If you are planning to take your dog to a boarding kennel while you're on vacation, you may have heard the term "kennel cough" because it's one of the standard vaccinations that most boarding kennels require. Before you take your dog to a kennel, you'll undoubtedly have to take him to the vet first.

Kennel cough is the common name for infectious tracheobronchitis. The majority of cases are caused by a bacterial infection that includes infection by an organism called Bordetella bronchiseptica, so the terms bordetella and kennel cough are often used interchangeably. Although it doesn't affect humans, the infection can be transferred quickly among dogs because it spreads by coughed droplets. In many ways, kennel cough is much like the common cold in humans. Just as you should get your kids vaccinated before they attend school with a lot of other children, you should get your dog vaccinated before you take him to a place with a bunch of other dogs, such as a dog show, boarding kennel, or groomer.

The disease is characterized by dry hacking coughing fits that sound like the dog has smoked three packs of cigarettes. Often a coughing jag is followed by gagging or retching, so you may think that the dog has something stuck in his throat. The dog may have a fever, be listless, vomit, or lose his appetite. In rare cases, kennel cough actually can lead to pneumonia or other serious problems.

Two types of vaccines exist for bordetella: intranasal and injectable. The intranasal vaccine is administered directly into the dog's nose, and it generally acts more quickly than the injectable version. The injectable version may provide longer immunity however.

Even the intranasal vaccine does take around four or five days to provide complete protection, so if you plan to board your dog, you should schedule an appointment for a vaccination about week before you leave.