Can Babies Get Kennel Cough: How to Protect Your Family

If you’re a parent and pet-owner, you’ve probably thought about the safety of having pets around your baby. Illnesses like kennel cough can be scary when you have babies and young children. Can your baby and the rest of your family catch it? How do you protect your family? And what exactly is kennel cough?

In this post, we’ll explore what kennel cough is, the symptoms of kennel cough in dogs, how it differs from whooping cough, and the best ways to keep your baby and family safe.

Let’s look at how to ensure your home is healthy for everyone—dogs included! For more nutrition info and recipes for babies and kids check out my meal ideas and other blog posts.

What Is Kennel Cough?

Kennel cough, also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs. Kennel cough is caused by a combination of bacteria and viruses, including bordetella bronchiseptica, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine adenovirus. Dogs often catch it in places with lots of dogs, like dog parks, doggy day-cares, or boarding facilities.

When an infected dog coughs or sneezes, it releases infectious particles into the air, which can spread to other dogs. It is spread through direct contact, close contact, or shared surfaces like food bowls. Older dogs, puppies younger than 12 weeks of age, and those with weak immune systems are at higher risk.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough in Dogs

The signs of kennel cough can range from mild to severe. Common clinical symptoms in dogs include:

• A persistent dog cough that sounds like a honking noise.
• Runny nose and eye discharge.
• Occasional reverse sneeze.
• Fatigue or lethargy.
• Nasal discharge or a mild fever (high temperature).

While mild cases often resolve on their own, severe cases can lead to complications like canine infectious respiratory disease or life-threatening pneumonia. Pet owners should contact their vet if their dog shows worsening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or loss of appetite.

Can Kennel Cough Spread to Humans or Babies?

While it is very uncommon for humans to get kennel cough, in rare cases, humans with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women or people who are sick, can catch kennel cough. The vaccine strain of kennel cough also poses little risk to humans. For babies and young kids, the concern isn’t usually catching kennel cough but being around a sick dog that could spread germs in general.

Kennel Cough vs. Whooping Cough

Kennel cough is often confused with whooping cough, but they’re very different. Kennel cough is caused by bordetella bronchiseptica, while whooping cough is caused by bordetella pertussis.

The pertussis vaccine is the “P” of the DTAP vaccine for those under 7 years old. It is also known as the whooping cough vaccine and protects babies and young children from whooping cough, which is much most dangerous for newborn babies.

Though the bacteria causing these illnesses are related, they have distinct symptoms and usually do not spread between dogs and humans.

How to Protect Your Family from Kennel Cough

To minimize risks, keeping your family safe from kennel cough involves a few key steps:

1. Vaccinate Your Dog
   • The kennel cough vaccine helps protect your dog and lowers the risk of spreading germs. Options for vaccinations include nasal vaccines and injectable bordetella vaccines.
2. Clean Your Home
   • Regularly wash surfaces like food bowls, bedding, and toys to eliminate infectious particles. This is especially important if you have a sick dog in the house.
3. Limit Exposure
   • Avoid places with lots of dogs such as dog parks, doggy day-cares, or boarding facilities if your dog isn’t vaccinated or is recovering from another sickness. 
4. Monitor Symptoms
   • Watch for symptoms of illness in your baby, such as a sore throat, fever, or runny nose. Talk to your pediatrician if any symptoms are seen. 

What to Do If Your Dog Has Kennel Cough

If your dog has kennel cough symptoms, take these steps to help them recover while keeping your family safe:

• Isolate Your Dog: Keep your infected dog away from other pets and family members to prevent spreading the illness.
• Consult Your Vet: For mild cases, your vet might recommend rest and fluids. In severe cases, they may prescribe antibiotics, cough suppressants, or a chest x-ray to check for complications.
• Ease Their Breathing: Use a humidifier to help your dog breathe more easily. Avoid using collars that press on their throat and use harnesses instead. 

Food Safety for Babies Around Dogs with Kennel Cough

I’m sure you know, babies often explore the world by putting things in their mouths. This makes food safety and a clean home crucial when you have a sick dog.

• Keep your dog away from the dining area and utensils away from where your dog eats or coughs.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after touching your dog or their belongings. Have all family members wash their hands often.
• Disinfect surfaces often to remove virus particles or bacteria.

By maintaining hygiene and separating feeding areas, you can reduce the risk of cross-contamination for your baby and young kids.

Final Thoughts on Kennel Cough and Babies

While it’s rare for kennel cough to directly affect babies and humans in general, it’s always a good idea to take precautions, especially for newborn babies, young children, or anyone with weak immune systems. By recognizing the symptoms of kennel cough, getting your dog vaccinated, and keeping your home clean, you can create a safe and healthy place for your family and pets!

Checkout recent blog posts on meal ideas, recipes, and nutrition info for babies and kids on my site!