Kennel cough Bordetella shot

*****PET WARNING****** Think of the following message as Covid-19 for dogs. No! I am not a Veterinarian, but does that change my knowledge or education? Do you have to be a lawyer to know the law? No. Spring is here and we love to get outside with our dog while walking, jogging, camping, hiking and playing in public areas with our dogs. What a nightmare Covid-19 was and still is to some. At Loyal K-9 training and Pawsitively Sassy dog grooming here in Hurricane Dixie Springs wants to just talk about another common airborne bacteria agent that dogs can inhale. Commonly known as kennel cough is highly contagious and can easily be spread from one dog to another. While the disease usually affects dogs, other animals, such as cats, rabbits, horses, mice, and guinea pigs, can develop it as well. We have lots of rabbits running in Dixie Springs from property to property all the time. But, let's keep the topic on dogs. It's rare, but humans can also contract kennel cough from their pets. People with compromised immune systems, such as those who have lung cancer or HIV, are more likely to get it due to low immunity. Common areas for this to happen can be at dog parks, vet’s offices, dog kennels, pet groomers, self-dog washes, state parks, rattlesnake avoidance classes, group dog lessons, etc. It can also just be easy as a runaway dog walking down the street going from property to property to fence check your pet that can infect your dog in your own backyard depending on how close your fence line is to the public sidewalk or street with other pet owners walking their dogs around the neighborhood. This is why at Loyal K-9 and Pawsitively Sassy dog grooming we require and mandate updated shot records in order for your dog(s) to come onto our property safely. We are looking out for you, your fur baby and our clients. We have up to $1,000 liability insurance for your pets while under our care. Imagine a dog coming onto our property and infecting my dog as well as yours. It can take up to 30 days to clear a dog for kennel cough. What a nightmare for all of us. Your dog(s) are sick, kennels and grooming are shut down, vet bills, medications, etc. Not only would your dog(s) be returned to you possibly infected, but the liability for our companies at $1,000 a dog that gets infected let alone our own dog. This can cause a lot of problems for the business, clients, dogs, families, etc. Did you know before your dog shows the symptoms 2-3 days can go by while infected? Imagine you take your dog(s) to the dog park or Zion and then your dog is the carrier spreading it to all other animals and some people. Yikes! That’s why I never recommend taking a dog to the dog park because we do not know what the other pet owner’s dog does or does not have for shots or protection. Also, no shots for sure means the dog cannot get a license or be registered with the city/county without current shot records. Something to think about while your dog is playing with other dogs at the dog park. I am not willing to take that risk, are you? Would you send your child to school with a Covid-19 breakout? Why would you risk your dog but not your child? We look out for your pet/fur baby. If you choose not to give your dog(s) shots or do not believe in giving your animals a preventive shot that’s your prerogative but, think about the human Flu or Covid-19 and how many got infected or worst died. So, if you are one of those folks then please respect the safety of other pets and pet owners while in public areas. Most vets do not include the Bordetella shot (Kennel cough preventive) in their dog shot package. So, it is important to make sure that you ask your vet to include Bordetella. Bordetella can be an injection but more commonly a nasal spray up the dog’s nose. The cost is about $20-$25 a year. The shot is immune to your dog about a week later but we require a minimum of 2 weeks given the shot prior before coming to our property if needed. Some folks like myself can get the booster shot for their pet(s) every 6 months. So, in short, be aware. Your dog groomer or pet sitter, dog buddy at the dog park, let alone another dog owner in the dog park may not have the shot. It is important that you ask your dog groomer, dog trainer, pet sitter, etc. if they are covered and have insurance for your dog(s) while under their care or in public with other dogs. If your dog is infected it can cost you hundreds of dollars because your groomer or dog trainer did not care about you or your animal to protect either of you from high vet bills and the potential death of your animal or elderly ill family member. It is important that your dog groomer, trainer, etc. are insured, licensed and covered to protect your animals while under their care. We do not want to take chances at our home and gamble on your dog(s) health. Here is a short video on this subject that can explain it more in detail. You should be asking your groomer, pet sitter and/or dog trainer if they are insured and require current shot records. Imagine your dog groomer for a second. If your groomer is popular like us, then they would be grooming a minimum of 5 dogs a day. It only takes one dog to get the rest infected at the rate of 5 dogs a day or more if the groomer hangs out at the dog park with others. If your dog is infected, the symptoms will not show for 2-3 days. That can be many dogs getting infected at the groomer, dog park, etc. and spreading kennel cough daily before you see the symptoms. Again, how did Flu or Covid-19 spread to others? Same concept for your dog. Here is a video to understand better. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Information is free. READ ON and be educated about your dog’s surroundings. Folks, it’s a $20-$25 shot every 6-12 months. If your groomer, pet sitter or dog trainer is not licensed, insured or requires all shots, then I would shop elsewhere for a more professional person to handle your dog(s).
 
https://cornerstonevet.info/dog-bordetella-vaccine/
 
https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/kennel-cough-dogs-symptoms-and-treatments
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