Infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is a highly contagious respiratory disease of dogs that causes significant discomfort and is preventable through vaccination and management.
Kennel cough causes real discomfort - the persistent, harsh cough is distressing for affected dogs and their owners. The condition is largely preventable through vaccination, which is widely available and routinely recommended before periods of social contact. Welfare awareness includes recognising that a dog with kennel cough should be isolated from other dogs, rested, and monitored for signs of pneumonia. The decision to use boarding kennels without requiring vaccination creates unnecessary disease transmission risk - both a welfare issue for individual dogs and a public dog-health issue for the wider community.