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Kennels are great for a dog vacation, but they could also be rife with nasty diseases like Heartworm
As millions of Americans hop on planes to enjoy summer vacations, their dogs are left at kennels to be pampered and pruned. Unfortunately, those doggy spas can also be bustling with nasty diseases like Heartworm, Giardia and Leptospirosis.
Having a dog is a major responsibility, which is why it’s so important to understand the needs and desires of your four-legged friend. From hot weather care to understanding how to stop a puppy from chewing on furniture, wrangling your pooch is no easy task.
Dog kennels can be hotbeds for disease
Though most facilities have rigorous cleaning procedures and safety measures to rival human hospitals, there is no way to completely reduce the risk factor to 0. As such, it’s vital to know what your dog could be walking into.
Enter Andrew Leal, CEO of Waggel, who recently shared diseases that your dog can catch while staying in the kennel this summer.
The first was Canine Distemper, which spreads through direct contact with infected dogs, their belongings, bodily fluids, or even airborne droplets.
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny eyes, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, and neurological signs like seizures. Though it can be vaccinated against, Canine Distemper has a high mortality rate.
Canine Influenza, commonly known as dog flu, is again contracted through direct contact or contaminated surfaces. Though specific strains like H3N8 and H3N2 can spark severe respiratory illness, Canine Influenza can be vaccinated against.
Canine Parvovirus is one of the most serious
Canine Parvovirus, or Parvo, is highly contagious and can be considered fatal if not properly treated. It’s also a stubborn illness, meaning surfaces and contaminated objects have to be thoroughly santisied to prevent further infection.
Symptoms are said to include severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Kennel cough is one of the more widely known of the dog diseases, and thankfully, its symptoms are usually contained to a dry cough. Though not particularly worrying, Kennel cough left untreated can evolve into other more serious conditions.
Dogs aren’t the only things staying at the kennel
Alongside the dogs and cats who might be taking a much-needed break from their owners, kennels can also host a range of external parasites like fleas, ticks, and mange.
Treatment options differ greatly between parasites, but the best preventative measure is always constant grooming and checks.
Another disease, Leptospirosis, is spread through contact with urine or contaminated water. The condition is preventable through vaccination, but symptoms of those afflicted include fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.
Unlike the other diseases on this list, Heartworm is contracted after contact with an infected mosquito. Obviously, this is particularly important during the warmer months, when the pesky insects thrive. Because symptoms can take months or years to show, the best measure is always to get regular vet checkups.
Last, but certainly not least, is Canine Brucellosis that is spread through direct contact with infected dogs or their bodily material. Dogs can experience reproductive problems as a result, and Canine Brucellosis can also transfer to humans!
“Prevention is key to protecting your dog from common kennel-related illnesses. But if your dog shows any symptoms, no matter how little, immediately take them to a vet,” Andrew said.
