My old boy (well he's six and a small breed) has strange coughing fits, this started on Saturday, he rather sounds like a duck, he is trying to be sick but nothing comes up! He doesn't go out on walks any longer as he'd much rather stay in bed, However my other dogs do go out and these are not coughing etc so my question is could he have kennel cough and what should I do? He is eating, drinking, playing  as normally and is very bright in himself, I have not had a dog with kennel cough before so am unsure what happens. Thanks in advance! Loislane

It doesn't sound as though he's very well. 6 is no age at all for a small breed (they're generally much longer lived than the giant breeds - small dogs usually live well into double figures) so for him to want to stay in bed when he should be in his prime is very strange. I'd certainly take him to the vet.

I have had a couple of dogs over the years with these symptoms and it has been a heart problem. It would be best for a vet to see your dog and they can determine if it is a heart problem or kennel cough as you think, either way your dog will probably need medication. 

He's never been one for walks he's just a real lazy bones! Only time you see him rushing about is when his kong gets filled up :-) :-) :-)
Does anyone know how kennel cough is spread? I have spoken to the vets this morning and they said it should clear up within a couple of days if it is kennel cough, if it's no better by Wednesday to book him in for a check over and he may need some abs just to help him along

My dog started coughing a few weeks ago and I assumed it was kennel cough.  But considering how infectious it's supposed to be I wondered why my other dog hadn't gone down with it.  Anyway I took him to the vet who recommended an x-ray - this showed that the heart was enlarged and there was a lot of fluid around the lungs, hence the reason for his coughing.  There had been no other symptoms though, apart from the cough. 
Not saying it will be the same for your dog but it's definitely worth getting him checked over.

Thanks for the advice Lois VP, Sorry to hear your news! How is your dog now? Better i hope!

Definately get him into the vets.  Even if this does turn out to be Kennel Cough, exercise intolerance in such a young dog is not normal particularly in a small breed as they tend to keep young for much longer than the big ones. 

Like I said above, he's never been keen on daily walks so I'm not worried about his lack of motivation as this is normal to him.  I will let you know the outcome. Thanks for your comments :-)

Quick update.

Last Saturday my boy came down with kennel cough, 8 days later all my dogs have started coughing, this is the first time in all my years of dog owning have I have one of mine go down with it, I am now thinking that the kennel cough has spread from my new puppy, onset of my boy coughing from puppy arriving 7 days! When we first had puppy it was making a choking noise, was health checked 4 days after puppy coming home, was told all was well, told vet about the choking noise she occasionally was making but this was put down to just being a puppy and to keep an eye on her untill her 2nd jab! Touch wood all will be okay!! My boy now seems to be much better :-) ;-) Could he become infected again after just getting over it??!!!