The microorganisms may come from anywhere, but the most common source is their hosts. That is, a pet dog can contract the kennel cough when exposed to another dog who already has the disease. The microorganisms usually travel towards the respiratory system where they spread and multiply, causing the pet dog to cough.

The cough is often described as deep, extremely bothersome, painfully dry, and almost constant. An infected dog loses his concentration, his appetite, and his usual vibrant disposition.

An outbreak of kennel cough happens when several dogs are lumped together in a relatively small space. That is, many dogs stay in one kennel, thus the term “kennel cough”. This happens in many animal shelters and even in dog shows.

The virus is spread each time an infected dog coughs and spits out fluids from his beleaguered upper respiratory system. Then, the coughing begins a few days after the exposure.

To prevent kennel cough, a dog must be vaccinated, especially when the owner plans to bring the dog to places where there are other dogs, such as a training session or a dog competition. Of course, when the dog will never mingle closely with other dogs, the bordetella vaccination may not be necessary.

When the pet dog is suffering from kennel cough, it must be brought to the vet and be given immediate treatment. The treatment is usually a combination of antibiotics and cough suppressants. The antibiotics will help the dog’s immune system slow down and eventually vanquish the viruses, while the cough suppressants will prevent the further spread of the disease.

Once the treatment is administered, the dog must be monitored for any deterioration of health. Most of the time, the antibiotics are effective. That is, after ten days or two weeks, the coughs will eventually cease and the dog has surpassed the affliction.

The kennel cough is typically a disease among dogs, but in some cases, the cats may also be afflicted. The symptom in cats is the same: a hacking dry cough. Aside from cats, there are no reported cases of other pets, such as rabbits, being afflicted by kennel cough.

Humans remain unaffected by either the bacteria or the viruses that cause the kennel cough. Thus, the pet owners of dogs or cats need not worry about getting too close to their coughing pets. Some vets, though, cautions pet owners to stay at a certain distance. The virus, after all, is a vicious pathogen that easily mutates.