14/11/2025
Dear Little Paws Inn clients,
It’s that time of year again — where our industry sees an uptick in Kennel Cough (Canine infectious respiratory disease) 🐕🐈⬛
We would like to bring a few important reminders to keep our daycare pups safe and healthy🙌💛
🐾 Although we adhere to exceptional cleaning and sanitation standards in our facility, the reality is that kennel cough can still find its way into group-dog settings.
🐾 The infection is highly contagious among dogs, and even the
most diligent cleaning cannot eliminate every possible exposure pathway.
What is kennel cough?🤷🏻♀️
Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection in dogs, typically affecting the trachea and bronchi. It is caused by a complex mix of viruses and bacteria (for example, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza
virus, and adenovirus type 2) which can act together.
⭐️ Even vaccinated dogs may contract a mild form of the disease, particularly if exposed in a high-density dog environment⭐️
Symptoms to watch for;
Please keep your pup home and consider contacting your veterinarian if you notice any of the following:
😮💨• A sudden, harsh “honking” or hacking cough (often sounding like something is stuck in the throat)
🤮• Gagging or retching after coughing
🤧• Sneezing, runny nose or discharge from eyes
🤒• Decreased energy, loss of appetite or mild fever (especially in more serious cases)
🤕• Worsening when the dog is excited, exercised, or if a collar presses their throat
Why it spreads easily (even in clean facilities)
👉 The incubation period can range from 2 to 14 days after exposure, so dogs may arrive while incubating the
infection and still appear healthy.
👉 The infection spreads via airborne droplets, shared water bowls, toys, and contaminated surfaces (leashes,
mats, human hands, etc.).
👉 Some sources note that the pathogens may survive on surfaces for prolonged periods in certain conditions (e.g., low ventilation, shared environment) making transmission possible even when no visibly sick dog is present.
Who is at greater risk of complications 🤷🏻♀️
While most healthy adult dogs may recover fully with minimal intervention, certain groups are at higher risk of more serious illness, including progression to pneumonia:
• Puppies (very young dogs) with immature immune systems
• Senior dogs with weaker immunity
• Dogs with pre-existing medical conditions (respiratory, cardiac, immune-compromised)
These dogs require extra caution and monitoring if cough or respiratory symptoms appear.
💛Our request of you💛.....
🔸️ If your dog shows any of the above symptoms, please do not bring them to daycare until they’ve fully recovered.
🔸️ Please notify us of the symptoms so we can monitor our environment and fellow guests.
🔸️ Consider reviewing your pup’s vaccination status with your vet (including the Bordetella vaccine and any other recommended respiratory-illness protections).
We continue to maintain rigorous cleaning and disinfection protocols at Little Paws Inn, with regular sanitation of shared spaces, bowls, mats, as well as good ventilation. That said, no environment is completely immune to contagious illnesses
when many dogs are present — so your cooperation is key to keeping all the pups safe💪.
Thank you for your partnership in protecting our daycare community. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding kennel cough, vaccinations, or your dog’s health status.
Warm regards,
The Little Paws Inn Team
