A field investigation of kennel cough: Efficacy of different treatments

The efficacy of antibiotics, corticosteroids and antitussives in the treatment of kennel cough was investigated in clinical cases in the field, using information recorded on questionnaires distributed to a random sample of veterinary practitioners in the United Kingdom. Analysis of the results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the duration of coughing between treated and untreated dogs when a trimethoprim-sulphonamide combination, oxytetracycline, ampicillin/amoxycillin, or corticosteroid were administered alone, and when ampicillin/ amoxycillin-corticosteroid or trimethoprim-sulphonamide-corticosteroid combinations were given. The estimated median duration of coughing between treated and untreated animals when a trimethoprim-sulphonamide combination or ampicillin/amoxycillin were administered alone also differed significantly. The most efficacious drug was trimethoprim-sulphonamide, administered alone.