Kennel Cough in Dogs: What Memphis Pet Owners Need to Know

Your dog comes home from their first week at doggy daycare with a new trick: a harsh, honking cough that sounds like they swallowed a squeaky toy. They’re eating normally, playing with enthusiasm, and acting like themselves in every other way. So why the sudden cough?

This scenario plays out in veterinary clinics across Memphis every week, especially after boarding, grooming appointments, or trips to the dog park. The culprit is often kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads quickly wherever dogs gather. While most cases resolve with supportive care, understanding when a cough signals something more serious can protect your dog and the broader canine community.

At Southern Crossing Animal Hospital, our concierge-style practice provides personalized care for every coughing patient. With advanced diagnostic imaging and a Fear Free approach, we help Memphis pet owners navigate respiratory illness with confidence and clarity.

What Causes That Distinctive Honking Cough?

“Kennel cough” is actually shorthand for canine infectious respiratory disease complex, or CIRDC. Rather than a single pathogen, it’s a group of viral and bacterial agents that cause similar respiratory signs.

The most common culprits include Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine adenovirus type 2. These pathogens spread through airborne droplets when infected dogs cough or sneeze, through direct nose-to-nose contact, and via contaminated surfaces like shared water bowls, toys, and kennel floors.

Crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation create ideal conditions for transmission. Stress from travel, new environments, or changes in routine can temporarily weaken a dog’s immune system, making infection more likely. The incubation period typically ranges from two to ten days after exposure, and dogs often become contagious before they show any symptoms, which explains why outbreaks spread so quickly through boarding facilities and training classes.

Recognizing the Signs: Is It Kennel Cough or Something Else?

The hallmark symptom of kennel cough is a dry, hacking cough that sounds like a goose honk. Many owners describe it as their dog trying to clear something from their throat. The cough often worsens with excitement, exercise, or pressure on the neck from a collar.

Common signs of uncomplicated kennel cough include:

  • Persistent honking or hacking cough
  • Gagging or retching that produces small amounts of white foam
  • Watery nasal discharge
  • Mild eye discharge
  • Reduced energy levels
  • Low-grade fever

Most dogs with kennel cough continue to eat and behave normally between coughing episodes. However, certain symptoms may signal that the infection is progressing. Watch closely for respiratory distress: open-mouth breathing while resting, pale or blue gums, heavy abdominal effort, or unusually fast breathing even when calm. These changes indicate the need for prompt veterinary evaluation.

When Kennel Cough Becomes Complicated

While most kennel cough cases remain mild, complications can develop- particularly in young puppies, senior dogs, or those with underlying conditions.

Pneumonia: The Serious Escalation

If infection spreads deeper into the lungs, dog pneumonia can occur. Signs include persistent fever, pronounced lethargy, loss of appetite, labored breathing, or a productive cough with colored discharge. Pneumonia requires antibiotics, supportive care, and close monitoring to prevent respiratory failure.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Difficulty breathing is always a veterinary emergency. If your dog struggles to breathe, shows blue-tinged gums, collapses during coughing fits, or cannot rest comfortably, seek care immediately. During business hours, contact Southern Crossing Animal Hospital at (901) 452-3171 or visit our urgent care services. After hours, Memphis pet owners can reach the Animal Emergency Center at 3767 Summer Avenue, (901) 323-4563.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Respiratory Infections

When you bring your coughing dog to Southern Crossing Animal Hospital, our AAHA-accredited team begins with a thorough history. We ask about recent boarding, daycare attendance, grooming appointments, dog park visits, or exposure to other coughing dogs. This timeline helps us assess infection likelihood and contagious risk.

Physical examination includes listening carefully to your dog’s lungs and airways with a stethoscope and performing gentle tracheal palpation, which often triggers the characteristic cough in kennel cough patients. For straightforward cases with clear exposure history and classic symptoms, we may recommend supportive treatment without extensive testing.

However, when symptoms are severe, prolonged, or atypical, our diagnostic capabilities become essential. Digital radiography helps rule out pneumonia and collapsed trachea. PCR respiratory panels can identify specific pathogens, guiding targeted treatment decisions. Our board-certified veterinarian provides expert interpretation of complex cases, ensuring your dog receives precisely the care they need.

Treatment Approaches for Coughing Dogs

Most uncomplicated kennel cough cases resolve with supportive home care over two to three weeks. Treatment focuses on keeping your dog comfortable while their immune system clears the infection.

Home care recommendations include:

  • Complete rest with minimal excitement and exercise
  • Using a harness instead of a collar to eliminate tracheal pressure
  • Running a humidifier to ease airway irritation
  • Administering prescribed cough suppressants or anti-inflammatory medications

Antibiotics are not always necessary. We prescribe them when bacterial involvement seems likely or when complications develop, but many viral cases resolve without antibiotic treatment. Pain management and anti-inflammatory medications help reduce throat discomfort and suppress excessive coughing that prevents rest.

Schedule a recheck examination if your dog’s cough persists beyond three weeks, worsens instead of improving, or if new symptoms develop. Our concierge approach means we know your pet’s individual health history and can quickly identify concerning changes.

Prevention: Vaccines, Timing, and Smart Choices

Kennel cough spreads with remarkable efficiency in social settings. Dog parks, boarding kennels, grooming salons, training classes, veterinary waiting rooms, and animal shelters all present transmission risks. Even brief contact with an infected dog can lead to illness.

Isolation becomes essential once your dog develops symptoms. Avoid all group activities until your veterinarian clears your dog to resume social contact. At home, keep your coughing dog separated from other pets, especially if you have multiple dogs or cats. Yes, cats can contract certain kennel cough pathogens, particularly Bordetella bronchiseptica.

Vaccinations form the foundation of kennel cough prevention. Core vaccines protect against canine adenovirus type 2 and parainfluenza virus, while the Bordetella vaccine specifically targets the most common bacterial cause. Our typical wellness visits include vaccination against Kennel Cough.

Bordetella vaccination comes in injectable, intranasal, and oral forms. The intranasal and oral versions provide faster immunity, often within 48 to 72 hours, making them ideal for dogs with upcoming boarding or daycare reservations. However, no vaccine provides 100% protection. Vaccinated dogs can still contract kennel cough, but their symptoms are typically milder and shorter-lived than unvaccinated dogs.

Preparing for Boarding and Daycare

Plan vaccine boosters at least one week before boarding to allow immunity to develop. Confirm your facility’s vaccination requirements and illness policies before drop-off. Bring your own food and water bowls to minimize shared surface contact, and consider packing familiar bedding to reduce stress.

Choose facilities with good ventilation, appropriate space per dog, and clear protocols for isolating dogs who develop symptoms. Ask how they handle respiratory illness outbreaks and what vaccination proof they require from all guests.

Recovery Timeline and Return to Normal Activities

Most dogs with uncomplicated kennel cough improve steadily over two to three weeks. The cough gradually becomes less frequent and less severe. However, dogs can remain contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms resolve, which is why we provide specific clearance criteria before your dog returns to boarding, daycare, or dog parks.

Your Partner in Respiratory Health

Kennel cough causes concern for every dog owner, but with proper care, isolation, and monitoring, most dogs recover completely without complications. Understanding when a cough requires immediate attention versus supportive home care empowers you to make confident decisions about your dog’s health.

At Southern Crossing Animal Hospital, our locally owned practice has served Memphis pets since the 1960s with personalized, Fear Free care. Whether your dog needs a routine Bordetella booster, diagnostic imaging to investigate a persistent cough, or urgent evaluation of respiratory distress, our team provides expert, compassionate care tailored to your pet’s individual needs.

If your dog develops a new cough, especially after boarding, grooming, or dog park visits, contact us at (901) 452-3171. Early evaluation prevents complications and protects the broader Memphis dog community from unnecessary exposure.