Dog flu

[Tim]

I had six dog come down with the dog flu over Christmas at my kennels. I talked to three vets and the say it is a form of kennel cough. All the dog had the shots for kennel cough and six out of thirty got it. It was treatable with meds. Iwas woundering if anyone has a kennel and if they have had problems or if the know of any cases.

[diamienono]

sick dogs

Dog can get "flu" just like people. There are different strands of "colds" that dogs can get. Sometimes it happens.

[misscatahoula]

Even if you vaccinate against Kennel Cough there are so many different strains of it, they can still catch one.

[plushpuppy]

That is very scary. I'm glad that you were able to get it under control

[Kim in SD]

I used to work for a Humane Society a loooooong time ago. Kennel cough is airborne. All you can really do if you notice in time is seperate the infected dog. Sorry to hear about that. We also used to bleach everything just as if a parvo outbreak had happened.

[happy trails]

kennel cough

Luckly we haven't had a problem in the boarding facility at work.I'm there till the end of the month when my WNT gets here.I always worry about my dogs catching it when I bring them in for a bath or vaxs.My JRT caught it years ago it took months before she kicked it and lots of amoxacillin.I've been told it just has to run it's course.

[sheilabgroomer]

Kim, from what I understand since Bordatella is air born bleach and disenfectants are not that effective. Open windows and have fans blowing towards them.

I had a kennel cough break out once years ago. What a STRESSFUL time!!! For some reason, people think your business is dirty or something if this happens. HELLO people do you blame the daycare if your kid comes home w/a cold or pink eye or stomach bug? You can only do so much to prevent air born contagens especially if the vaccines aren't always effective.

Tim, you may also want to call any clients who were there at the same time as the other dogs to let them know to watch out for any symptoms. When I had my breakout I also posted a notice up that there had been a few cases of bordatella in my shop....just to give owners an option to reschedule if they were not comfortable leaving their dogs. BTW one of the dogs that came down with it was my lab. She WAS vaccinated, so that was all the proof I needed that the vaccines aren't always effective. While kennel cough is generally not lethal, it is extremely aggrivating to treat (not to mention pricy w/the meds!) Good luck, hope you don't have any more come down w/it!

[Shell]

I just got my newest issue of Prevention magazine and their pet article this month was devoted to the dog flu. It's a very short article that mentions the symptoms and to watch for a persistent cough - the dog may need medication. I love that magazine.

[Briarpatch]

Did you end up giving the clients money back or paying for vet visits? I've considered going into boarding in the past, but this makes me really nervous.

[Kim in SD]

Yes, Sheila you're correct. I forgot to mention that.

[Tim]

I got meds from my local vet for all that came down with the flu. We paid for the meds. and did not pass it on to the client. That is my personal policy. It is the first time this has happened to me in 20 years in the kenneling dogs. I fell very lucky. All the customers we understanding and "yes" I did call everyone that boarded with us over that time. We also let everyone know that was coming in to board and let them choose to leave their dog or not. We have had warm weather so we have let the doors open and fans on.

[Helly]

You know what bugs me? The idea that the kennel should refund money or pay for vet visits when a dog comes down with an unaviodable, airborne disease like flu or kennel cough. We don't expect the same thing when the kids get a cold or whatever at school or daycare, do we?

The major problem, aside form the fact that you cannot vaccinate for everything that causes upper respiritory infections, is the fact that they're shedding the bacteria or virus BEFORE they show symptoms. By the time you hear that first hacking cough, it's too late. The only thing you can do, besides normal cleaning and sanitizing, is to have great ventilation, unless you want to shell out the $$$ for those lights, the name of which escapes me at the moment.

[Tim]

What is the name of the lights . I do not know of them.

[diamienono]

Well, since my kid has a cold right now I will tell the preschool I want my money back. Watch them laugh at me. If you have proof that all dogs are vaccinated there is not much you can do. Also, it is now being reccomended that kennel cough vaccine be given every 6 months to be truely effective for dogs that are boarded on a regular basis.

[furrybestjob]

I remember about a year and a half ago, people really freaking out about dog flu. It seemed like some of the vets did too. I started hearing about customers being afraid to take their dogs to groomers because of it. Then all of a sudden there was nothing.