How Does A Dog Get Kennel Cough If He Hasn't Been Around Another Dog?

Kennel cough is highly contagious because it spread from infected dogs to healthy one . This type of cough is usually result of upper respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria or virus. This cough can last for 3 weeks. Its symptoms are

1. Dry and hacking cough
2. Runny nose
3. Sneezing
4. Conjunctivitis
5. Fever
6. Lethargy
7. Depression
8. Loss of appetite

Infected dogs when cough, bark or breathe, they can spread pathogen to air. When pathogens become airborne, then can be spread to other dogs. Contaminated objects like clothes and shoes of the dog caretakers can also spread kennel cough in healthy dogs.

Cough suppressants along with antibiotics are commonly used to treat kennel cough in dogs. Many other conditions can mimic the symptoms of kennel cough, so, differential diagnosis is much needed to diagnose kennel cough in dogs.

It is possible this is kennel cough.  Typically there needs to be an exposure event--trip the groomers, dog park, shelter etc.  Kennel cough is typically mild, self-limiting and has a goose-honking cough.  However if your dog's cough does not resolve in 3-4 days, your dog stops eating/drinking, or becomes lethargic you need to have your dog examined by a veterinarian.
If your dog does not have an exposure history then I would have the dog examined by a veterinarian.  There are other causes of coughing--pneumonia, heart disease, heartworm disease, or anatomical abnormalities.

Wheezing and coughing can have many causes.  It could be an upper respiratory tract problem like kennel cough, tonsillitis, foreign body, abnormal growths, or tracheal collapse.  It may be another respiratory problem like bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma, or it may be due to a different cause like cardiac disease.  You will need to take your animal to the vet to work out what the underlying cause is.  They will do a full physical exam, ask some more questions about the history of the problem, and depending on the findings they may run some further tests.  

Kennel cough is highly contagious and is caused by a number of viruses and bacteria.  These agents survive well in the environment and may be passed on fomites (clothes, hands and other objects) as well as in the air.  Your dog does not have to have direct contact with another dog to contract kennel cough.  It can be enough to be walking in an area that a dog with kennel cough has been.

Since the cure is only an antibiotic it seems, I recommend you get the pup in first thing in the morning. They symptoms are hacking, retching, sneezing, snorting or gagging & in some cases they get fevers. Hope this helps, good luck.

I have a pomeranian...she does that quite often. I took her to the vet and they said that pomeranians typically have esophageal problems and that there is not much to do for it. They also told me that when dogs cough like that it could be a sign of heart murmur, which is usually more prevalent in smaller dogs. They said they can tell by listening to her heart, but I insisted they do a thoracic radiograph. She is fine...thank goodness. She just has that esophagus thing going on. If it persists, I would take the dog to the vet and have them listen to his heart.

Both viral and bacterial causes of kennel cough are spread through the air by infected dogs sneezing and coughing. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces and through direct contact. It is highly contagious. Exposure occurs in environments where there are other dogs in proximity, such as kennels, dog shows, and groomers. Symptoms begin usually 3 to 5 days after exposure. The disease can progress to pneumonia. I suggest you Home remedies for cough through this you get instant of knowledge about How do you get rid from  cough .

Antibiotics are no good in the first stages of kennel cough at all! They are only of use if the dog gets an infection

Don't worry about my dog does that sometimes too. It does that if it has something stuck in it's throat or if it eats to much at once.