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Why is my puppy coughing like a furball after kennel cough vaccine?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Bernese Mountain Dog | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 26 days old | 40 lbs

My puppy Stella is almost four months old. She is a Bernese Mountain Dog. I recently took her to get her 2nd round of vaccines and kennel cough vaccine. lately she has been coughing and gagging, making a sound like a cat with a fur ball. It happens mostly at night but sometimes during the day.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Emily Luisana DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 30th, 2017

She is so cute! I am sorry to hear she has been coughing. That kind of cough you are describing makes me suspicious of kennel cough (even with the vaccine), although it is not the only cause. If she seems to have good energy and is otherwise normal you can give it some time to see if it resolves on its own, but if she seems to feel poorly or it is bothering her it would be safer to call your vet and discuss an appointment. I hope this helps!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 2nd, 2018
The sneezing and coughing is unlikely caused by the vaccination. However it is quite possible that your dog picked up kennel cough somewhere since. Kennel cough is self limiting and should go away by itself within about 4 weeks. If the cough becomes severe or if Moonshine develops a yellow or green discharge from her nose you should take her to her vet for an exam and some prescription medication.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 8th, 2016
It is normal for a puppy to see mild signs of the kennel cough disease after receiving the vaccine, and I would monitor Ruby for now. Generally, these symptoms are self limiting, and should disappear in a few days. If she does develop a thick yellow/green discharge from her nose, or she hasn't improved in 72 hours, I would take her into the vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My vaccinated dog is coughing like kennel cough. What's wrong?

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection. There are different upper respiratory tract infections possible and unfortunately kennel cough is only one (although the most common) of them. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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My vaccinated dog has a dry cough and spits up white foam. Why?

Unfortunately it's impossible to know the underlying cause of the coughing without a physical exam and possible radiographs. Pets can cough due to allergies, infections or something more sinister. Even vaccinated pets can get kennel cough though it tends to be less severe (just like humans can get the flu even though they have the vaccine). Treatment is different for each of these conditions. At home you can try rest for a few days so no running or anything to cause panting. Keep her from barking as well. If you don't want to wait you can certainly have her examined today. Otherwise if the coughing doesn't improve after a few days or if it gets worse at any point, I recommend to have Sadie examined by her veterinarian. Best of luck.

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My dog is coughing and sneezing after vaccine. Should I see a vet?

She is very beautiful! Without seeing her it is hard to say. Coughing is a sign of kennel cough but the sneezing isn't. While the kennel cough vaccine is a great vaccine, it is like the flu vaccine and doesn't prevent the disease just lessens the severity. If she is coughing I would recommend having her seen for treatment so it doesn't get worse and turn into pneumonia. Good luck and kisses to Princess Ruby!

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Health & Wellness

My new dog is coughing. Can she have kennel cough after her vaccine?

Congratulations on bringing Kaiyah into your household! Yes, it is possible she has kennel cough. The vaccine helps to decrease the strength of the infection in most cases but it may not fully protect. It’s just like how you can still get the flu even though you get the flu vaccine but you don’t usually get us sick. I recommend to call the shelter. They will likely want to see her again or refer you to a veterinarian. There are other causes of coughing as well including allergies. The veterinarian will conduct a physical exam which may give them some clues as to the origin. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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Health & Wellness

My vaccinated dog is coughing and spitting up. Is it kennel cough?

Even though Harley has had her kennel cough vaccination she can still get kennel cough. Has Harley been to the dog park, day care, kennel or even the groomer? She could have picked it up anywhere there are dogs. If the cough gets worse, isn't eating, has a fever (rectal temperature above 103F) or difficulty breathing it is highly recommended going to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Kennel cough can be viral or bacterial and is typically viral. Some veterinarians will place dogs on antibiotics to prevent a secondary bacterial infection. Ideally a veterinarian should listen to any dog that is coughing. I would call your veterinarian when they are open and discuss this with them since she just went there the other day. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Why is my new 4-month-old puppy coughing like he has a hairball?

Cough can be caused by an infection, heart problem or lung condition, it is important to first know the cause before treating it as treatment is different from condition to another. The most common disease causing cough is a viral/bacterial infection called Kennel cough, this disease usually resolves without treatment within a couple weeks but if the cough is too severe it is recommended to go to the vet in order to get cough medicine and antibiotics.

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My puppy got Bordetella. How long do vaccine-related coughs last?

The Bordatella vaccine is what we call "modified live" . This means that the actual virus is altered slightly to make it non-infectious, but still recognizable and stimulating to the immune system. If your dog is coughing, my suspicion is she contracted it based on exposure pre-vaccine. Generally this virus will run its' course within a month, but antibiotics can help prevent any secondary bacterial infections. A cough suppressant can also help keep her more comfortable.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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