06/24/2026
He might not look it, but Ronin spent most of last week getting over a cold that left him alone in isolation, so he didnt get any of the other dogs sick. š Kennel cough has been going around like crazy in the past couple of weeks! Because it is similar to the common cold for humans, it can be tempting to blame a ādirtyā environment for infections, but in reality, kennel cough is so infectious that if even one dog is infected in a dog park, boarding or grooming facility, dozens of other dogs can be infected and get sick. It can be spread simply through the air, or more directly, like on contaminated objects, through nose-to-nose contact, or even from humans, when you have the bacteria on your hands. Most boarding and grooming facilities require vaccination for the most common strain of these bacteria, called Bordetella. The vaccine works like a flu vaccine, meaning it lessens the severity and longevity of symptoms, and ideally completely protects your pet from getting sick.
Watching your pet cough and hack can be really scary and strange. Usually repository symptoms sound like a dry, hacking cough accompanied by what looks like a kind of retching or gagging. Pups can also get lethargic, have a decrease in appetite, get runny noses or watery eyes, or run a mild fever.
If they stop eating altogether, have green or yellow nasal discharge, or show signs of labored breathing or wheezing, let your vet know because these signs could mean something more serious is going on.
Although it is a minor illness, just like in humans, even minor illnesses can be serious in certain populations. If you have a senior dog, or your dog is immunocompromised in any way, kennel cough can be a serious thing! If it develops into pneumonia, just like in people, it can be fatal. Most of the time though itās not too big of a deal and your dog (just like in Roninās case) will get over it in around a week or two.
