How to Clean Your Home After Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is the everyday name for a group of contagious airway infections in dogs. It spreads quickly between dogs who share a home, a daycare or a park, and the honking cough is hard to miss. Most dogs recover with rest and their vet’s advice, but while one dog is coughing you will want to stop it reaching the others. This guide covers what to clean, what to use, and the limits of cleaning for a germ that also travels through the air.

The background comes from the American Humane fact sheet on kennel cough, Iowa State University’s guide to cleaning and disinfection, and University of Florida shelter guidance, all in our own words and linked under further reading. Diagnosis and treatment are for your veterinarian.

How kennel cough spreads

American Humane lists three routes: close contact between dogs, such as licking and nuzzling; breathing in droplets when an infected dog coughs or sneezes; and contact with things the sick dog has used, including toys, bedding, water bowls and people’s hands. Dogs can also be contagious before they start to cough, so by the time you hear it, the others may already have been exposed.

That last point matters. American Humane notes that cleaning surfaces alone cannot remove all the risk, because some of the germs spread through the air. Cleaning still cuts down how much your other dogs are exposed to, but separating the sick dog does most of the work.

Step 1: Keep the sick dog apart

Give the coughing dog its own room or area, away from the other dogs, until your vet says it has recovered.
Give it its own bowls, toys, bed and leash. Do not share water bowls.
Skip daycare, grooming, dog parks and classes until your vet clears it, so it does not spread further.
Wash your hands after handling the sick dog or its things, before you touch the other dogs.

Step 2: Choose a disinfectant that works

Iowa State University’s Center for Food Security and Public Health notes that most disinfectants easily kill viruses with an outer envelope, while viruses without one are generally harder to kill. Canine adenovirus, one of the kennel cough germs, has no envelope. So in our view, choose a product strong enough for it: diluted household bleach, or an accelerated hydrogen peroxide or potassium peroxymonosulfate product whose label lists canine viruses such as adenovirus or parvovirus. That covers the whole group.

For bleach, shelter guidance from the University of Florida uses a 1:32 dilution, half a cup of bleach per gallon of water, with at least 10 minutes of wet contact on a cleaned surface. Mix it fresh each day. For other products, follow the label for dilution and contact time. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other cleaners.

Step 3: Clean first, then disinfect

Remove dirt, drool and food with soap or detergent and water. Disinfectants work poorly on dirty surfaces.
Rinse.
Apply the disinfectant and keep the surface wet for the full contact time.
Rinse anything a dog will lick or eat from, and let it dry.

What to clean

Bowls

Wash the sick dog’s food and water bowls after every meal with hot soapy water, or run them through the dishwasher. Disinfect them at the end of the illness. See how to clean pet food and water bowls.

Toys

Hard rubber and plastic toys can be washed and disinfected like bowls. Soft toys go in the washing machine. Toys that cannot be cleaned are best set aside until the dog has recovered, or replaced. See how to clean pet toys.

Bedding and blankets

Wash bedding, blankets and towels in the warmest water the label allows, and dry them fully. Wash them again once your dog has recovered. See how to clean a dog bed.

Crates, floors and the car

Clean and disinfect crate trays, bars and hard floors the dog has used, and any hard surfaces in the car. See how to clean a dog crate and carrier.

Leashes, collars and harnesses

Wash fabric leashes and harnesses; wipe leather and hard parts. See how to clean dog coats and harnesses.

Fresh air helps

Because the germs travel on droplets, airing out the room the sick dog is using is sensible. Open a window when it is safe and keep the space well ventilated. Avoid strong sprays and air fresheners near a coughing dog, as they can irritate its airway.

When to call the vet

American Humane advises contacting your veterinarian if your dog has a fever, is less active, eats less, has discharge from the eyes or nose, or has trouble breathing, as these can be signs of complications. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with other health problems should be seen sooner. Your vet can also tell you how long to keep your dog away from others, and which vaccines help protect your other dogs.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit is made for everyday pet stains and odors, such as drool or vomit from a coughing fit on carpet and fabric. It is not a disinfectant; use the products above for that.

Frequently asked questions

What kills kennel cough on surfaces?

Most of the germs are killed by ordinary cleaning plus a disinfectant. Canine adenovirus is harder to kill, so in our view use diluted bleach, or an accelerated hydrogen peroxide or potassium peroxymonosulfate product, following the label for contact time.

Can kennel cough live on toys and bowls?

Yes. Shared toys, bowls and bedding are one of the ways it spreads, which is why the sick dog should have its own and they should be cleaned often.

Is cleaning enough to stop it spreading?

Not on its own. Some of the germs spread through the air, so keeping the sick dog away from other dogs matters most.

Do I need to clean after my dog recovers?

Yes. Wash bedding and toys and disinfect bowls, crates and hard surfaces once your vet says your dog has recovered.