Dog Health: Viruses, Parasites and Worms... Oh My!

Just like kids in daycare, dogs in boarding and daycare environments are susceptible to whatever bug is going around. While standard vaccines are excellent in protecting dogs against the most serious diseases like Parvo, Distemper and Rabies, large gatherings of canines will sometimes result in the occasional case of Bordetella (Kennel Cough) or Giardia. Your dog is at an increased risk of catching communicable canine ailments when socializing with other dogs.

While we are diligent in minimizing health and safety risks, pet owners must acknowledge a small amount of risk also.

Bordetella, or Kennel Cough, is the most frequent health issue in dog daycare and boarding environments. Bordetella is the canine version of the flu that usually manifests as a deep, froggy cough...usually when your dog first wakes up or directly after exercise. The cough may be paired with a white foamy mucous. Your dog can catch Bordetella at the dog park, daycare, walking around the neighborhood, or even at your veterinarian’s office. Bordetella is a highly contagious airborne virus and dogs that show no symptoms can spread it. We require that every Action Pack dog is current on their Bordetella vaccine as we have found this to be the most successful way to keep outbreaks to a minimum. On the positive, most dogs only get Bordetella once in their lifetime, similar to humans with Chicken Pox.

Giardia is a protozoan parasite that may give your dog bloody diarrhea or bloody vomit. Giardia is most prevalent after it has rained. Giardia can cause severe dehydration and further weaken your dog’s ability to fight against the parasite; should you notice these symptoms take your dog to your veterinarian’s office immediately. Coccidia is another water-related parasite with similar, but not as severe, symptoms. Most dogs recover quickly from Giardia and Coccidia with prompt medical attention.

Action Pack Dog Center requires that all guests must be free of fleas and we recommend all dogs be on a routine flea & tick treatment program. If your dog is not currently on a flea and tick program, please begin a program immediately. We will provide a flea bath and initial flea preventative treatment at the owner's expense when fleas are evident. Guests may not wear flea collars as they can be toxic if bitten or chewed.

Dogs can get worms while inspecting each others’ body parts or from direct contact with other dogs' poo. Our crew is diligent about quickly cleaning dog waste and if we see that a guest has worms, we will isolate the guest and contact the owner to let them know. Once wormed, a dog should stay home for at least a week to give the dead parasites time to work their way out of the dog’s system.

Finally, if your pet seems to be a bit under the weather, please keep him home and seek veterinary attention if symptoms persist. It is not fair to expose his playmates or other guests to potential health issues. Should you need temporary in-home care or boarding at a veterinary clinic, please call us and we will do our best to assist you.

Please help us keep each and every Action Pack guest in tip-top health!

Please note, we reserve the right to refuse service to any guest exhibiting signs of illness.