Chessington Veterinary Surgery Blog

Understanding Kennel Cough in Dogs

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 13:07:03 GMT

Understanding Kennel Cough in Dogs

As a dog owner, keeping your pet healthy is always a top priority. One condition that often takes people by surprise is kennel cough , a highly contagious respiratory illness in dogs. With the growing popularity of doggy daycares , boarding kennels , training classes , and playdates at the park, it’s important to understand how kennel cough spreads and what you can do to protect your pup.

What is kennel cough?

Canine kennel cough , officially known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a common upper respiratory infection in dogs.

It’s similar to a chest cold in humans and is usually caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria, most notably Bordetella bronchiseptica .
Dogs of all breeds and ages can contract it, especially when spending time in close contact with other dogs.

Causes of kennel cough in dogs

The illness is typically caused by a mix of pathogens, including:

Bordetella bronchiseptica (bacterial)
Canine parainfluenza virus
Canine adenovirus
Other airborne viruses and bacteria

These irritate the lining of a dog’s respiratory tract, leading to the characteristic hacking cough.

How does kennel cough spread?

Kennel cough is highly contagious, particularly in environments where many dogs gather, such as:

Boarding facilities and kennels
Doggy daycare
Grooming salons
Dog parks
Training classes and indoor dog events

It spreads through airborne droplets, direct dog-to-dog contact, and contaminated surfaces such as bowls or toys. Dogs may begin showing symptoms 3–10 days after exposure.

Symptoms of kennel cough

Symptoms can range from mild to more severe and may include:

A dry, hacking cough (sometimes described as honking)
Gagging or retching
Sneezing and nasal discharge
Lethargy
Loss of appetite (in more serious cases)
Mild fever

While most healthy dogs recover on their own, puppies, elderly dogs, or those with weakened immune systems may develop more serious conditions like pneumonia .

When is kennel cough most common?

Kennel cough can occur year-round but often spikes in autumn and winter, when colder, damper weather and increased use of indoor facilities allow it to spread more easily.

It’s also more common during holiday seasons, when dogs are frequently boarded or placed in daycare.

Preventing kennel cough

The Bordetella vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of kennel cough. It’s available in three forms:

Intranasal
Oral
Injection

Though not 100% effective (because kennel cough can be caused by multiple pathogens), vaccination greatly lowers the severity and likelihood of infection. Many boarding facilities and daycares require proof of up-to-date vaccines before admitting dogs.

Tips for dog owners

To help protect your dog:

Keep their vaccinations up to date, especially before daycare, kennels, or frequent group play.
Avoid close contact with coughing dogs.
Clean and disinfect bowls, toys, and bedding regularly.
Choose licensed, well-ventilated kennels and daycares that monitor dog health.
If your dog shows symptoms, consult your vet and avoid social activities until they’re cleared.

Final thoughts

While kennel cough is usually not serious, it can be uncomfortable for your dog and disruptive for you. By staying informed, keeping up with vaccinations, and being mindful about your dog’s social interactions, you can greatly reduce the risk of this common illness.
With a few simple precautions, your dog can continue to enjoy playdates, walks, and adventures – happily and cough-free.

New Rules For Travelling To Europe And Northern Ireland

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:32:56 GMT

New Rules For Pet Travel to EU and Northern Ireland from 31st December

GB issued pet passports will no longer be valid for travel into the EU from 23.00hrs on 31st December 2020.

If you wish to travel to Europe or Northern Ireland in future, your pet will need to have been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to travel and then a health certificate will need to be issued within 10 days of your proposed travel date. A new health certificate will need to be issued every time you travel to Europe or Northern Ireland. For some countries, dogs will also be required to be treated for tapeworm by a vet within five days of travel, this includes travelling to Ireland, Malta, Norway and Finland. Your dog will also need to be treated for tapeworm by a vet between 24 hrs and 5 days of returning to England from Europe or Northern Ireland

UPDATE 26/02/20

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:21:05 GMT

Covid 19 Latest Update

A quick update on the current situation and a few reminders.

Firstly, please be aware that our telephone lines are far busier than normal as we are having to conduct consultations and take payments by telephone. So please do not tie up our phones with routine enquiries. If you have an enquiry please email the surgery at reception@chessingtonvets.co.uk .

Please understand that the current advice from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is that we should not carry out routine procedures at this time to reduce the need for you to leave your house. This includes, but is not limited to, procedures such as, nail clipping (unless needed due to an ingrown or torn nail causing pain), annual booster vaccinations for cats and dogs, dental procedures unless necessitated by fractured teeth or dental abscess. If the delay with booster vaccinations means you end up having to restart a vaccination course then please be reassured that any additional vaccination that may become necessary due to this delay will be carried out free of charge when the time comes.

We are still administering booster vaccinations and kennel cough vaccinations where pets have a confirmed booking into kennels within the next few weeks and also for dogs belonging to keyworkers who are dependent on doggy day-care.

We are still vaccinating some rabbits due to their particular risks of not being vaccinated.

If you are in any doubt as to whether your pet should be seen please DO NOT TELEPHONE the surgery UNLESS it is an emergency. Instead please email the surgery on reception@chessingtonvets.co.uk . Remember you can also order repeat medication and food on our website at https://www.chessingtonvets.co.uk/prescription-request .

The surgery teams are working long days with half the compliment of staff normally present making taking a break difficult. So, we are closing the surgery for an hour between 1.30pm and 2.30pm each day so that staff can have a well-deserved break and eat lunch! Please, avoid contacting the surgery during this time unless you have a pet with an acute emergency.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Remember stay indoors and stay safe .

Further Covid 19 Precautions Update

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:36:22 GMT

Further Covid 19 Precautions

We cannot underline the seriousness of the current Covid 19 situation enough and echo the Government's advice for people to distance themselves as much as possible. Non-essential contact with others is, to put it bluntly, stupid and irresponsible in the current circumstances.

In anticipation of more stringent controls by the government, starting from the morning of Monday 23/03/2020 we have instituted additional measures to help protect our clients and staff from Covid 19. We have introduced a contact free, closed door policy, and clients will not be permitted to enter the premises themselves except in extraordinary circumstances. The surgery is still operating, but the doors are being kept locked, you are requested to telephone from outside the building to let us know you have arrived. We will be working in reduced numbers so you may not see anybody sitting at the reception desk, as staff will possibly working away from the reception area. For pets requiring treatment, they will be collected at the door and you requested to remain outside or in your vehicle whilst your pet is examined, and any required treatment given. The veterinary surgeon will discuss any issues with you by telephone. You will also need to make payment for treatment over the telephone, as we will not be accepting cash at this time, and your pet together with any ongoing medication required will be handed back to you at the door. Consent forms for procedures, where required, will be issued by email in advance where possible. We request that you complete these and email them back to us once signed, we will not require a paper copy from you. If you are unable to print and sign the document, you may simply reply to our email giving your consent and answering any questions on the form.

If you have ordered pet food or medication from us, then again telephone when you arrive, and payment will be taken over the phone. The medication or food will then be left by the door so that you can collect it without direct contact with staff. To avoid several people waiting outside together, we are spreading appointments apart as far as possible and if anybody else is waiting please ensure you remain a safe distance apart as advised by the government. Obviously, there will be greater strain on our telephone lines so wherever possible please use our online appointment booking system for appointments and our online order form to order repeat medication or pet food. All these measures will be more time consuming, there may well be delays at times. We appreciate this will be frustrating and inconvenient, but please understand that this must be done in order that we can continue to provide treatment for the welfare of your pets.

From Tuesday 24/03/2020 the practice staff will be operating in two separate teams on a rota with each team alternating working four days on and four days off. This is so that if a member of one team becomes unwell that team can isolate whilst the other team continues to work. This may mean that it will not always be possible for your pet to be examined by your preferred member of staff, however the teams will remain in contact with each other by telephone and video link so that any concerns can be discussed between them.

In the coming days we hope to be introducing video consultations so that you can speak to the vet or nurse from your home by video link and your pet assessed remotely. This will enable us to give you further advice on treatment and decide if your pet needs to come to the surgery for a physical examination or not. Further details will follow once this is finally setup.

Finally, again we urge you to be sensible and stay safe not just for yourselves but also your loved ones as well as others.

Covid 19 Precautions

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:58:13 GMT

Covid-19 Important Information

Dear Client

We are sure that you will have concerns regarding how your pets will continue to receive appropriate veterinary treatment in light of the progressing crisis over Covid 19. Firstly we wish to reassure you that the evidence so far is that the virus responsible for the current pandemic is not actively transmissible to or by domestic pets. For the most part, no additional precautions need be taken regarding your normal interactions with your pets beyond handwashing you would normally do.

It is inevitable that there will be disruptions to some of the services that veterinary practices can provide and it is quite probable that some surgeries may be forced to temporarily close if there is staff illness. Chessington Veterinary Surgery remains open for the treatment of your pets, but we are making some changes to try and ensure that we can continue to provide an appropriate service that not only safeguards your pets but also you, our clients, and the staff. Of course, as a business experienced in handling disease processes, we always have procedures in place to try and safeguard everybody from transmissible diseases but the current pandemic of human to human transmission adds additional challenges. We therefore need your help to enable us to continue providing your pets with the care they will need in the coming months whilst trying to keep everybody as safe as possible.

1. To help reduce the risks from numerous contacts within the surgery, it would be preferable if only one person attends the surgery with your pet wherever possible.

2. When attending the surgery, you may prefer to wait in your car or outside rather than in reception until your pet is seen. You can if necessary phone reception from your vehicle to let us know when you have arrived.

3. To safeguard all clients and staff it is very important that you do not attend the surgery if you or any members of your family or close contacts are unwell for any reason. If you are in that position and have a pet in need of care, or require a repeat prescription, please telephone the surgery so that we can make appropriate arrangements for the treatment of your pet. The same applies to anybody who is self isolating for any reason. We appreciate that in many cases signs of illness may well be due to conditions other than Covid-19 but it is important that the risk of spread of all illness is contained at this time.

4. We are not experiencing any problems with supply of veterinary medicines beyond what normally happens from time to time with occasional manufacturing issues. We will continue to dispense medication as normal but will not dispense extended supplies unless there are exceptional circumstances.

5. To reduce pressure on our telephone lines, you can now order medication or pet food on our website as well as book appointments . Go to www.chessingtonvets.co.uk and click on the relevant links.

You can also email us at reception@chessingtonvets.co.uk with any questions you may have. Response to emails may not be immediate so if you have a pet with an emergency always telephone the surgery in the first instance.

6. As the situation changes it may be necessary to introduce further measures to enable us to continue to provide the care of your pets.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation throughout this current situation and we hope that you remain safe and well.

Best wishes

Chessington Veterinary Surgery

Is Your Dog Legal? (or finding you lost dog is not just about chips)

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:13:36 GMT

What would happen if your dog is lost?

Your dog is lost so how will the finder manage to return your pet to you?

By now, most dog owners are aware that their dog is required by law to have a microchip implanted once the puppy is over 8 weeks of age and that the current owner's detail must be kept up to date on the microchip database.

However, many owner's seem to have forgotten that it is still a legal requirement for any dog over the age of six months that is in a public place to also wear an identification tag with the owner's contact details.

The current trend for more and more owners to use a harness instead of a collar has probably led to some owners not thinking about identity tags. That together with the compulsory microchip legislation has confused some owners into thinking that is all that is required.

So your pet is lost on a Sunday when many veterinary practices are closed making it tricky to get your pet scanned for a chip. What is the finder to do? It can take four hours for the dog warden to turn up so the finder of your dog may well decide to just let them go again. If your dog (as it should be) is wearing a tag then it is easy for the finder to contact you directly so you can be reunited with your pet as soon as possible (a bonus is this will also avoid the charges made by the dog warden). So it simply makes sense to ensure your dog wears a tag for your own peace of mind and to remain within the law.

Tags are extremely cheap but we also have an agreement with PetTags that you can get 10% off their products simply by quoting the code below where its says apply on the attached link when you check out on their website.