ASK DR.CLAIRE

My newly adopted dog has mild kennel cough and has been on antibiotics for a week. Can he socialise with vaccinated dogs?

Kennel cough is a term that can describe a number of bacterial or viral conditions causing a cough in dogs (much like a cold in humans!).

The kennel cough vaccinations available protect from just 2 strains. The kennel cough vaccine is also not 100% protective and in some high risk cases it’s advised that dogs actually have it every 6 months.

If your dog has a mixed infection, and is still coughing, he quite possibly still has something your parents dogs can pick up, despite their vaccination.

It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sharing coughs. Usually after 2 weeks it’s fine to see other dogs and go to dog parks etc.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail, as soon as possible.

We’re here to help!

Chat soon, Dr Claire