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(519) 896-0532
Yes. Kennel cough vaccines lessen how sick a dog gets, but they don't stop infection, and they cover only some of the causes behind it.1 A vaccinated dog that catches it usually has a milder illness.1,2 A cough doesn't mean the vaccine failed though.
Key Takeaways
No. Apart from distemper, vaccination doesn't stop a dog from picking up and shedding these viruses and bacteria, and a vaccinated dog can still get sick.1 It works like a flu shot in people. It doesn't block infection, but it reduces how sick a dog gets and the risk of complications such as pneumonia.2
The maker of Vanguard B Oral ran a challenge study. It exposed puppies to Bordetella 7 days after one oral dose. Four of 20 vaccinated puppies still coughed on two days in a row, against 17 of 20 unvaccinated puppies. The vaccinated puppies coughed for 2.4 days on average, the unvaccinated for 5.5.6
Kennel cough, also called canine infectious respiratory disease complex, is a group of infections, and dogs often have more than one at once.1,3 Each vaccine covers only some of them.
| Cause | Vaccine that covers it |
|---|---|
| Bordetella bronchiseptica | Bordetella vaccine, by nose, cheek pouch or injection7 |
| Canine parainfluenza virus | DA2PP, or the Intra-Trac 3 intranasal vaccine3,4 |
| Canine adenovirus-2 | DA2PP, or the Intra-Trac 3 intranasal vaccine3,4 |
| Canine influenza virus | Separate influenza vaccine, two doses to start7 |
| Canine respiratory coronavirus | None of the vaccines above1 |
| Canine herpesvirus, canine pneumovirus | None of the vaccines above1 |
| Mycoplasma cynos (role unclear), Streptococcus zooepidemicus | None of the vaccines above1,3 |
A 2017 to 2018 Canadian study of 74 dogs with kennel cough found parainfluenza virus in 18, respiratory coronavirus in 10 and Bordetella in 5.8 The study didn't look at vaccination status, but it shows the cause isn't always Bordetella.
It takes days, and the time depends on the vaccine. In an experimental challenge, the intranasal vaccine protected dogs exposed 72 hours after vaccination.5 The oral vaccine protected puppies exposed 7 days later,6 and the injection needs two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, the first time a dog gets it.7
That's why we ask for the vaccine at least 72 hours before boarding, and use the intranasal when your dog isn't current and the stay is less than a week away. Our Bordetella vaccine guide compares all three.
Your dog may also have been infected before the vaccine had time to work. Signs usually appear 2 to 10 days after exposure,2 so a dog who starts coughing within a few days of being vaccinated was most likely already infected.
Check the date as well. The Bordetella vaccine is a yearly booster.7 Intra-Trac 3 and Vanguard B Oral each have a one-year duration of immunity,4,9 so a dog more than a year out has no tested protection.
Keep them away from other dogs. A vaccinated dog that's sick can still pass it on,1 so skip daycare, boarding, the groomer and the dog park until the cough has cleared. Our guide to how long kennel cough is contagious covers when it's safe to go back.
The cough is dry and harsh, often followed by retching or gagging.3 Most cases are mild and run their course in 10 to 20 days. Because many of the causes are viral, most dogs don't need antibiotics.2,3
I would have your dog seen if the cough lasts longer than three weeks, because other conditions cause cough too.3
Bring your dog in right away if they have a fever, a wet cough, thick nasal discharge, labored breathing, or stop eating. These are signs kennel cough may have turned into pneumonia.2,3 Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with other health problems are at higher risk. Call us at (519) 896-0532, or use our emergency page after hours.
If your dog spends time around other dogs, yes, I would recommend it. Bordetella is a lifestyle vaccine, meant for dogs at risk of exposure,7 and the benefit is a milder illness. In the Canadian study, 46 of the 74 sick dogs had been to a kennel, daycare, dog park or groomer in the previous two weeks, compared with 12 of 36 healthy dogs.8
Most boarding kennels and daycares require it, and so do we. Our puppies get the oral vaccine, adults get a yearly injection, and any dog who needs protection within a few days gets the intranasal. See our vaccination schedule and boarding kennel page.
Yes. Vaccination makes the illness milder, but apart from distemper it doesn't stop them from catching or spreading it. A vaccinated dog can still cough, usually less severely than an unvaccinated one.
The intranasal vaccine protected dogs exposed 72 hours later in a lab study, and the oral vaccine protected puppies at 7 days. The injection takes two doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, the first time. At Kingsdale we ask for the vaccine at least 72 hours before boarding.
Yes. Vaccination doesn't stop shedding, so a vaccinated dog that's coughing can infect other dogs. Keep them away from other dogs until the cough has cleared.
Partly. DA2PP covers parainfluenza and adenovirus-2, two causes of kennel cough, but not Bordetella, which is a separate vaccine. No vaccine covers every cause.
Call us right away if your dog has a fever, a wet cough, thick nasal discharge, labored breathing, or stops eating. These can mean pneumonia. A cough that lasts longer than three weeks also needs an exam.
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