Kennel Cough

How many of you remember getting sick because another kid in your class was sick?  I know for me, normally I was exposed to someone that wasn't even showing symptoms.  One thing my mom didn't do is blame the school for me picking up an airborne illness, and she certainly didn't stop sending me to that particular school.  Nope.  As soon as I was better my butt was right back in my seat.

So, the question is, is it the school's fault that an airborne illness exists and spreads?  How many of you have refused to send your child back to school because they contracted a cold, flu, or other virus?  How many of you have stopped going to work altogether because you picked up a bug from a coworker, or better yet, how many of you have quit your job and gone to another employer because you picked up a virus while working for the first employer?  I bet absolutely none of you have even thought of behaving this way.  Who's fault is it that an airborne virus was introduced by an asymptomatic person and spread to others?

I ask these questions because airborne pathogens do exist among pets.  One of the most common is the Bordetella virus, also known as Kennel Cough.  It is a common misconception that kennels cause kennel cough.  That is completely false.  That's like saying Walmart caused the Covid-19 virus.  It's called kennel cough because it is highly contagious and spreads quickly through aerosol droplets when a dog coughs or sneezes, or through shared water bowls.  Usually at pet facilities, such as Pupcakes, there are multiple dogs in and out every day which means if one came in that was contagious yet asymptomatic, it could rapidly spread, hence, that is how the slang term for Bordetella was born.  In fact, Bordetella is so contagious that it can just as easily be spread by a healthy dog greeting a contagious dog while out for a walk.

Kennel Cough is an upper respiratory infection in dogs which is marked by lethargy, lack of appetite, and a dry hacking cough. The cough can cause inflammation of the bronchioles which could open your pet up to a secondary infection.  You should always seek medical treatment for your pet through a licensed veterinarian.  

At Pupcakes we make sure that every pet coming in for boarding and day care has provided us a current proof of vaccination.  However, just like with Covid, the Bordetella virus also rapidly mutates, and strains will develop that may not be covered by the vaccination.  Due to the rapid mutation, it is suggested that your pet be vaccinated for Bordetella every six months if they frequently encounter other pets.  In 2021, one of the makers of the Bordetella vaccine, Zoetis, issued a recall after their vaccine was proven to be altogether ineffective.  If you believe your pet received the Zoetis vaccine you should consult with your veterinarian.  Additionally, we use a veterinary grade disinfectant that kills everything from Bordatella to Rabies.  Every surface in Pupcakes is disinfected multiple times a day.  We also utilize UV light disinfecting ovens for all our grooming tools between pets.  Our policy always has been and always will be, if a pet comes in and shows any sign of illness we send the pet home immediately.  We also ask that pets who have shown signs of illness within 48 hours of an appointment stay home until the vet gives medical clearance. We have also set up touch-free handwashing and sanitizer stations for our employees so that between pets they can wash their hands more frequently and have a lesser chance of spreading an illness to other services.