Kennel Cough Is Making the Rounds in Lubbock—Here’s What to Watch For

If you’ve got a four-legged best friend at home and they’ve suddenly started coughing, sneezing, gagging, or just seem a little “off,” you might want to keep reading. There’s a nasty upper respiratory bug—commonly known as kennel cough—the circulates around Lubbock every once in a while, and local pet owners need to be on alert.

It Happened to My Dog

I’m not just passing this along from a vet’s office. My own pup had a scare just last night. Out of nowhere, she started having loud coughing fits—something my partner and I had never heard from her before. We first thought it might be reverse sneezing (which can look dramatic but usually passes quickly), but this wasn’t going away. She was retching, tired, and clearly uncomfortable.

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We stayed up to monitor her, and eventually, the coughing eased up enough that she fell asleep. First thing this morning, we were at the vet. Thankfully, no official kennel cough diagnosis—she’s vaccinated with the Bordetella shot—but they sent us home with doggy cough syrup and some anti-inflammatory meds, just in case.

What if You See Symptoms in Your Pet?

If your pup starts coughing, acting lethargic, stops eating, or has weird goop around their eyes or nose, get them checked out. Kennel cough is super contagious, and dogs can pick it up at dog parks, grooming salons, boarding kennels, or even from a quick nose-to-nose meeting on a walk.

Now, the Bordetella vaccine can help reduce the risk, but it’s not a cure-all. There are multiple bacteria and viruses that can cause respiratory issues in dogs, so even vaccinated pups can still catch something.

Keep Your Pup Healthy

Lubbock’s pet-loving community is strong, and it’s good to spread the word before more dogs get sick. If you notice symptoms, don’t wait. Call your vet, especially if your dog is around other pups often.

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Let’s keep our dogs happy, healthy, and out of the vet’s office. And if you’re headed to the dog park this weekend—maybe bring a little extra hand sanitizer and some distance. Better safe than sorry, y’all.

Guns up, tails wagging, and cough-free in the 806!