Last year, just before Christmas, there were nationwide reports of an uptick in dogs with coughing, runny eyes and nose. It was a highly contagious case of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), also known as kennel cough, and as quickly as it came, the outbreak disappeared.

But now it’s back. The Delaware state veterinarian just announced a CIRDC outbreak in the state. Because of the outbreak, all Delaware animal shelters and rescues have been ordered to suspend out-of-state transports, as well as out-of-state intakes or adoptions for 30 days. In neighboring Maryland, the Carroll County Humane Society, west of Baltimore, also had to suspend operations temporarily due to a CIRDC outbreak.

Kennel cough can be caused by a host of infectious agents, including bacteria and viruses, and we’ll look at how you can protect your pet in today’s blogpost.

Preventing CIRDC Through Vaccination

Vaccines can help protect your dog against several of the most common organisms causing kennel cough. When your dog gets their core DA2PP vaccine, the second P stands for parainfluenza virus, one cause of kennel cough. Many boarding facilities and grooming parlors also require a specific kennel cough vaccine targeting the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, but “kennel cough vaccine” is a bit of a misnomer since Bordetella is only one cause of kennel cough. Some Bordetella vaccines also provide protection against parainfluenza and adenovirus, which is the A2 in the DA2PP vaccine. Veterinarians can also vaccinate dogs against canine influenza to protect them against that viral cause of kennel cough.

Canine Influenza Vaccines

The current canine influenza vaccine is bivalent, targeting two canine influenza viruses in one vaccine: H3N8 and H3N2. Two additional flu vaccines, protecting against the H2N8 or N3N2 strains, are also available. Traditional influenza vaccines contain inactivated virus particles and a compound called an adjuvant to boost your dog’s immune response to the vaccine. Like human flu vaccines, the canine influenza vaccines decrease severity and duration of clinical signs from the flu, but they do not prevent the infection completely.

An Innovative New Flu Vaccine

Veterinarians are anticipating a new canine influenza vaccine to be available before the fall. Unlike current vaccines, this product does not contain virus particles or an adjuvant. Instead, the new vaccine utilizes a fragment of the genetic material of the H3N2 virus. This little piece of genetic material, or RNA, triggers the production of a protein that stimulates your dog’s immune system to program cells to target the H3N2 virus and to make protective antibodies against the H3N2 virus. This is the first instance of “RNA-Particle Technology” used in veterinary medicine, promising a more precise and effective approach to disease prevention for canine influenza and perhaps other diseases in the future.

Protecting Your Dog Against Kennel Cough

Vaccination is just one prong of a respiratory disease prevention protocol. Respiratory infections are easily spread by coughs and sneezes, so keep your dog away from dogs that are sneezing, coughing or have runny eyes. If you have been in contact with a sick dog, be sure to wash your hands and change your clothes before you play with your dog. Should your dog contract kennel cough, keep them separate from other dogs and, once they’re recovered, disinfect bowls and toys using a dilute solution of bleach or bleach (sodium hypochlorite) containing wipes.