You’re scrolling through TikTok or YouTube and suddenly, there it is. A video of a dog with kennel cough that makes your stomach drop. The sound is unmistakable. It’s a harsh, dry, hacking noise that sounds like the poor pup has a literal bone stuck in its throat. Honestly, if you haven’t heard it before, your first instinct is usually to check the floor for a toy or a piece of kibble because it sounds exactly like choking.
But it isn't choking.
It’s infectious tracheobronchitis. Most of us just call it kennel cough because it spreads like wildfire in boarding facilities, but that name is a bit misleading since your dog can catch it just as easily at a fancy boutique or a muddy dog park. Seeing a video of a dog with kennel cough is one thing, but living with it for two weeks is a whole different level of stress.
Why the Sound in That Video of a Dog With Kennel Cough Is So Distinctive
If you watch a video of a dog with kennel cough, you'll notice the "honk." Many vets, including those at the American Kennel Club (AKC), compare the sound specifically to a goose. It’s high-pitched and forceful.
The reason it sounds so violent is inflammation. The upper airway—specifically the trachea and the bronchi—gets incredibly irritated. Every time the dog breathes deeply or gets excited, those sensitive tissues rub together, triggering a massive coughing fit. It’s basically a vicious cycle: the cough irritates the throat, and the irritated throat causes more coughing.
Sometimes, at the end of the video, you’ll see the dog gag or retch. This is what owners often mistake for vomiting. In reality, it’s a "terminal heave." The dog is coughing so hard that they bring up a bit of white, frothy foam. It’s mucus, not stomach contents, but it looks alarming as heck.
Is it always Bordetella?
People use the terms "Bordetella" and "kennel cough" interchangeably, but that’s not quite right. Bordetella bronchiseptica is the most common bacteria involved, but kennel cough is actually a "complex." It’s a soup of different bugs. You might be looking at parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus type 2, or even canine herpesvirus.
This is why the vaccine isn't 100% effective. Just like the human flu shot, it targets the most likely suspects, but your dog can still pick up a different strain. If your dog is vaccinated and still ends up looking like the pup in that video of a dog with kennel cough, don't assume the vet messed up. It just means they ran into a version the vaccine wasn't designed to block.
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How to Tell if Your Dog is Actually Sick or Just Reverse Sneezing
There is another type of video that goes viral all the time, often mislabeled. It's the reverse sneeze.
In a reverse sneeze, the dog pulls air in rapidly through their nose. It sounds like a loud snort or a choking sound, and their neck usually extends. While a video of a dog with kennel cough shows the dog forcefully exhaling (blowing air out), a reverse sneeze is an inspiratory paroxysm (pulling air in).
Reverse sneezing is usually harmless. Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection.
The biggest giveaway? If the dog only makes the noise for 30 seconds after sniffing some dust and then goes back to playing, it’s probably a sneeze. If the dog is hacking every time they stand up or pull on their leash, you’re dealing with the real deal.
What the Experts Say About Treatment
Most cases of kennel cough are "self-limiting." That's medical speak for "it goes away on its own if you just wait." According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, mild cases usually resolve within 10 to 14 days.
But watching your dog suffer for two weeks is brutal.
Vets will often prescribe a few things to help speed the process or at least make the dog comfortable:
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- Cough Suppressants: Drugs like hydrocodone or butorphanol (yes, the strong stuff) are sometimes used to break the cough cycle so the throat can heal.
- Antibiotics: If the vet suspects a primary or secondary bacterial infection (like Bordetella), they might prescribe Doxycycline or Clavamox.
- Anti-inflammatories: To bring down the swelling in the windpipe.
Interestingly, many owners swear by a spoonful of honey. While there isn't a massive clinical trial proving honey cures kennel cough in dogs, it’s generally safe (unless your dog is diabetic) and can coat the throat just like it does for humans. Just don't give them "sugar-free" honey containing Xylitol—that's toxic.
The Timeline: From Exposure to the Hacking
If you suspect your dog was exposed at a daycare or a show, don't expect symptoms immediately. The incubation period is usually 2 to 14 days.
Day 1-3: Your dog seems fine.
Day 5-7: You hear a single "honk" in the middle of the night.
Day 8-10: It's a full-blown hacking fit.
By the time you see the symptoms, your dog has likely been contagious for days. This is the nightmare for boarding facility owners. One dog enters the building looking perfectly healthy, and three days later, thirty dogs are hacking.
When It Becomes Dangerous
For most healthy adult dogs, kennel cough is like a bad chest cold. It sucks, but they’ll be fine. However, it can occasionally turn into bronchopneumonia.
If you see these signs, stop watching videos and get to an emergency vet:
- Lethargy: The dog doesn't want to get up or eat.
- Fever: A dog's normal temp is 101-102.5°F. If they are hitting 104°F, that's bad.
- Colored Discharge: If the mucus from the nose or the "terminal heave" is yellow or green instead of clear/white.
- Labored Breathing: If the dog is struggling to breathe even when not coughing.
Puppies and senior dogs are at much higher risk for these complications. Their immune systems aren't as robust, and a simple cough can quickly settle into the lungs.
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Practical Steps to Take Right Now
If your dog currently looks and sounds like the one in that video of a dog with kennel cough, here is your immediate checklist.
First, isolate them. No dog parks, no walks where they might greet the neighbor's lab, and definitely no daycare. You should keep them away from other dogs for at least two weeks after the cough stops.
Second, switch to a harness. If you normally use a collar, put it away. Any pressure on the trachea from a collar will trigger a coughing fit instantly. A harness keeps the pressure off the neck.
Third, humidify the air. Take your dog into the bathroom while you run a hot shower. The steam helps loosen the mucus in their airways. It's a simple trick that actually works.
Fourth, monitor their appetite. Dogs with kennel cough often lose their sense of smell temporarily because of nasal congestion. If they won't eat, try stinking up some wet food with warm water or a little low-sodium chicken broth (make sure it has no onions or garlic).
Lastly, call your vet. Even if it’s a mild case, it’s good to have it on their record. They might want you to come in, but call first—vets usually have a specific protocol for bringing in contagious dogs (like entering through a side door) so they don't infect the entire waiting room.
Kennel cough is a rite of passage for many dogs, especially social ones. It sounds terrifying on camera, but with a little rest and some basic care, most dogs bounce back to their goofy selves in no time.
Immediate Action Plan for Owners:
- Quarantine: Keep your dog away from all other canines for a minimum of 14 days to prevent a local outbreak.
- Hydration Check: Ensure they are drinking more water than usual; dehydration makes the mucus thicker and harder to clear.
- Steam Therapy: Spend 15 minutes in a steamy bathroom twice a day to soothe the upper respiratory tract.
- Clean Gear: Wash all bowls, toys, and bedding in hot water to kill lingering pathogens.
- Rest: Limit exercise entirely. Running and excitement are the primary triggers for the "honking" fits that prolong the irritation.