiotics aren't appropriate for every coughing dog.

However, we recommend arranging an examination if your dog:

• Seems unusually quiet, lethargic or unwell
• Stops eating or drinking normally
• Develops nasal or eye discharge
• Develops a wet or productive cough
• Has a cough that is persistent or getting worse rather than better
• Is a young puppy or elderly dog
• Has an underlying heart, respiratory or other significant medical condition

Seek veterinary attention urgently if your dog is having difficulty breathing, is breathing rapidly or with increased effort, or has pale or blue-tinged gums.

Caring for a dog with kennel cough at home

If your veterinarian is comfortable that your dog has an uncomplicated respiratory infection, there are some simple things you can do while they recover:

• Use a harness: Pressure from a collar against an irritated trachea can trigger coughing.
• Keep exercise gentle: Skip the beach runs and strenuous exercise while your dog is coughing.
• Encourage hydration: Make sure fresh water is readily available.
• Keep them away from other dogs: Avoid dog parks, beaches, daycare, grooming and other social activities during their isolation period.
• Monitor how they're feeling: Appetite, energy levels and breathing are just as important as the cough itself.

A dog who occasionally coughs but is bright, hungry and wanting to play is very different from a coughing dog who becomes lethargic, stops eating or develops difficulty breathing.

Bringing a coughing dog to Allambie Vet

To help protect other patients—particularly puppies, elderly dogs and dogs who are already unwell—we take extra precautions with respiratory cases.

1. Let us know when booking
Please tell our reception team that your dog is coughing or gagging when you make the appointment.

2. Keep your dog outside when you arrive
Please keep your dog comfortably in the car or outside on a lead and let reception know you've arrived.

3. We'll bring you straight through
Our team will let you know when a consultation room is ready so we can minimise contact with other dogs in the hospital.

Is your dog coughing?

If your dog has suddenly developed a dry, hacking or honking cough, or you're unsure whether they're coughing, gagging or have something caught in their throat, please contact us.

Call Allambie Vet on (02) 9905 0505 and our team can help determine whether your dog needs to be examined and advise you on what to do next.