Summer is here! And that means summer vacations and doggy play dates. While socializing your dog at dog parks and doggy day care is great, it is important to make sure your pup is ready for the fun. Something to add to your vacation check list is vaccinations! When boarding your dog, whether it is for the day or for a week, be sure they are up to date on all the vaccinations.
At Fox Hill, we require dogs to have current Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations. Cats are required to have current Rabies and Feline distemper, but we also suggest that they are current on their Feline Leukemia vaccinations as well.
It is a good idea to have these vaccinations up to date for more than just boarding. When you want to take your dogs to day care, the dog park, or even just a small pow-wow with friends, having current vaccinations is a great way to keep your dog, and the surrounding pets healthy and happy. A common illness we have seen coming from dog socialization is Kennel Cough. It is important to know the signs of Kennel Cough to keep your pet in the best health and get treated right away, as to not let the cough worsen. Sadly, Kennel Cough is not something you can use an at home remedy for and we suggest you seek veterinary care as soon as symptoms begin. Kennel Cough is highly contagious! If your dog starts to show symptoms, they need to stay isolated from all the social areas until they have been treated and their cough has stopped.
If you think your dog could be at risk for Kennel Cough, please see the list of symptoms below:
- a strong cough, often with a “honking” sound
- discharge from eyes
- runny nose
- sneezing
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- fever