VTNE Laboratory Procedures Practice Test

Kennel cough is an infectious upper respiratory disease in dogs caused most often by Bordetella bronchiseptica. This bacterium colonizes the lining of the upper airway and triggers inflammation that leads to a harsh, dry cough, sometimes with gagging. It spreads readily in close-contact settings like kennels and shelters through aerosolized droplets when an infected dog coughs or sneezes. Vaccination against Bordetella (often given with other vaccines) reduces risk and severity, but it does not provide complete protection, so infections can still occur, especially during outbreaks or in unvaccinated dogs.

Pasteurella multocida can be involved in other canine respiratory issues or as a secondary invader after other insults, but it is not the primary cause of kennel cough. Staphylococcus aureus is more associated with skin and wound infections and less commonly with kennel cough. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a human pathogen and not a typical cause of disease in dogs. Therefore Bordetella bronchiseptica remains the classic agent linked to kennel cough in dogs.