If you notice any of these signs in your dog, contact your veterinarian. They can examine your dog for their coughing. They may want to run bloodwork or take chest x-rays to rule out any other possible causes and to make sure a secondary infection has not set in. Diseases such as heartworm, pneumonia, tracheitis, and cancer can all look similar to kennel cough. Your veterinarian can help you figure out what is causing these signs.
If your dog does have kennel cough, your veterinarian may put them on antibiotics if they have discharge from their nose. This is to help treat or prevent secondary infection. Usually, no antibiotics are needed as kennel cough is caused by a virus and not a bacterial infection. Some veterinarians will put your dog on a cough suppressant to help decrease the chance of causing an infection. Usually, the cough will stop after about 7 to 10 days.
When your dog is coughing, it is always best to ditch the collar and use a harness instead. When your dog goes for a walk, they may pull a little on their collar, causing extra irritation to the throat. By switching to a harness when your dog pulls, they will not be putting any extra strain on their trachea.