Almost every dog owner has heard the term, and few know it is not one disease. This page explains what it is and how the kennel talks about it openly.
One name, many causes
Kennel cough is the everyday name for a respiratory illness that spreads between dogs in the air. The kennel's own vaccination page says it is spread through a variety of airborne viruses and bacteria, that a few of them are included in canine vaccines and many are not. Veterinary groups now often call the whole picture canine infectious respiratory disease complex, or CIRDC, because several germs can act together. See the glossary entry for the short definition.
Where dogs catch it
Any place where dogs share air can pass it along: boarding kennels, day care, dog parks, shelters, vet waiting rooms and group classes. It is not a sign of a dirty kennel. A clean facility with good ventilation lowers the risk, and the kennel notes that its runs are heated and air-conditioned, but nobody can promise zero risk. Happy Paws says in writing that an occasional outbreak happens, and posts a warning on its vaccination page so owners decide with full information.
What vaccines do
Happy Paws requires the Bordetella vaccine and the canine influenza vaccine, two of the vaccines aimed at causes of CIRDC. The American Animal Hospital Association treats both as noncore, meaning they are chosen based on a dog's exposure, and boarding counts. A vaccinated dog that still gets sick often has a milder illness, though only your veterinarian can speak to your own dog. Read the pages on Bordetella and canine influenza for the kennel's rules.
What the kennel says about recovery
The kennel's page says that normally the illness goes away on its own and the dog recovers in a few days. That is the kennel's description, and it is no substitute for a veterinary exam. Dogs that stop eating, grow lethargic, run a fever or breathe with effort need a veterinarian. The symptoms page lists the signs, and boarding and kennel cough risk covers what to weigh before a stay.