Key facts:
"Canine cough", or "Kennel Cough" is now more correctly called Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC)
CIRDC is very common and can be due to one or more bacterial and viral organisms. Signs of disease can be:
Mild, e.g. cough, sneeze, discharge from the eyes or nose, fever
Progressive, i.e. begin as mild signs that rapidly worsen
Severe, such as pneumonia complicated with bacterial infection
In most dogs, signs of disease are mild and self-limiting (i.e. resolve on their own) in 7-10 days.
Outbreaks can occur as disease spreads rapidly from dog-to-dog. This is a particular concern for dogs in group settings (e.g. dog shows, boarding, doggie daycare, dog parks), which have high dog-to-dog contact.
Vaccines that lessen disease severity and reduce organism shedding are available for some of the infectious bacteria and viruses involved in CIRDC.
What is it?
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC), sometimes referred to as ‘kennel cough’ or ‘canine cough,’ is a clinical syndrome. At least nine different bacteria and viruses have been linked as causes of CIRDC. Co-infections (i.e. infection with more than one bacterial or viral agent) are common. Common viral causes of CIRDC include canine adenovirus 2, canine distemper virus, canine influenza viruses, canine herpesvirus, and canine parainfluenza virus. Common bacterial causes of CIRDC include Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, and Mycoplasma spp. While we have vaccines available for some of the above, there are causative agents that we are not able to protect against.
What are the signs of CIRDC?
The classic sign of CIRDC is a frequent, honking cough that comes on suddenly. This cough has also been described as gagging or retching, and it can involve froth that looks like vomit. Coughing generally worsens with activity or exercise, which can irritate the airways. There are cases where the dog will not cough, but is sneezing with a runny nose or eyes.
In most cases of CIRDC, the illness is mild and dogs fully recover within 7 to 10 days. However, depending on the infecting organism(s) and the dog's ability to fight them, some dogs may develop more severe signs like lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, productive cough, and rapid or labored breathing, which can signal that bacteria have infected the lungs (bacterial pneumonia) and immediate veterinary attention is needed.
How is it spread?
Most dogs with CIRDC are contagious before they start showing signs. Because of this, the disease can be difficult to control. It can spread rapidly, leading to outbreaks—particularly in multiple-dog settings. Some CIRDC-associated organisms are also quite hardy, able to survive in the environment for weeks, making controlling spread of infection even more challenging.
Dogs can catch CIRDC through close or direct contact (e.g., licking or nuzzling) with infected dogs, breathing in cough or sneeze droplets from infected dogs, and exposure to droplet-contaminated items such as toys, bedding, people's hands, or water bowls. The risk of infection is especially high when dogs are in close contact with other infected dogs for long periods of time.
What should I look for?
The hallmark of CIRDC is a sudden onset of harsh cough, which is classically described as ‘goose honk’. Nose or eye discharges are often present, along with mild fever. Dog-owners may note gagging (or retching) with mucous froth produced that can look like vomit. Pneumonia (lung infection) can occur when disease worsens, typically after complications due to secondary bacterial infection. These dogs may have difficulty breathing (labored breathing, increased rate of breathing).
How do you treat it?
There is no special drug for dogs with CIRDC. The treatment approach depends on how sick the dog is. Most mildly affected dogs will quickly make a full recovery with basic supportive care aimed at avoiding situations that promote coughing and irritate airways. This means encouraging the dog to rest and avoiding excitement and neck leashes. Dogs with more severe illness may benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (to reduce fever and inflammation) and fluids (to treat dehydration).
Antibiotics are not usually necessary or recommended unless there are signs of bacterial pneumonia, including illness that lasts more than 10 days. In rare instances, dogs with severe disease may also need intensive supportive care, such as oxygen supplementation.
How can I stop this from happening to my dog and other dogs?
Know which areas are experiencing a CIRDC outbreak and are higher risk so that you (and your dog) can avoid them as practical. Delay travel or avoid canine group settings and events in these regions when an outbreak is occurring. Vaccines are available for some of the CIRDC organisms, including canine influenza viruses (H3N2 and H3N8), canine adenovirus 2, canine distemper virus, canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica. These vaccines reduce development of illness, severity of illness, and shedding of the virus/ bacteria. Vaccination is especially important for higher risk dogs, such as those in canine group settings, e.g. doggie daycares, boarding, dog shows. Not all dogs are routinely vaccinated against CIRDC organisms (i.e. some vaccines considered ‘core’ and others ‘lifestyle’), so speak to your veterinarian about the need for these vaccines for your dog
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