Has your veterinarian recommended that you vaccinate your dog against bordetella?  Sometimes it is referred to as “canine cough” or “kennel cough”.  Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria are widely present in dogs and similar to the bacteria that causes whooping cough in humans.  In dogs “kennel cough” is an upper respiratory infection that manifests itself as a persistent, hacking or honking cough or gagging.  It can last for days or weeks if untreated.

Referring to the disease or the shot as “kennel cough” is probably misleading.  People often associate the cause of the disease with boarding their dog.  “Kennel cough” or infectious tracheobronchitis, the proper medical term can come from taking your dog to a boarding facility where it is in close proximity with other dogs that are not vaccinated for the bacteria, but this is only one source.  Any dog-to-dog contact can spread the disease. Consequently, visits to dog parks, daily walks, trips to the grooming salon, multi-dog households as well as stays at the boarding kennel can all cause exposure to and/or contraction of bordetella.  The disease is spread through the saliva of a contagious dog.  That saliva can be left on an unclean cage or premises or broadcast from the sneeze or cough of the host animal.

If your dog contracts bordetella, it can be treated with antibiotics and cough-suppressant drugs.  It is usually diagnosed from its symptoms, although lab tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

Better than treatment though is prevention.  The disease is prevented by a vaccination given by your veterinarian, preferable twice per year.  For many years I recommended giving the vaccine annually. However, in the past decade I have seen more dogs with the disease. Consequently, quite a few years ago we began recommending that all dogs be given the bordetella vaccine twice per year.  Since that change in policy, I am seeing fewer dogs with symptoms.  Finally, in addition to keeping your dog vaccinated semi-annually, I would suggest that before you leave your pet at a kennel or grooming facility, you ask their management if they require current vaccination records (including at least an annual bordetella vaccination) for all animals staying there.  Many places are lax and have no such requirements.

Now, why is it a “funny” shot?  Because certain varieties of the vaccine are given intra-nasal, i.e., the vaccine is drawn up and then “squirted” up the dog’s nose instead of given as an injection, although there is an injectable variety.

If you have any questions about bordetella or other veterinary issues, please do not hesitate to call us at Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital.