Dear Pet Parents, May 3, 2023
We have received reports of pets who have visited all Kennelwood locations and have recently been diagnosed with Tracheobronchitis, also known as Canine Cough. Canine Cough is an airborne upper-respiratory illness. The main symptom is a hacking cough, sometimes accompanied by sneezing and nasal discharge, which can last from a few days to several weeks. Early treatment is key, much like the common cold, it can lower a dog’s immune system making the pet more susceptible to secondary infections and complications. Dogs with a weaker immune system, such as puppies and geriatric dogs, can be more at risk.
If your dog is currently displaying symptoms of Canine Cough, we ask that you keep your dog home until they have been completely without symptoms for seven straight days. We also strongly urge you to have your pet seen by your veterinarian.
The well-being of every pet is most important to us, and we want to ensure that every precaution is taken to provide the best possible care for your pet. We have very strict cleaning protocols at Kennelwood and since learning of the recent reported cases, we have increased our cleaning protocols as well. We require that all our guests receive the Bordetella vaccination before entering our facility. It is important to note that the vaccines that are used to prevent this illness are made from only one of the over 100 different strains of the virus and therefore are not as effective against some strains as others. If a pet displays any symptoms of canine cough while in our care, we will contact the pet parents immediately and take the pet to the veterinarian for treatment.
Our Healthy Paws Program is designed to give boarding customers peace of mind. Having been in pet care for nearly 50 years, we know that from time to time a pet can paw at a fence and injure their toe, strain a muscle while playing with their friends, or catch a bug just like children from time to time. The Healthy Paws Program makes it easy for the Pet Parent, and Kennelwood will take care of the veterinarian expense. Learn more about our Healthy Paws Program on our the Boarding page of kennelwood.com.
Please contact your Kennelwood location if you have any further questions or concerns, we are happy to discuss this topic with you. Your veterinarian is another great resource for information on canine cough.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Canine Cough?
Canine Cough is contagious, upper respiratory illness in dogs. It can be viral or bacterial. It is very similar to the human cold in that the illness is not usually very serious and most dogs can get over it on their own. However, it can lower their resistance to other secondary infections such as pneumonia. If your pet is experiencing any symptoms, we strongly suggest that you consult your Veterinarian.
Canine Cough Symptoms Include:
Persistent cough or hack
Nasal discharge
Sneezing
Lethargy
Fever
*If your pet is experiencing any of the above symptom, we suggest that you contact your Veterinarian and ask that you keep them at home until he or she has been completely symptom free for seven straight days.