Kennel Cough - Infectious Tracheobronchitis

Winter is here and we are all starting to experience the odd signs of flu—coughs and sniffles are everywhere at the moment amongst our human mates.  But what about our furry four-legged friends?  The most common respiratory disease that we see in dogs is Infectious Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough). And while winter doesn’t cause infections, we do know that cold air can exacerbate signs like coughing in already ill people and animals. 
ITB is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria - eg Parainfluenza virus and Bordatella Bronchiseptica (two which are included as part of the annual C5 vaccination for dogs).  The agents get into the body via droplets in the air and cause irritation to the windpipe resulting in coughing.  It is called “Kennel Cough” because it is so infectious that if one dog in the kennel gets it, it will spread rapidly through the rest of the dogs there.  Remember though, ITB can be picked up anywhere.
The main clinical sign is obviously a cough—usually a dry, hacking cough that sounds like your dog has something stuck in its throat.  Most dogs are not too ill when they pick up the infection, although occasionally they may have a high temperature and be a bit “off colour” for a couple of days.  The cough usually is quite bad in the first few days but gradually improves and goes away over the following two to three weeks.  The level of  illness and the duration of coughing is usually much worse in unvaccinated dogs - with signs sometimes continuing for months.
There are no specific treatments that will reduce the length of illness in dogs affected by ITB - in most cases all the dogs need is TLC and time. Occasionally, in more severe cases, dogs may require antibiotics and/or cough medicine to help settle the coughing. 
As in people coughing can be brought on by exercise, excitement and cold air. If your dog has kennel cough you should keep them in a warm environment, reduce their exercise and avoid situations where they might be encouraged to bark. Also try to avoid using collars that constrict the throat - harnesses or haltis are less irritating.  The most important thing to remember is that the disease is highly contagious and responsible pet ownership is essential. Do not take your dog to places where it is likely to meet other dogs while it is still coughing and for a few days afterward.
Vaccination is the only protection (other than complete isolation) that we can offer our pets against ITB. While vaccination is not a 100% guarantee against catching the disease, it ensures that the duration and severity of  illness and  coughing is dramatically reduced. Ensure your dog has a C5 Vaccination every year.