A common, highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs, also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis. Several different bacteria and viruses are usually associated with the disease. Symptoms are generally mild but may vary widely depending on the agent, the host, and environmental factors. The main feature of the disease is sudden onset of violent coughing in dogs that had a recent exposure to other, infected dogs. The disease is easily transmitted between dogs by droplets in the air or direct contact, and often occurs as outbreaks or as a seasonal infection. Most dogs completely recover within 2 weeks; however, chronic and severe forms of the disease sometimes occur.
Infectious agents commonly associated with the disease are the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus. Each agent is capable of producing a mild form of the disease; however, most single-agent infections probably show no symptoms of disease. Several species of mycoplasmas have been isolated from the lower respiratory tract of dogs with kennel cough, but always in combination with another agent (for example, bordetella or canine parainfluenza virus). These mycoplasmas are normally found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy dogs. See also Bordetella; Mycoplasmas.
Close contact with other dogs is usually required for transmission of kennel cough. Each of the viral agents of the disease, and possibly some of the mycoplasmas, has host ranges restricted to dogs. Because infections that show no symptoms of disease are also common, it is sometimes difficult to determine the source of the infection. Canine parainfluenza virus and B. bronchiseptica do not usually persist longer than a few weeks or a few months, respectively, in an individual dog.
Treatment of kennel cough is often unwarranted. However, antitussives, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids are used to relieve coughing, and antimicrobials are used to treat or prevent bronchopneumonia. The risk of acquiring kennel cough can be reduced by minimizing exposure to infectious agents.
