The vaccine reduces the risk and severity of kennel cough but cannot prevent every cause of it.
What it is
The AKC describes kennel cough as a highly contagious canine respiratory illness with several possible causes. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a common one, but mycoplasmas and viruses such as parainfluenza and adenovirus type 2 can also be involved. A harsh cough is the main sign, appearing 2 to 14 days after exposure, and most dogs recover within one to three weeks.
The vaccine
Bordetella vaccines come in injection, intranasal and oral forms; your vet decides which fits your dog. The AKC notes boosters are typically given every 6 to 12 months. A vaccinated dog can still catch a cough from another organism. The kennel's own wording is that the vaccine does not cover every respiratory illness, and that occasional outbreaks happen and usually clear in a few days.
What Happy Paws needs on file
Your dog's record must show Bordetella current through the last day of the stay, with the others: rabies and distemper/parvo; canine influenza is recommended. Upload to your online account, email it or bring a copy to the first check-in. Ask your vet about timing; the timing before boarding page helps.
Learn more
See the Bordetella vaccine page, intranasal vs oral Bordetella and CIRDC, the modern name for the whole group of kennel cough diseases.
Timing and records
Ask your vet how far ahead of a stay to give the vaccine, and make sure the date on the record is clear. Vaccination records must show the vaccine is current and will not expire during the stay. For a long stay, check the expiry date before you book. Send updated records after boosters. The sending vaccine records page lists the ways to do it.
What to do if a cough appears
If your dog coughs after a stay, keep him away from other dogs and call your vet. The AKC advises that dogs with kennel cough avoid other dogs while symptomatic and for at least two weeks after coughing stops. Tell the kennel too.