Does my dog really need a kennel cough shot?

"I'm not going on vacation this summer, so Mater doesn't need his kennel cough shot this year" 

"Jax doesn't socialize with other dogs at the park so he doesn't need that kennel shot - its just one more thing he doesn't need"

"Leroy goes to the groomer, but they don't require a bordatella vaccine, so no thanks this year"

OR

" I'm not boarding my dog anywhere so he doesn't need that boarding shot"

Do any of these rationalizations sound familiar?  I'm sure we have all thought that about a vaccine, medication or preventative that the vet recommends at one time or another.  Heck, I  WORK for a veterinarian and I  don't always finish the complete 10 day round of antibiotics that were prescribed for Mater.

  I  do, however, make sure he  is completely up to date with all of his core vaccines (Rabies, Distemper, and Lyme) and because I  get him groomed and board him every other month, I  make sure he is up to date on his kennel cough (bordetella) vaccine.  

Bordetella or Kennel Cough as it is more commonly called, is a contagious respiratory disease commonly caused by the bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium or a virus. Dogs catch it by interacting with other dogs that have been infected. Pets that go to training or agility classes, spend time in boarding or daycare facilities, Grooming facilities, dog parks, participate in dog shows or are often around large groups of other dogs are most at risk of developing the disease. Dogs contract the bacteria or virus by inhaling it from the air or sniffing contaminated surfaces, such as toys or food/water dishes.

A dry, honking cough is the first and most noticeable sign of kennel cough. In most cases, your dog will continue to be energetic, although running and playing may temporarily worsen the cough. If your dog develops a secondary bacterial infection as a result of kennel cough, low fever, runny nose, lethargy and loss of appetite may occur.

Recovery from kennel cough usually takes about 10 to 14 days. We may prescribe cough suppressants or antibiotics, depending on the severity of the disease. While your dog recovers, it's important to limit his or her usual activities and avoid using collars, as they can irritate the throat. A Kennel Cough (bordetella bronchiseptica) vaccine can help protect your dog from contracting kennel cough in most cases.  We offer an oral and an injectable immunization for this.

A few years ago, Dr. Eismann helped sponsor the building of a new community dog park - Jade's Dog Park in Alameda Park in Butler.  He passed away before he had a chance to see its completion, but would have loved to see his favorite breed, the golden retriever, run and play there.   Recently, there have been increased reports of local kennel cough outbreaks that may or may not have originated at the dog park.  Even with the best of intentions, there will always be people who take advantage of  and disregard the rules the park has put in place to protect its four legged visitors.  According to the Jade's Dog park website, the park will be closed until the grounds and facility are properly cleaned and proof of vaccination will be more closely monitored for entry into the park.

It is a beautiful park and we hate to hear all of the negative comments and publicity it is getting during this time. Here are some things you can to to keep your pet protected when it reopens:

1. Make sure your dog is vaccinated for all core vaccines AND Kennel cough.

2.Keep a copy of your records in your car, along with a spare leash, and some poop bags for clean up

3. Clean up after your own dog!  This is just common sense, people :) 

Other things that we as responsible pet owners can do is to bring our own water bowls so the dogs don't need to share.  You can get collapsable pet bowls at the pet store or Amazon.  I  keep a small rubbermaid container with a lid in the back of my van that has an extra leash, a copy of Mater's vaccine certificate, poop bags and hand sanitizer - the container doubles as a water dish if I need it .

Most importantly, if your pet is sick, please do not risk exposing other pets by taking him to a public place.  Wait until he is healthy and you both can fully enjoy all the fun that a public dog park has to offer.

Stay safe, healthy, and have fun, friends!