Health Protocols & Policies
Canine Cough:
What is Canine Cough?
Although we have had vets also refer to it as an upper respiratory illness or Kennel Cough we will refer to it as Canine Cough. Canine Cough is easily spread from dog to dog through aerosol droplets, direct contact, or contact with contaminated surfaces like: food and water bowls, toys, or kennel runs.
What are the signs?
The most distinctive symptom of Canine Cough is a loud, honking cough. Other symptoms include: a runny nose, sneezing, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomit, gagging, and low fever.
What do we do?
Our cleaning procedure includes: purifying the air with our ERV/Halo air purifying system (we have three different wings with five different heating and cooling systems that don’t cross contaminate), power washing/scrubbing surface areas daily, and sanitizing all community yards. We also:
Quarantine any dog showing symptoms
Inform owners
Add to every meal:
Warm water to soften the food
A small scoop of yogurt to help settle their stomach
A small drop of honey to help soothe their throat
Why don’t we require the vaccine?
Dog Star Ranch requires that all dogs follow their veterinarians guidelines. Everyone that comes to Dog Star Ranch must see their vet annually and follow their own vet’s guidelines. We feel like this allows veterinarians to have the power to treat their clients in the way they see fit, but doesn’t exclude dogs from being a part of a social canine community here at Dog Star Ranch. It is also imperative to understand that because Canine Cough has thousands of strands, it is impossible for the vaccine to protect from all possible strands. The Bordetella vaccine does not prevent your dog from contracting Canine Cough.
Should I get my dog the Bordetella Vaccine?
We always recommend you talk to your vet about what vaccines they recommend, however, if you do decide to get your dog vaccinated prior to their service at Dog Star Ranch make sure that it is at least 5 days prior to said service. Dogs who are vaccinated less than 5 days prior to their service could result in the cancellation of your service.
What do I do if I notice symptoms?
It is imperative that we are informed of changes to the health and behavior of our canine guests after they’ve left our facility. It is important that Dog Star Ranch is informed of any symptoms your dog(s) may be showing so we can better monitor our other guests who might have come in contact with them.
If your dog shows any of the following symptoms following their stay we ask that you contact us:
Cough
Fever
Vomiting
Low-grade Fever
Any dog showing the above symptoms should stay home.
What if they come to Doggie Daycare and start coughing?
If your dog comes in for Doggie Daycare and starts to show symptoms of Canine Cough, we will call you and kindly ask that be picked up at your earliest convenience. While we wait for your arrival, we will immediately quarantine your dog and notify other pet parents of potential exposure.
Should I take them to the vet?
We recommend you contact your vet so you can follow their recommended guidelines, which usually include prescribing an antibiotic and a cough suppressant to help lessen their symptoms and shorten their recovery time.
When can my dog come back after contracting Canine Cough?
Dog Star Ranch requires a two-week waiting period (from the day they start showing symptoms or two weeks from the day they start antibiotics) before a dog can return to daycare regardless of treatment.
I have more than one dog, if one dog is showing symptoms but the other is not, can they still come?
Unfortunately, if one dog is displaying symptoms of Canine Cough (or any other communicable disease) then the other dogs in the household would need to stay home as well, as they could be a carrier without showing symptoms (asymptomatic).
My dog came home coughing, but I have another upcoming reservation. Can they still come?
If you have back to back boarding reservations, but your pup is symptomatic they would NOT be able to board or come to daycare until their symptoms have subsided. This is the only way we can stop the spread!
What is Dog Star Ranch's vaccination policy?
Vaccination Policy: If you are inclined to get your pup vaccinated with the Bordetella vaccine it is required to wait 5 days after getting vaccinations to bring them back to our facility. This allows the vaccine to fully take effect. If the Bordetella vaccine is given less than 5 days before the arrival day it will result in the cancellation of your reservation.