(306) 912-7783 reservations@furbabysk.ca

Greetings Furbaby Pet Care friends,

As many of you know, Furbaby Pet Care has been closed down since Thursday, January 14 after several cases of Kennel Cough were reported at our facility. When the discovery was confirmed, we contacted every family that was possibly affected and alerted you all to our situation. Now, we will be re-opening our doors on Monday, January 18 at 6:00 AM. When you do come to drop off your dog, we will be asking you some questions in order to ensure all pets entering the facility are Kennel Cough-free and/or haven’t been exposed to the infection.

Last October, I wrote a post about Kennel Cough to let you know about our strict regime we have regarding the infection. But we also told you that the infection can indeed get into public dog parks and I am here to remind you again that we can quickly spring into action if cases indeed to present – as it did recently at Furbaby Pet Care.

The transmission of Kennel Cough can begin innocently enough; one or two dogs is exposed to the infection and then unwittingly can bring it into other locations even before their owners know they contracted it. Dogs that are affected by kennel cough usually have a quick onset of clinical signs, the most common being a cough which gets worse with exercise, excitement, and/or pressing on the neck region. If a dog is exposed to kennel cough, the dog usually begins to show signs in three-to-seven days.

I found a great article on Kennel Cough and I’m sharing part of it here. It’s written by Kirsten Hawkins and you can find it on the website, Canada’s Guide to Dogs.

Hawkins writes:

The condition commonly known as “Kennel Cough” is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that dogs can contract. The disease is not serious in most cases, however, and often resolves itself after one to two weeks. The accepted medical term for kennel cough is tracheobronchitis, indicating a form of bronchitis that affects the dog’s trachea.

Kennel cough can be caused by several airborne bacteria and viruses. It is generally accepted that most cases of kennel cough are caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica but it has also been associated with the canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parainfluenza.

The primary symptom of kennel cough is a dry, spasmodic cough which is caused by the inflammation of the dog’s trachea and bronchi. Coughing spells will often result in the dog coughing up a white and foamy discharge. Some dogs will also develop conjunctivitis – an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids. Nasal discharge may also be present. In effect, the dog appears to have a very nasty cold or flu. As stated above, the disease is rarely serious and almost never life-threatening. Still, if you have seen any of these symptoms or have reason to believe that your dog has or has been exposed to kennel cough, you should consult your vet immediately.

Immunization can help prevent kennel cough and is recommended. When kenneling your dog or traveling it may be required before your dog will be admitted. Effective immunization can be difficult, however, because the disease can be caused by so many different pathogens.

Over the last few days, our amazing staff at Furbaby Pet Care has cleaned the entire facility from top to bottom. We also took advantage of this milder weather and flung open all the doors to Furbaby wide open and let fresh air blow through as well. We’re ready to go again.

However, I do want to remind you of a few things:

  1. Pay attention to your veterinarian’s recommendations regarding your dog;
  2. Give serious consideration to the Bordetella Vaccine. It will soon become mandatory for all dogs to have this vaccine before attending Furbaby Pet Care. This vaccine helps to ward off Kennel Cough;
  3. Most infections resolve within one to three weeks, but mild clinical signs may linger for several weeks even when the bacteria have been eliminated, so we are urging our clients’ dogs who have come down with Kennel cough to stay away from public parks until at least January 28th. Our staff at Furbaby Pet Care will be able to help you determine when you and your dog can make a safe return!

Just to put that last point into perspective: when you dog has Kennel Cough and she or he coughs, the bacteria or virus is then released into the air each time, producing a source of infection for other animals. As a result, any dog with a suspected respiratory infection should be kept away from other dogs for at least two weeks after all symptoms have completely resolved.

Again, thank you all for your understanding and patience during this time. We know situations like this can arise in a facility such as Furbaby Pet Care, but I do want to assure you that we do take every precaution possible to ensure your Furbaby is cared for in a safe, clean, and VERY friendly environment!

Remember, if your pooch doesn’t improve in seven days or seems to get worse, call your vet! Saskatoon is blessed to have so many amazing veterinarians to help us all. Don’t hesitate to make that call.

Jocelyn

Jocelyn Davey-Hawreluik