Vaccinated dog still got viral cough

Dear Dr. John,

About two weeks ago, my 14-year-old Retriever X developed a persistent hacking cough. I took him in to see my local vet and they ran bloodwork and took chest x-rays. They determined he had a type of kennel cough and gave me some antibiotics and a cough medication. With things not improving that much, I then took him to a specialty hospital.. The diagnosis was pretty much the same and no additional medications were given. His energy level seems a little off. Can kennel cough last this long and do I need to keep him away from my sister’s dog or other dogs since my dog and my sister’s dog have been together this entire time. Why did my dog get kennel cough if he is vaccinated for it and why has her dog not developed the same cough? V.H.

Dear V.H.,

Kennel cough is a broadly used term that describes a contagious viral cough in dogs caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica as well as other strains of various coughs. It seems as if your veterinarian did the proper workup. If they felt it wasn’t too significant then it hopefully is not. Antibiotics were probably given to prevent a secondary bacterial infection from developing but do nothing in combating any virus. The cough medication was probably the best thing for your dog to calm the coughing and hacking.

Since a specialty hospital had nothing to add suggests to me that your dog does have a viral cough and all one can do is to provide supportive care ensuring the dog continues to eat and drink normally. I have seen versions of kennel cough last for four months or more. Even if your dog was vaccinated against kennel cough, viral coughs of different strains can still affect a dog. I cannot explain why your sister’s dog has not gotten the same cough other than her dog is likely resistant and probably has antibodies to whatever strain of virus that your dog has. I think the two dogs can still hang out but perhaps keep them away from other dogs for another week or so in case they are still contagious. I would ask your vet for more of the cough suppressant  to give your dog some relief.

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic.He can be reached at 781-899-9994.