Contagious Kennel Cough on the Rise, Clayfield Veterinary Clinic Warns

Did you know that kennel cough easily spreads in the air? The Clayfield Veterinary Clinic is raising the alarm about this highly contagious pet illness after an unusual spike in cases in northern Brisbane.



Workers at the pet clinic on Sandgate Road said that they had 19 dogs with kennel cough in April 2021 and 22 dogs in May 2021 when they normally see a maximum of 10 cases in a month. The overwhelming number of cases pushed the Clayfield Veterinary Clinic to post a public service announcement on their Facebook. 

“Kennel cough is VERY contagious. Kennel cough can be transmitted by aerosols released when a sick animal coughs, by direct contact with an infected animal, or by the sharing of contaminated objects,” the vet said. “Kennel cough spreads rapidly when dogs are kept in close quarters but it can also spread if a dog greets an infected dog during a walk or drinks from a contaminated water bowl at the dog park.” 

Brisbane’s northside has heaps of dog-friendly parks that families with pets visit frequently especially during the weekends. This raises their furry pal’s risks of coming into contact with infected dogs that might show no signs of illness. 

According to the pet doctors, kennel cough’s incubation period, where the pups don’t show symptoms, is the most contagious stage. Once sick, however, the dogs will exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Dry hacking cough
  • Gagging or vomiting
  • Eye and nasal discharge
  • Sneezing/snorting
  • Fever
  • Lethargy

Dogs with mild symptoms will not need to be medicated as kennel cough will naturally go away within 14 days. For severe cases, bring your to the vet as soon as possible for a proper check-up.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

To protect your pets from kennel cough, pet owners are also advised to bring persona water bowls for their pets and limit sharing toys in the park. The Clayfield Veterinary Clinic also recommends vaccination. 

“There are three types of vaccines available against kennel cough: an injectable, intranasal, and newer oral form. Although these vaccines don’t provide 100% protection, they provide some protection against kennel cough and decrease the severity of symptoms.”