Kennel cough is basically a cold for dogs. It's an airborne virus. It's highly contagious. It's rarely deadly, only poses a lifethreatening risk to the very young and the very old. Some vets will put the dogs on anti-biotics, but that really only helps the owner not the dog! It runs it's course in about two weeks.

My dogs all got it this past March--15 of the 18. Every dog team for miles had it at some point this winter. It regularly goes through places with large groups of dogs--shelters, kennels, dog teams ect. It will spread through the shelter and there is little that can be done to stop it. Generally by the time a dog is coughing and showing symptoms, they aren't contagious anymore. The virus takes up to 10 days to start showing symptoms. If the shelter has a isolation unit with it's own air circulation system, it might be stoppable. Otherwise the other dogs can catch just from breathing! Cats are not affected by this virus.

If the dog is coughing alot and can't sleep, you can give them an over-the-counter human cough syrup, just make sure it has no other ingredients besides a cough supressant.

There is a vaccine for it, but like the human flu shot, it only catches certain strains and vaccinated dogs often still get kennel cough.

While the dog is coughing, they will be lethargic and seem depressed. Limit their exercise, make sure they keep drinking. If they stop drinking or spike a high fever get them to the vet. The cough will sound like they have something stuck in their throat and they may bring up some foamy yellow or white bile. Try to limit their contact with other dogs to prevent them from spreading the virus.

Kennel cough is a PITA, but rarely fatal. I don't bother vacinating for it. Often a dog who has had it before will become immune.