Canine parainfluenza-2 (CPI2) and Canine adenovius type-2 (CAV-2) are the main virus. They can cause bouts of coughing which at times may be intense. Fever is a variable finding. Clinical signs usually last for three to seven days unless complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. These viruses can effect up to 75% of contact animals with spread via coughing.

Bordatella bronchiseptica is the most important bacterial infection associated with kennel cough Although bordatella can cause infection in its own right it is more commonly secondary to viral infection. The main clinical sign of bordatella is also coughing which can be severe enough to lead to gagging. Exercise, excitement, or pressure on the throat will often trigger episodes of the coughing. These signs may not appear for up to ten days after infection. As with the viruses up to 75% of contact animals can become infected with bordatella.

There are no specific treatments for CPI2 and CAV-2 however cough suppressants may reduce the severity of the coughing. Although bordatella is generally sensitive to a range of antibiotics it is difficult to treat as there is little blood supply to the mucus of the airways which harbors the infection. In severe or persistent cases antibiotics can be delivered effectively directly into the airways using nebulizers. Dogs which have recovered from bordatella may also carry and excrete the bacteria in this mucus for up to three months, acting as a source of infection for other dogs.

Vaccines are available for CPI2, CAV-2, and bordatella. These are generally given in conjunction with the puppy vaccination program for other diseases such as parvovirus and distemper at 6-8 weeks and 12 weeks of age. The bordatella vaccine is available in a killed form for injection and a modified live form which is sprayed directly into the nostrils. The intranasal form can be given to puppies as young as three weeks of age in an outbreak situation as it is not blocked by the immunity passed to the pup by the mother. None of these vaccines are completely protective against kennel cough however they greatly reduce the chance of infection and severity of clinical signs. Annual revaccination is recommended for all dogs.