Kennel Cough in Dogs
What is Kennel Cough?
Kennel cough, a generic term for a dry, hacking cough, is commonly correlated with kenneling dogs at boarding facilities, hence where the name derived from. Kennel cough, as most other types of bronchitis, can be treated safely at home.
Kennel Cough Contributing Factors
Your Dog’s Diet
Oftentimes pets in boarding facilities aren’t getting fed healthy, fresh, whole foods, and instead, are getting toxic, highly processed, meals and treats.
When your dog’s body is spending time and energy processing and eliminating toxins, their health defenses become weak, making them vulnerable to toxins taking over, producing all kinds of imbalances and illnesses including a cough.
When your pet is eating a healthy, fresh food diet (not kibble), they’re getting the nutrients needed in helping prevent kennel cough.
A whole food diet is #1 in maintaining your dog’s health. All the herbs and supplements in the world cannot fix a heavily processed, poor quality diet. The most expensive, or well-marketed, kibble food is still poor quality food. You cannot “fix” kibble food. Just like us humans cannot “fix” our health if we continue eating McDonalds twice a day every day.
Environmental Factors Inducing Cough
Environmental factors including dust mites, mold, second hand smoke and poor access to fresh air can contribute to coughing in pets (and be diagnosed as kennel cough).
Boarding facilities are often filled with harsh chemical cleaners or ridden with dust mites, mold, or poor ventilation, leading to high incidences of kennel cough.
A lack of cleanliness, or cleaning with toxic chemicals, can cause coughs in dogs.
Commercial plug-ins (more chemicals) and candles containing formaldehyde can contribute to weakening your dog’s immunity and causing kennel cough.
Emotional Component of Coughs
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers unprocessed grief as impairing lung function and consuming Qi (energy/vitality), leading to weakness, exhaustion and lung imbalances.
Grief settles in the lungs and contribute to kennel cough. Dogs boarded, away from their humans, can suffer grief, weakening their lungs and making them more vulnerable to infection.
Pets who aren’t boarded but are struggling with grief are vulnerable to coughs and other lung conditions. For example, dogs who’ve recently lost their companion (pet or human) are vulnerable to coughs from grieving.
Seasonal Healing Factor
According to TCM, the Fall season is the season of the lungs. As weather transitions from warm to cold (Fall or Autumn Season), it’s a common time for respiratory illnesses and dogs are more vulnerable to coughs during this time. You can offer your dog preventative support (options listed at the end of this article) during this time in helping strengthen their lungs and boost their immunity.
The Theory of Bacteria and Viruses Causing Kennel Cough
Conventional veterinarians blame a wide range of labeled viruses (namely canine adenovirus II and parainfluenza) and bacteria (specifically Bordetella bronchiseptica) for causing kennel cough.
A National Library of Medicine Publication from October 2022 analyzed genes from wild animals said to have contracted Canine Adenovirus and found their “Canine Adenovirus type 2 infection” was identical to the contents of pet vaccines, concluding “…pet vaccination can cause disease transmission and infection in wild animals. Therefore, further studies on the safety of the vaccine are needed.”
Dr. Marty Goldstein, DVM, found when he stopped giving intranasal Bordetella vaccine to pets at his facility, eventually incidences of kennel cough disappeared altogether.
Shelter dogs are commonly given kennel cough vaccines, and coincidentally, kennel cough has been notorious for spreading in dogs at shelters.
Causes of kennel cough are, for the most part, in your control. First and foremost, don’t give, or stop giving, the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine to your pet. Kennel cough vaccines can cause kennel cough.
Weakened Immunity or Vitality
If your dog’s immune system or emotional health is compromised, they’re vulnerable to toxins taking over, and vulnerable to getting coughs.
Health Conditions Increasing Risk of Kennel Cough Contraction
The following are some common pre-existing conditions making your dog vulnerable to developing kennel cough. This is the short list as most (if not all) health conditions can weaken immunity and make your dog susceptible to illnesses.
Autoimmune Disorders
Cancer
Kidney Disease
Liver Disease
Leaky Gut
Splenectomy (removed spleen) or Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen)
Thyroid or Adrenal Diseases
Overvaccination
Kennel Cough Symptoms
Kennel cough isn’t life threatening and the cough oftentimes runs its course in a few days to a week (with good home support).
Kennel cough rarely progresses beyond minor trachea inflammation and its main symptom is a hacking cough. Sounding similar to a goose honk, kennel cough is a forceful, deep, dry sounding, or hacking, cough. It can be frequent (non-stop) or happen at specific times (Ex: nonstop coughing before bed).
Additional kennel cough symptoms:
Decreased energy
Decreased interest in food
Decreased interest in play or usual activities
Drippy nose
Sounds like something is stuck in your pet’s throat
Important Note: If your pet exhibits a fever, any discharge, respiratory edema or other symptoms coinciding with their cough, you may be facing a condition more serious than kennel cough.
Kennel Cough Vaccinations
Kennel cough vaccines, commonly known as the Bordetella vaccine, options include intranasal, injection and oral. They can be counterproductive in preventing kennel cough.
The intranasal vaccine (known as intranasal bordetella) is sprayed up into your dog’s snout, for inhalation through their nose, putting everyone in the room at risk for contracting kennel cough symptoms.
Many holistic veterinarians, from first hand experience, will tell you intranasal kennel cough vaccine has contributed to spreading kennel cough. It can contribute to sinusitis in dogs and eventually lead to nasal cancer.
Bordetella vaccines, given to dogs by veterinarians on a regular basis, are available for cats but administration to cats isn’t as common, and, coincidentally (or not) kennel cough incidences in cats isn’t as common. Some vets recommend giving dogs the kennel cough vaccine as frequent as two to three times yearly.
Giving a kennel cough vaccine is like giving a vaccine for colds to humans; completely unnecessary while posing higher health risks.
Immunologist Ronald Schultz PhD states, “Many animals receive “kennel cough” vaccines that include Bordetella and CPI and/or CAV-2 every 6 to 9 months without evidence that this frequency of vaccination is necessary or beneficial”, and, “In contrast, other dogs are never vaccinated for kennel cough and disease is not seen.”
Schultz continues, “…other factors play an important role in disease (eg stress, dust, humidity, molds, mycoplasma, etc), thus kennel cough is not a vaccine preventable disease because of the complex factors associated with this disease.”
Bordetella vaccines cause the symptoms it’s claiming as preventing. The vaccines can cause a life-treating allergic reaction and adds to your pet’s toxic load, increasing their chances for disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders.
Nature’s Remedies for Kennel Cough
If your dog is susceptible to kennel cough, you can take preventative measures and give them herbal remedies, on top of a healthy diet, giving them extra love, and minimizing environmental toxins, in keeping them healthy.
You may administer herbs before, during and/or after suspected exposure to kennel cough, when internal or environmental factors are at play, or if your dog has already been vaccinated for Bordetella.
When using remedies as prevention, continue administrating remedies at least four weeks after suspected exposure giving no more than six weeks.
If you’re using remedies with a current kennel cough diagnosis, continue using them at least three to five days after symptoms subside.
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) Tincture
Astragalus, known as Huang qi in Chinese medicine, boosts immune function and strengthens the lungs and respiratory tract.
For exhausted dogs experiencing appetite loss, or emotional imbalances from kennel cough symptoms, Astragalus helps tonify their qi (energy/vitality), strengthen their defenses and overall wellbeing.
Astragalus raises white blood cell counts, stimulates natural killer-cell (NK cells) activity and interferon production, destroying infected cells. It supports cell integrity, strengthening cell structures against toxins and helping speed up recovery.
Astragalus supports the liver and kidneys, enhancing toxin elimination and making pets less vulnerable to infection.
Suggested Dosages:
Administer away from food three times daily
Extra-Small Dogs: 6 drops
Small Dogs: 10 drops
Medium Dogs: 18 drops
Large Dogs: 22 drops
Extra-Large Dogs: 30 drops
Important Note: If you’re purchasing Astragalus, buy only from reputable sources. If you’re growing Astragalus, make sure you check your local soil’s Selenium content as Astragalus is known to accumulate selenium in its tissues, making it toxic in high doses.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) Glycerite
Chamomile is an antispasmodic, helping with nonstop coughing, and can help calm pets anxious or irritable from their cough. If your dog has diarrhea alongside their cough, chamomile assists in soothing the stomach.
For dogs lacking an appetite with kennel cough, Chamomile helps stimulate the appetite.
Suggested Dosage: Give .25 ml per 20 pounds body weight away from food three times daily. You can also make Chamomile infusion (tea) if it’s more convenient. Steep 15 minutes and give 1 tsp per 15 lbs body weight mixed into meals twice daily.
Coltsfoot (Petasites and Tussilago spp.) Glycerite
An expectorant, antispasmodic and antibacterial, Coltsfoot eases cough discomfort.
Coltsfoot helps strengthen the lungs and upper respiratory tract. Rather than blocking the body’s cough response mechanisms, Coltsfoot gently assists the body in efforts clearing invading toxins from the respiratory tract.
People have used Coltsfoot for centuries in treating respiratory ailments including whooping cough and pneumonia.
Suggested Dosage: Administer 1/3 teaspoon of glycerin extract per 20 pounds body weight away from food, three times daily, until cough subsides.
Elecampane (Inula helenium) Tincture
Elecampane, an expectorant and respiratory stimulant, can decrease symptoms and shorten the duration of kennel cough and bronchitis. It lubricates, soothes, and protects internal mucous membranes.
Suggested Dosages:
Administer away from food three times daily
Extra-Small Dogs: 6 drops
Small Dogs: 10 drops
Medium Dogs: 18 drops
Large Dogs: 22 drops
Extra-Large Dogs: 30 drops
Note: Elecampane contains inulin, a prebiotic which can be uncomfortable for pets with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Tincture
Mullein leaf moisturizes the lungs, assisting with dry coughs, and is an antispasmodic, calming frequent, nonstop coughing spasms.
Suggested Dosage: Give two drops for every 10 pounds body weight, away from food, three times daily until symptoms subside.
Propolis
Propolis detoxifies and is especially helpful in mold exposure and dust mite allergies, which can produce kennel cough symptoms. It cleans the respiratory tract and boosts the immune system.
For pets who received the intranasal bordetella vaccine, 8 weeks of Propolis is highly recommended as it can help prevent sinusitis and nasal cancer resulting from the intranasal vaccine.
Ensuring a quality source of propolis is essential, as propolis from urban areas are prone to pollution and could be counterproductive to your pet’s health.
Suggested Dosages:
Administer away from food twice daily
Extra-Small Dogs: 1 diluted drop (1 drop propolis to 2 drops water; administer half)
Small Dogs: 1 diluted drop (1 drop propolis to 1 drop water; administer half)
Medium Dogs: 1 drop
Large Dogs: 1 drop
Extra-Large Dogs: 2 drops
Important Note: Propolis is not recommended for dogs allergic to bee products.
Fresh Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic stimulates the immune system and has antimicrobial activity. It helps excrete heavy metals from the body, helping your dog be less vulnerable to infection.
Suggested Dosages:
Administer freshly chopped, raw garlic into your pet’s meal three to four times weekly
Extra-Small Dogs: 1/8 tsp
Small Dogs: 1/3 tsp
Medium Dogs: 1 tsp
Large Dogs: 2 tsp
Extra-Large Dogs: 2 1/4 tsp
Important Notes: Garlic shouldn’t be given to puppies under six months. Garlic affects blood clotting and interferes with numerous pharmaceutical drugs. Veterinary herbalist Susan Wynn warns against giving garlic to Akitas and Shiba Inus. These breeds are more sensitive to the hemolytic effects of oxidants such as N-propyl disulphide found in garlic.
Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes)
High in antioxidants, Shiitake, an immune modulator, helps produce alpha interferon, regulating the body’s response to threats and soothes bronchial inflammation.
Finding, or making, a remedy with Shiitake’s fruiting body and mycelium is optimal as both are beneficial for preventing, or supporting, kennel cough.
You can administer a tincture (double extracted) or a decoction away from food.
Suggested Dosage: For a tincture, give 1/4 dropperful per 15 pounds of body weight three times daily, away from food. For a decoction, give 1 tsp per 15 pounds, three times daily away from food.
Important Note: Shiitake can interact with blood thinners.
Cordyceps Mushroom (Cordyceps chinensis)
Cordyceps can help rebuild vitality in a dog suffering lung weakness and low energy from kennel cough. It restores the adrenals, helping reduce stress and fatigue, and helps increase appetite.
Cordyceps provides the blood with oxygen, dilates the lungs airways and relaxes bronchial walls, supporting the entire respiratory tract and enhancing cellular function.
Suggested Dosage: Administer 1 tsp of hot water extraction (cooled down to room temperature) per 15 pounds of weight body away from food three times daily.
Homeopathic Nosodes
Nosodes, homeopathic remedies for disease prevention, are available for kennel cough.
The kennel cough homeopathic nosode works based on the theory “like treats like” and come from diseased tissue from a sick animal without containing any toxins or chemicals. They’re diluted thousands of times in creating a bioenergetic remedy interacting with your pet’s energy field.
You can find homeopathic kennel cough nosodes online and the packaging contains dosing instructions, as each remedy dosage varies depending on its potency. Seek a homeopathic practitioner or pet health professional versed in homeopathic remedies for assistance.
References
Goldstein, Martin, DVM. The Nature of Animal Healing. Ballantine Books, 2000
Hogan, Rita. “Can Dogs Eat Garlic? The Surprising Truth”. Dogs Naturally Magazine. 08 June 2023. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/
Scott, Dana. “Does Your Dog Need the Kennel Cough Vaccine?”. Dogs Naturally Magazine. 11 Sept 2022. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/bordetella-does-your-dog-really-need-the-kennel-cough-vaccine/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThese%20two%20viruses%20in%20combination,because%20of%20the%20complex%20factors
Tilford, Gregory L., and Wulff, Mary L. Herbs for Pets. Fox Chapel Publishing, 1999.
Yoon-Ji Kim, Sook-Young Lee, Young-Sik Kim, Eun-Jee Na, Jun-Soo Park, and Jae-Ku Oem.Genetic Characteristics of Canine Adenovirus Type 2 Detected in Wild Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Korea (2017–2020)