Can You Board a Dog with Kennel Cough? Find Out?
Can You Board a Dog with Kennel Cough? Find Out?
If you are planning to visit a dog park or dog show and your dog is sick, this is not the best time. Especially if your dog is infected with a kennel cough, which is a highly contagious disease (which means it can spread from one dog to another), you should drop all your plans.
Some people don't take this disease seriously and put their dogs and other healthy dogs' lives in danger. According to veterinarians, it is the most highly contagious disease out of all dog diseases, and its occurrence has also been reported more than any other case. Let's have a brief overview of the Disease and then we will discuss how to keep your dog safe.
WHAT IS KENNEL COUGH?
Infectious Tracheobronchitis is commonly referred to as Kennel cough. If we break it down to literal meaning, it will be trachea+bronchitis which means inflammation of the Trachea and bronchi. In simple words inflammation of air passage way.
CAUSE OF THE DISEASE
Kennel cough is caused by several viruses and bacteria and can individually cause the disease which are stated below.
- BACTERIA: Streptococcus equi, all mycoplasma species, and Bordetella bronchiseptica.
- VIRUSES: Reovirus, canine distemper, Herpes Virus, coronavirus, and Boca Virus.
HOW THE DISEASE SPREADS?
Kennel cough is a highly contagious and airborne disease (spread through the air). Infected dogs sneeze or breathe out particles that are inhaled by other dogs. It spreads through mucous too. Infected dogs droll more saliva, which contains the virus. Any dog that can come in touch with this saliva will get the virus and will be infected.
Occurrence of the Disease
According to veterinarians, most cases of kennel cough are reported during the holiday season when people tend to visit different places and bring their dogs. It tells us how contagious this disease is.
According to statistics, about 15% of the dog population is infected, which means out of 100 every 15 dogs are infected. Kennel cough is a mild disease and can go on its own in 2 days but there are always chances of secondary bacterial infections during the disease.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF KENNEL COUGH
The landmark sign of the Disease is mild to harsh coughing which is persistent and dry. According to veterinarians most dogs with kennel cough are presented to our clinics with the following symptoms.
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Nasal Discharge
- Emaciation
- Dull
- Depressed
- Lethargic
WHAT TO DO IF THESE SIGNS APPEAR?
Immediately consult a veterinarian if all these signs appear in your dog. Your veterinarian will prescribe medicines according to the condition of your dog. Antibiotics, bronchodilators, cough suppressants, or steroids can be given according to the severity of the disease. Do not treat your dog by yourself or just read from the internet because the best treatment advice will come from your veterinarian.
Now that we have understood the disease let's move to the topic "Can you board a dog kennel Cough?" You can board a dog with kennel cough if you take these precautions.
PRECAUTIONS BEFORE BOARDING A DOG WITH KENNEL COUGH
Kennel cough is a very contagious disease and causes harm to others so before boarding your dog make sure to take these precautions to keep the safety of other dogs intact.
- Take your dog out to a place where there are no more dogs.
- Put a mouth cover on your dog's face as this disease is airborne.
- If you are taking your dog to a place where healthy dogs are present, make sure that all other dogs are vaccinated.
- After leaving the place, make sure to clean the place with strong disinfectants so it may not become a source of disease.
HOW TO BOARD A DOG WITH KENNEL COUGH?
Now that you know and follow the precautions of the Disease, you can board your dog by following these following steps.
- PRE-ALERT
All other pet owners should be informed about the report of dogs with kennel cough. As a result, other pet owners will be able to decide whether to board their dog in a boarding facility while the air is infected with kennel cough.
- QUARANTINE
As soon as the infected dog is received at the boarding facility, it should be transferred Quarantine room. As the disease is airborne, the room should have great ventilation so that air-carrying bacteria or viruses are immediately expelled.
- ALL DOGS AT THE BOATING FACILITY SHOULD BE VACCINATED.
If you are taking your infected dog to any boarding facility, make sure that all other dogs present there are fully vaccinated for kennel cough.
- SANITATION AND DISINFECTION
Kennel cough can survive for longer durations and thus boarding facilities should have very strong sanitation and disinfectation. Otherwise, the floor will become a source of disease.
- ONBOARDING PROTOCOLS
When infected is fully recovered and is discharged. Make sure to disinfect and clean the quarantine room where it stayed before purring other dogs in it.
CONCLUSION
If you take all necessary precautions and follow all the steps listed above, boarding a dog with kennel cough can be managed easily. However, it is a highly contagious disease and must be handled carefully. If you still can't handle a dog with kennel cough, consult a nearby veterinarian and he will guide you in this regard.
In the end, at the boarding facility health of other dogs is always a priority and we can't put others’ lives in danger. By taking all the precautions and following boarding steps, you can protect others and your dog’s safety.
