The highly infectious disease can be fatal in young dogs, those with pre-existing health conditions or dogs that have not been vaccinated.

Mr Connoley’s own dog, a six-year-old golden retriever named Frosty, recently had a mild case of kennel cough.

“Because I was aware of the fact it was in town I was watching him closely, and as soon as it started [the symptoms] I treated him,” he said.

Mr Connoley has been involved with obedience training, competition and judging for the last 26 years, and said he has never seen so many cases of kennel cough in Bathurst.

“There’s frequently small outbreaks, but to me it appears to be more. It’s probably one of the worst outbreaks we’ve had,” he said.

Dogs can become infected by kennel cough when they inhale virus particles into their respiratory tract.

Bathurst Veterinary Hospital’s Dr Catherine Pettemerides said they have had 12 cases of kennel cough within the last week.

“It’s a really dry, honking cough with a retch at the end ... sometimes there can be a bit of froth, or a bit of food, at the end,” she said.

Dr Pettemerides said dogs that have been socialising, or in enclosed environments like a boarding kennel, are particularly at risk.

“They contract it through sneezing or coughing [from infected dogs],” she said.

Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital veterinarian James Hunter said they have had dozens of kennel cough presentations in the clinic over the last two months.

“Once dogs are infected they present with a hacking or hocking cough and sometimes they can cough up mucus as well,” he said.

Left untreated, the upper airway infection can turn into pneumonia and become a more serious health risk to the infected dog.

Dr Hunter said some veterinary clinics do not offer kennel cough vaccination as standard, but said people can request for the injection.

“It’s not 100 per cent in preventing the disease. Usually dogs who have been vaccinated get over it pretty quick and have less severe symptoms,” he said.

Dr Hunter said dogs should be kept isolated if they display symptoms of kennel cough and checked by a vet.

“Because coughing can be a sign of other problems like heart failure, pneumonia or obstructions, it’s always best to get it checked by a vet,” he said.