Recently our area has been experiencing a major uptick in kennel cough cases and canine influenza cases just continue.
The first line of defense for your dog is always to keep your pets current on their vaccinations.
Our advice for you is to help you to keep your pet safe during this time.
- Do not take your dog to public places where the vaccine status is not known. (dog parks, pet stores, etc)
- Do not use pet service businesses (Grooming, Dog Training, Dog Daycares, Kennels, and the like) where no one is updating or verifying the vaccinations
- Do not use businesses that do not require Canine Influenza but strongly advise the vaccine but don’t require it.
- Do not use businesses that have you sign a waiver because your dog does not have the Canine Influenza vaccination but “claim they require it”
- If your dog has a co-morbidity, i.e. overweight, asthmatic, diabetic, heart disease, Cushing disease, or any autoimmune disease, emerging immune systems (puppies and young dogs), and (Older and senior dogs)declining immune systems. If your dog has a co-morbidity, then your dog is at high risk, perhaps medical boarding should be considered and you should discuss safe strategies with your vet.
- If your dog is a flat-faced breed/brachy breed, they don’t do well with respiratory diseases.
Blue Dog Boarding and Daycare require the Bordetella vaccination to be boosted within the last 6 months before using our facility. (AVMA recommendation)
There are 3 “Bordetella vaccinations” available for Kennel Cough:
- Only Bordetella
- Two viruses: Bordetella and Parainfluenza virus
- Three viruses: Bordetella, Parainfluenza virus, and Adenovirus type-2 (tri-valent)
The last one provides the most complete protection for your dog. AAHA recommendation is #3.
Please be proactive, ask questions, and find out which of the three versions of Bordetella your dog has received.
(The coding most vets use for the Bordetella vaccine doesn’t indicate whether it is #1, #2, or #3.)
Always, speak to your vet for guidance during this precarious time for our pets.
Airborne diseases are present throughout the year, they are not “seasonal.”
The vaccines for virus diseases offer support to your dog but please know they are not preventative. Very much like what people go through with Flu and COVID vaccinations to hopefully minimize the impact of the virus.
Ultimately the extent your dog is impacted by an airborne virus depends upon the vaccination status and your dog’s immune system.
https://www.avma.org/
2017 Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite
