How long after kennel cough vaccine is it effective?

What is the Bordetella vaccine?

The Bordetella vaccine is used to reduce the risk of kennel cough in dogs. This vaccine comes in multiple different forms including an injectable vaccination, an oral vaccination, or a nasal vaccination.

This vaccine protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica, one of the bacteria that can cause kennel cough. Occasionally, kennel cough vaccinations will protect against other causative agents of kennel cough as well.

As every vaccine is different, I recommend speaking with your veterinarian about what Bordetella vaccine they will be using for your dog. If you are a new dog owner and need more tips on how to care for your dog, check out this article on Tips for New Dog Owners .

What is kennel cough?

Kennel cough is an infectious disease in dogs that causes a dry hacking cough. This disease is especially common in dogs that go to dog parks, doggy daycare, grooming facilities, or boarding facilities.

Many of these businesses require Bordetella vaccination for dogs visiting these places to reduce the risk of kennel cough.  The main symptoms of kennel cough according to Merck Veterinary Manual include:

• Dry hacking cough
• Honking cough
• Retching
• Gagging
• Nasal discharge
• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite

What causes kennel cough in dogs?

Kennel cough can be caused by a variety of different bacterial and viral pathogens. One of the most common bacteria causing kennel cough is Bordetella bronchiseptica which is what the Bordetella vaccine protects against.

If your dog has kennel cough, that means they could have any of the following bacterial or viral infections causing their symptoms :

• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Canine adenovirus-2
• Canine parainfluenza virus-2
• Reovirus type 1
• Canid herpesvirus-1
• Canine respiratory coronavirus
• Mycoplasma species

What should I do if I think my dog has kennel cough?

If your dog is having symptoms of kennel cough, I recommend visiting your veterinarian. They can examine your dog and prescribe medications to help reduce the symptoms that your dog is experiencing.

Most cases of kennel cough will resolve in 1 to 2 weeks with veterinary treatments. In addition, if your dog is feeling under the weather, consider checking out this Cozy Calming Pet Bed .

How much does a Bordetella shot cost for a dog?

According to CareCredit , a veterinary financing company, the Bordetella vaccine typically costs around $20 to $45 if added to the cost of your pet’s annual examination. If you would like to get the Bordetella vaccine separately from the annual exam, your veterinarian will likely also want to do a physical exam to ensure your pet is healthy before vaccination. Physical examination costs can vary depending on location.

Does my dog need the Bordetella vaccine?

Your dog needs a Bordetella vaccine if they are around any other dogs that are not living in your household. Not every dog will need the Bordetella vaccine as some dogs never leave home except for a walk around the neighborhood.

I recommend that your dog receive a Bordetella vaccine if they go to:

• Grooming facilities
• Boarding facilities
• Doggy day-care
• Dog parks
• Dog shows

How effective is the Bordetella vaccine?

The Bordetella vaccine is fairly effective at preventing infections caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica. The issue is that not all cases of kennel cough are caused by this bacteria. Some cases of kennel cough are caused by other bacteria or viruses. If your dog gets a Bordetella vaccine, they are still at risk of developing kennel cough, but their chances of getting kennel cough caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica is drastically reduced with vaccination.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a kennel cough vaccine that protects against all causes of kennel cough, but I still recommend giving the Bordetella vaccine because it does a great job of preventing Bordetella bronchiseptica infections.

How often does a dog need a Bordetella shot?

Your dog will need a Bordetella vaccine every 6 to 12 months depending on the recommendation of your veterinarian and the requirements of the facilities that they are visiting.

Often, an every 12-month Bordetella vaccine schedule is sufficient, but veterinarians may recommend that dogs in high-risk situations be vaccinated more frequently. The oral and nasal vaccinations typically do not need to be boostered after administered.

The injectable Bordetella vaccine needs to be boostered in 3 weeks after the first vaccination. The Bordetella vaccine can be given as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Bordetella Vaccine Side Effects

The main side effect of the injectable Bordetella vaccine is pain around the site where the injection was given. After the nasal Bordetella vaccine, dogs may have some minor side effects including sneezing and reverse sneezing.

These symptoms should resolve a few days after vaccination, and if they don’t, I recommend contacting your veterinarian. As with any vaccine, there is a risk for severe vaccine reactions, although they are uncommon with the Bordetella vaccine. If you notice your dog has difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or hives after receiving a vaccine, you should get emergency veterinary care as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

The safest and most effective way to protect your pet from kennel cough is by having your veterinarian vaccinate your dog with the Bordetella vaccine. While this vaccine will not protect against all bacteria and viruses that may cause kennel cough, it will protect against Bordetella bronchiseptica, a common bacterial infection causing kennel cough.

Your veterinarian will likely recommend that your dog get vaccinated every 6 to 12 months if they go to the dog park, boarding facilities, grooming facilities, or doggy daycare.

Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM & ACVPM (Hon)
North Carolina State University

This article provides an overview of canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) from the perspective of clinical manifestations and prevention, including vaccines and vaccination protocols.

Kennel cough—it is one of the oldest descriptors of canine disease that appears in the veterinary literature. Aliases include canine cough, canine croup, infectious tracheobronchitis (ITB) and, most recently, canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), also known as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC).

No matter the name, kennel cough is one of the most common canine respiratory infections. As a clinical syndrome, it has undergone changes in etiology, treatment recommendations, and options for prevention. The causes are many and include a growing list of pathogenic bacteria and viruses.1-7 The most notable changes, however, are found in vaccine options and claims of efficacy.

The controversies in this area include:

• Roles of vaccination in treating active infections
• Onset of immunity following vaccination
• Duration of immunity
• Public health implications of Bordetella bronchiseptica, including risk associated with human exposure to live avirulent (intranasal and oral) vaccine.

PATHOGENIC AGENTS

CIRD is well recognized as a contagious upper respiratory infection of dogs resulting from bacterial or viral infection. Because clinical manifestations vary according to the primary infecting agent, or combination of agents, CIRD is appropriately referred to as a respiratory syndrome. B bronchiseptica is commonly implicated as the principal cause of kennel cough;8 however, it is by no means the exclusive, nor is it the most virulent, pathogen implicated.

Bacteria

Bacteria recovered from dogs exhibiting signs consistent with CIRD include:

• B bronchiseptica
• Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (sometimes called strep zoo)
• Mycoplasma species (to a lesser extent), particularly M cynos.

B bronchiseptica. B bronchiseptica is a gram negative bacterium capable of infecting multiple species, including humans, and it can potentially be transmitted from dogs (and possibly cats) to humans.

Simply recovering B bronchiseptica from the respiratory tract of a coughing dog/cat does not define its role as causative. This pathogen has the unique ability to reside on epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract as a commensal organism; hence, B bronchiseptica is commonly recovered from the respiratory tract of healthy dogs and cats.

For reasons not fully understood, these “innocent” bacteria are able to transition into highly pathogenic organisms. Bordetella virulence is linked to a gene complex (Bvg) capable of expressing multiple, well defined virulence factors (toxins) that cause serious, rapid injury to respiratory epithelium.9

Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. Recently, S equi subspecies zooepidemicus, a gram positive bacterium, has gained attention as a zoonotic infection of horses. Althoughnot a commensal organism in dogs/cats, S zooepidemicus is capable of colonizing upper respiratory epithelial cells of dogs and cats. It appears to be a significant cofactor in upper respiratory infections of dogs and cats and has been attributed to fatal necrohemorrhagic pneumonia in outbreaks of CIRD in shelters.3

Viruses

Primary pathogens in CIRD include:5,7

• Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV)
• Canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)
• Canine influenza virus (CIV)
• Canine distemper virus (CDV).

Additional viruses recovered from dogs with CIRD include:

• Canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV): Shelter/kennel-housed dogs with CIRD in Europe, Japan, and the U.S.6
• Canine pneumovirus (CnPnV): Recovered from respiratory tract of coughing dogs in the U.S.4 These dogs were found to carry other known pathogens involved in CIRD; however, the significance of CnPnV in causing, or contributing to, CIRD is still unknown.

SPECTRUM OF CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

Clinical signs vary based on the individual agent responsible for infection in clinically affected dogs.

Viral pathogens tend to be associated with clinical signs ranging from acute onset, highly contagious cough with expectoration of mucus that typically lasts 1 to 2 weeks to mild or no clinical signs (seroconversion only). Although coughing may persist for several weeks, dogs tend to effectively clear infectious viruses within 2 weeks following onset of signs.

Bacterial pathogens tend to be associated with not only cough, but systemic illness characterized by mucoid to mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, fever, and loss of appetite. Other clinical findings include orthopnea, dyspnea, and even life-threatening pneumonia, particularly in young animals. Clinical signs can persist for several days or longer depending on treatment administered.

Clinical illness associated with individual pathogens, however, does not necessarily represent the spectrum of clinical manifestations encountered in practice. For example, reports of dogs with confirmed CIV infection indicate that some simply seroconvert without developing significant respiratory signs, while others die.

However, it is unlikely that CIV, acting alone, causes such dramatic variation in clinical outcomes; CIRD likely results from the complex interaction between:

• Host
• Multiple respiratory pathogens acting together (viral and bacterial)
• Environmental factors.

The occurrence of co-infection explains, at least in part, why predicting clinical outcomes of CIRD in individual dogs can be difficult, and it explains why well vaccinated dogs still develop kennel cough.

PREVENTION

Vaccination

Routine vaccination of dogs at risk for exposure is indicated and generally effective in reducing severity of cough in challenged dogs, despite the inability to immunize dogs against each of the known CIRD pathogens. Table 1 lists the pathogenic viruses and bacteria associated with CIRD for which vaccines are available in the U.S.

Several types of vaccine (Table 2) are available for administration to dogs by the intranasal, oral, and parenteral (subcutaneous) route. The constituents and the routes of administration of commercially available vaccines vary. The route of vaccine administration indicated by the manufacturer must be strictly followed.

Prophylactic Use of Antibiotics

Although not indicated for the prevention of signs of CIRD in individual pets, I have utilized doxycycline, 5 mg/kg PO Q 24 H for 5 days, administered to all dogs entering a large animal shelter experiencing high rates (> 50%) of acute onset cough. Follow-up over a 30-day period indicated:

• Rapid and substantial reduction in incidence of CIRD within the population
• Higher placement rates
• Reduced euthanasia rates
• Lower operating costs.

Anecdotal observations suggest that empirical, daily administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic may be of benefit in managing endemic respiratory disease associated with bacteria among shelter-housed dogs. While the cost of doxycycline may prohibit implementing programmatic treatment of all dogs entering a shelter, other less expensive, broad-spectrum antibiotics are available and may augment attempts to reduce the frequency or severity of CIRD in populations of co-housed dogs.

Nosodes

Nosodes are liquid homeopathic preparations, sometimes called homeopathic vaccines, containing minute amounts of infectious material (tissue/discharge) collected from actively infected, unvaccinated animals. Intended for oral administration, proponents of nosodes claim efficacy in, not only preventing, but also treating infectious diseases in dogs and cats.

Nosodes are not recommended for the treatment or prevention of CIRD because:

• Values for composition, concentration, and purity of ingredients are not standardized.
• Nosodes are not subject to regulatory oversight.
• No studies have been published documenting either safety or efficacy.

VACCINATION PROTOCOL

There is no definition of a universal vaccination protocol applicable to all dogs. In fact, the availability of a diverse selection of vaccines against one or more agents of CIRD (Table 2) continues to raise the questions:

• Which vaccines should be administered?
• When should vaccines be administered?
• At what intervals should vaccines be administered?

The overall quality of protection a dog derives from vaccination against CIRD is most likely correlated to the route of administration and the number of antigens administered.

• Core: Parenteral vaccines against CDV and CAV-2 are considered core and indicated in all dogs.10
• Noncore: Vaccines for B bronchiseptica, CPiV, and CIV are considered noncore, or optional, and indicated in dogs with known or likely risk for exposure to other dogs, especially in kennels or co-housed environments; most dogs fall into this category. Vaccination is not indicated for dogs with strictly limited, or no, exposure to other dogs.
• Note: The canine (enteric) coronavirus vaccine is not effective against the antigenically distinct canine respiratory coronavirus.

Vaccines should only be administered to healthy animals. For example, administering a live, avirulent B bronchiseptica vaccine (intranasal or oral) to a dog concurrently receiving an antibiotic may exert an antibacterial effect on the vaccine antigen, resulting in reduced to no immunity.

While manufacturer advertisements and claims of vaccine efficacy can lead to confusion regarding vaccine selection; veterinarians recommending vaccination against CIRD must base selection on several factors:

1. Age

Intranasal vaccines can be administered as a single dose as early as 3 to 4 weeks of age (see manufacturer label instructions) because maternally derived antibody (IgG) does not interfere with mucosal immune responses (secretory IgA). Although impractical among individual household pets, puppies housed in high-risk environments (animal shelters) may benefit from early vaccination (ie, at 3–4 weeks of age). In this case, intranasal vaccine may need to be repeated at 2 to 4 week intervals until 12 weeks of age.

It is not known whether the oral B bronchiseptica vaccine, which also induces local immunity, has efficacy in puppies less than 8 weeks of age. The parenteral B bronchisepticavaccine requires 2 initial doses, at a minimum interval of 2 weeks, with the first dose administered to dogs 8 weeks of age or older.

2. Exposure Risk

Assessment of exposure risk is particularly important when selecting a vaccine. For dogs with limited risk for exposure, administration of any combination of parenteral, oral, or intranasal vaccines is indicated. In high-risk environments, however, administering either the oral or parenteral B bronchiseptica vaccines alone limits the scope of protection to B bronchiseptica; neither product contains vaccine against CPiV or CAV-2.

3. Onset of Immunity

Following a single dose of intranasal B bronchiseptica vaccine, dogs have shown protection against aerosol challenge by 48 to 72 hours.11,12 Vaccination with oral B bronchisepticavaccine is expected to induce rapid-onset mucosal immune response similar to the intranasal vaccine.13,14

Dogs initially vaccinated with parenteral B bronchiseptica vaccine are not expected to derive protective immunity until 5 to 7 days following administration of the second dose, that is, not earlier than 19 to 21 days following administration of the first dose.

4. Ease of Administration

Reports from veterinarians indicate that parenteral and oral vaccines are easiest to administer and best tolerated by individual dogs. A small number of dogs will aggressively resistintranasal vaccination; resistance to intranasal vaccination may warrant changing to oral or parenteral administration (see Change of Administration Route).

5. Route of Vaccination

The most recent studies (see Studies on B bronchiseptica Vaccine Administration) assessing routes of administration center on B bronchiseptica vaccination. These studies highlight the role of mucosal immunity in protecting dogs against exposure to B bronchiseptica. Similar comparative studies assessing the quality of protection derived from intranasal versus parenteral CPiV and CAV-2 vaccine administration have not been published.

Administration Considerations

1. Vaccine Loss Following Administration
Following intranasal administration of vaccine to dogs, subsequent sneezing and head shaking is likely to result in a small volume of vaccine dose being expelled from the nose; however, it is unlikely that this degree of vaccine loss reduces efficacy due to:

• High antigen concentration per dose
• Affinity of avirulent live B bronchiseptica for respiratory epithelium.

2. Reduction of Diluent Volume to Reduce Volume/Dose

When administering intranasal vaccine to small breeds, particularly small brachycephalic breeds, the volume of diluent may be arbitrarily reduced when reconstituting lyophilized vaccine antigen. Doing so reduces the volume of vaccine that reaches the nasopharynx without reducing antigen concentration or vaccine efficacy.

3. Vaccine Mixed with Food

Due to the absence of published studies, administering a dose of oral B bronchiseptica vaccine by mixing the dose with food is not recommended. Doing so may result in significantly reduced antigen contact with mucosal surfaces and, thus, ineffective immunization.

4. Change of Administration Route

When administering an intranasal vaccine, veterinarians may encounter sufficient resistance in some dogs to warrant switching to a parenteral or oral vaccine.

Switching from Intranasal to Parenteral. Intranasal vaccination may not consistently result in significant levels of serum IgG. Therefore, administration of 2 parenteral doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, is recommended, regardless of the dog’s age when the dosing route is changed. The dog may be revaccinated annually thereafter.

Switching from Intranasal to Oral. If switching from intranasal to oral vaccination, a single oral dose is indicated to effectively protect against B bronchiseptica infection.

5. Inappropriate Route of Administration

Vaccines indicated for protecting dogs against CIRD must be administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. See The Do Nots of Vaccine Administration.

6. Simultaneous Administration of Multiple Vaccine Types

Parenteral CDV + canine parvovirus (CPV) + CAV-2 vaccine combined with CPiV is among the multivalent vaccines most commonly administered to dogs in the U.S. and Canada.

Because intranasal B bronchiseptica vaccine may also include vaccine against CPiV or CPiV + CAV-2, dogs can receive both parenteral and intranasal vaccine for the same virus. There is no risk associated with doing so, even if administered during the same appointment.

Immunologically, dogs vaccinated against B bronchiseptica, CPiV, and CAV-2 by both parenteral (circulating IgG) and mucosal (secretory IgA) routes (oral and intranasal) at the same time may derive a greater degree of protection than those vaccinated either parenterally or mucosally. However, no scientific studies exist that confirm this.

The intricacies of systemic versus mucosal immunity are rather complex, and few studies are available that even attempt to “measure” mucosal immune responses. Mucosal immunity to B bronchiseptica does appear to involve mechanisms other than secretory IgA. However, further discussion of this topic is outside the scope of this article.

PUBLIC HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

Published reports document the role of B bronchiseptica as a primary respiratory pathogen in humans, and it can be transmitted from dogs, cats, and rabbits to humans and other animals.

Infection Risks

When exposed to an infected dog or cat, humans are at low risk for infection. However, greater risk for infection exists in immunocompromised individuals, children, and individuals working in high-density animal facilities (eg, shelters, rescue kennels).18,19

Postvaccinal sneezing and/or coughing are commonly reported in dogs that recently received intranasal vaccines. Reports of human infection with B bronchiseptica have raised concerns about administration of avirulent live (oral or intranasal) vaccine to dogs owned by immunocompromised individuals and families with young children (see Was It the Vaccine?).

Figure. Spontaneous rupture of a subcutaneous abscess in a dog 5 days following parenteral administration of an intranasal vaccine containing avirulent live B bronchispetica.

Scientific Studies

To date, there are no published studies confirming human infection and illness associated with exposure to recently vaccinated dogs. Special precautions to avoid human contact with recently vaccinated dogs (oral or intranasal route) do not appear warranted.

Anecdotal Concerns

Although anecdotal, I have voiced concern about the risks associated with veterinarians being directly exposed to intranasal (attenuated) vaccines at time of administration. To date, despite the large number of veterinarians reporting exposure, there is no evidence suggesting development of respiratory signs among those exposed to intranasal or oral vaccines.

SUMMARY

Canine infectious respiratory disease is still among the most frequently encountered respiratory infections reported in dogs. Despite the availability and widespread use of vaccines for many of the viral and bacterial pathogens implicated, infections are still reported. The discovery of new respiratory pathogens for which vaccines are not currently available highlights the fact that even well vaccinated dogs can still develop CIRD. Due to the contagious nature of the organisms involved, animal shelters, dog day-care centers, rescue organizations, and veterinary hospitals continue to be recognized as high-risk environments for development of CIRD.

CAV-2 = canine adenovirus-2; CDV = canine distemper virus; CIRD = canine infectious respiratory disease; CIRDC = canine infectious respiratory disease complex; CIV = canine influenza virus; CnPnV = canine pneumovirus; CPiV = canine parainfluenza virus; CPV = canine parvovirus; CRCoV = canine respiratory coronavirus; ITB = infectious tracheobronchitis

References

1. Ford RB. Canine infectious respiratory disease. In Greene CE (ed): Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 4th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2012, pp 55-65.
2. Pecoraro HL, Bennett S, Huyvaert KP, et al. Epidemiology and ecology of H3N8 canine influenza viruses in US shelter dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2014; 28(2):311-318.
3. Priestnall S, Erles K. Streptococcus zooepidemicus: An emerging canine pathogen. Vet J 2011; 188(2):142-148.
4. Renshaw RW, Zylich NC, Laverack MA, et al. Pneumovirus in dogs with acute respiratory disease. Emerg Infect Dis 2010; 16(6):993-995.
5. Decaro N, Martella V, Buonavoglia C. Canine adenoviruses and herpesvirus. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Prac 2008; 38(4):799-814.
6. Erles K, Brownlie J. Canine respiratory coronavirus: An emerging pathogen in the canine infectious respiratory disease complex. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2008; 38(4):815-825.
7. Buonavoglia C, Martella V. Canine respiratory viruses. Vet Res 2007; 38(2):355-373.
8. Ford RB. Bordetella bronchiseptica: Beyond kennel cough. In Bonagura JD, Twedt DC (eds): Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy XIV, 14th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2009, pp 646-649.
9. Mattoo S, Cherry JD. Molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of respiratory infections due to Bordetella pertussis and other Bordetella subspecies. Clin Microbiol Rev 2005; 18(2):326-382.
10. Welborn LV (chair), DeVries JG, Ford RB, et al. 2011 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines. JAAHA 2011; 47(5):1-42. Available at aahanet.org.
11. Gore T, Headley M, Laris R, et al. Intranasal kennel cough vaccine protecting dogs from experimental Bordetella bronchiseptica challenge within 72 hours. Vet Rec 2005; 156(15):482-483.
12. Bey RF, Shade FJ, Goodnow RA, Johnson RC. Intranasal vaccination of dogs with live avirulent Bordetella bronchiseptica: Correlation of serum agglutination titer and the formation of secretory IgA with protection against experimentally induced infectious tracheobronchitis. Am J Vet Res 1981; 42(7):1130-1132.
13. Hess TJ, Parker DS, Hassall AJ, Chiang Y. Evaluation of efficacy of oral administration of Bordetella bronchiseptica intranasal vaccine when used to protect puppies from tracheobronchitis due to B bronchiseptica infection. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 2009; 9(3):300-305.
14. Larson LJ, Thiel BE, Sharp P, Schultz RD. A comparative study of protective immunity provided by oral, intranasal and parenteral canine Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med 2013; 11(3):153-160.
15. Ellis JA, Krakowka GS, Dayton AD, Konoby C. Comparative efficacy of an injectable vaccine and an intranasal vaccine in stimulating Bordetella bronchiseptica-reactive antibody responses in seropositive dogs. JAVMA 2002; 220(1):43-48.
16. Davis R, Jayappa H, Abdelmagid OY, et al. Comparison of the mucosal immune response in dogs vaccinated with either an intranasal avirulent live culture or a subcutaneous antigen extract vaccine of Bordetella bronchiseptica. Vet Ther 2007; 8(1):32-40.
17. Toshach K, Jackson MW, Dubielzig RR. Hepatocellular necrosis associated with the subcutaneous injection of an intranasal Bordetella bronchiseptica-canine parainfluenza vaccine. JAAHA 1997; 33(2):126-128.
18. Hemsworth S, Pizer B. Pet ownership in immunocompromised children—a review of the literature and survey of existing guidelines. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2006; 10(2):117-127.
19. Woolfrey BF, Moody JA. Human infections associated with Bordetella bronchiseptica. Clin Microbiol Rev 1991; 4(3):243-255.
20. Berkelman RL. Human illness associated with use of veterinary vaccines. Clin Infect Dis 2003; 37(3):407-414.

R