Kennel cough spreads wherever dogs share air, and downtown dogs share a lot of it: daycare, dog runs, elevators and busy sidewalks. Most dogs have a loud, honking cough for one to two weeks and stay bright. A dog who is listless, not eating or breathing hard needs to be seen, and puppies and seniors sooner.

Why downtown dogs pass it around

In a neighbourhood like Yaletown, a dog can meet more dogs before breakfast than a suburban dog meets in a week. Doggy daycare, the dog runs in the parks, the lobby, the elevator and the coffee shop patio all bring noses together, and the germs behind kennel cough travel in droplets from a cough or a sneeze and on shared water bowls and toys.

Autumn adds to it. Daycare attendance climbs once people are back at their desks, dogs spend more time indoors together on wet days, and more dogs board over the holidays.

“Kennel cough” is a nickname rather than one illness. Several viruses and bacteria can inflame the windpipe and airways, alone or together, which is why a vaccinated dog can still pick something up.

What it sounds like, and what it gets mistaken for

The typical cough is a harsh, goose-like honk that comes in fits, often ending in a gag that brings up a little foam. Pulling on a leash, excitement or a drink of water can set it off. Between bouts, most dogs eat, play and act like themselves.

Several other things sound similar, and small breeds, which are common in downtown condos, have more of them:

• Reverse sneezing: loud snorting inhalations in short bursts that stop on their own. Startling, but usually harmless.
• A collapsing windpipe: a honking cough in small breeds, often with excitement or pressure on the neck, that comes and goes over months.
• Heart-related coughing: often worse at night or at rest, in older dogs.
• Something stuck: sudden gagging after a chew or a grass-eating session, which needs a call straight away.

If you are not sure which one you are hearing, a short phone video of a coughing fit helps us more than almost anything else you can bring along.

When it needs a vet

• Your dog is quiet, off food, or has a fever
• Breathing is fast or effortful, or the cough continues at rest
• There is thick, coloured discharge from the nose or eyes
• The cough lasts longer than about two weeks, or is getting worse
• Your dog is very young, elderly, flat-faced, or already has a heart or airway problem

Most of those can mean the infection has moved deeper into the lungs, which is more serious and needs proper assessment from our medical services team, sometimes with chest X-rays through our pet diagnostics service. Blue or grey gums, or a dog fighting for breath, needs our urgent care team immediately. We are open 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays, so outside those hours your dog should go to an emergency hospital that is open at the time.

At home while it passes

• Swap the collar for a harness so leash pressure is not on the throat.
• Keep walks short and calm, and skip the dog run and daycare until the cough has settled and for a week or two beyond.
• Once we have confirmed it is kennel cough, a humidifier with plain water, or a few minutes in a warm, steamy bathroom, can soothe the airway. Skip the steam for flat-faced dogs and for dogs with a heart or windpipe problem.
• Keep the air clean: no smoking, vaping or heavy air fresheners near your dog.
• Offer water and soft food if a sore throat is putting your dog off dry kibble.
• Give nothing from the human cold and flu shelf. Several are dangerous to dogs.

Condo etiquette while your dog is contagious

Buildings full of dogs make it easy to pass a cough on without meaning to. While your dog is coughing, and for a week or two after it stops:

• Take the stairs or wait for an empty elevator, and carry a small dog through the lobby.
• Avoid shared water bowls outside stores and coffee shops.
• Let your daycare, dog walker and groomer know. Most would rather hear it from you, and many have a policy for it.
• Wash your hands and bowls, and wash bedding, before your dog mixes with others again.

Vaccination and daycare rules

Most daycares and boarding facilities ask for vaccination against the main causes of kennel cough, often a set number of days before a dog starts. The vaccine does not cover every germ involved, but dogs who have had it tend to get off more lightly if they do pick something up. A visit through our wellness programs is a good time to check what your dog needs for daycare and to line up the timing.

Daycare is a big part of city life for many dogs, and our guide to raising a healthy dog in the city covers the rest of it, from exercise in small spaces to handling time alone.

Frequently asked questions

When can my dog go back to daycare?

Once the cough has fully settled and another week or two has passed, because dogs can keep shedding germs after they sound better. Your daycare may have its own rule, so check with them before booking.

My dog only coughs when he pulls on the leash. Is that kennel cough?

Not necessarily. Pressure on the throat also sets off coughing in dogs with a sensitive or collapsing windpipe. A cough that appeared suddenly after daycare points toward kennel cough, while one that has come and gone for months points elsewhere, so mention the history when you call.

She seems completely fine apart from the cough. Does she need a visit?

For a bright adult dog, a phone call is often enough, and we can tell you what to watch for. Very young, elderly and flat-faced dogs, and any dog with a heart or airway problem, should be seen.

How far ahead should I vaccinate before starting daycare?

Ask the daycare what it requires, then allow a few weeks. Some insist on a gap between the vaccine and the first day, and a first-timer can need a second appointment before the protection is complete.

Should I keep my dog home from daycare with a mild cough?

Yes. Even a bright dog with a mild cough can pass it to others, including puppies and older dogs who may become much sicker. Most daycares will ask you to keep your dog home anyway.

Is it safe to walk a coughing dog?

Short, calm walks on a harness are fine for most dogs. Keep clear of other dogs, and skip anything that sets off long coughing fits.

Speak to the team at Homer Animal Hospital

If your dog’s cough is getting worse or breathing looks hard, phone us, and whenever we are closed, head to the nearest open emergency hospital.

Published by the team at Homer Animal Hospital.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person veterinary examination or advice about your individual pet. If you have an urgent concern about your pet, contact Homer Animal Hospital or your nearest emergency veterinary hospital right away.

Homer Animal Hospital
421 Pacific St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2P5
Phone: (604) 416-4114
Email: homeranimalhospital@gmail.com
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Sunday closed