Infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is one of the most common respiratory diseases in dogs, spread rapidly in group settings. Understanding its welfare implications helps dog owners and facility managers provide better care.
Kennel cough creates acute welfare discomfort through its characteristic honking cough - a reflex that is exhausting and distressing, occurring dozens of times per hour in severe cases. Dogs with active kennel cough experience reduced appetite from cough-related discomfort, interrupted sleep, and general malaise. While most cases resolve without treatment, the 2-3 weeks of illness represent a significant welfare burden. More serious welfare concerns arise in facilities that fail to isolate infected dogs, allowing rapid outbreak spread, and in dogs whose kennel cough progresses to pneumonia - a potentially life-threatening complication. The preventable nature of many outbreaks through vaccination and appropriate facility management makes each case a potential welfare failure.