Penrod Kennels

 

We are not vets nor do we offer veterinary advice. We are involved in pet care.

If owners tell us of a good product we try it out and let others know, but when we hear of a product that could be harmful to our furry friends we try to research the truth behind it, so if our clients ask we can give them correct answers. Again we are not a vet, if your animal ingested these things and shows signs of problem contact your veterinary!

ASPCA's  Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435

 

 

Some shots that are given are required by law to protect animals and prevent the spread of disease . Such as Rabies and Distemper/Parvo. These are called "Core" shots and are given through out the animals life. "Non core" shots include Bordetella, Lyme, Parainfluenza and Lepto. These are at times recommended by Vets along with the "Core" vaccinations. Bordetella Distemper and Rabies are required for a dog to stay with us.   

Example: the Lepto shot is recommended by vets for dogs that may come in contact with ponds, puddles, lakes,and streams where the sickness can be found. Some Vets may not give that shot if they feel that a house dog that just goes in/out to go potty and is a low risk of contracting Lepto. Talk to your vet about what vaccinations they give, how often they give it and why it is needed in the area you live. This can give owners clear understanding about vaccinations.

 

Bordetella aka Kennel Cough Myths and Facts

It is a chest cold dogs can catch from other infected animals. symtoms include dry hacking cough or backward sneeze. It is compared to a chest cold in humans. A dog with Kennel Cough generally feels active and maintains a normal appetite dispite frequent fits of coughing. There is usually no fever or listlessness, just lots of coughing.

 

Fact: Your dog can get Kennel cough from many different places. Including public parks, other small animals (including rabbits or cats who may be infected), boarding places, really anywhere a sick dog may be taken. It is passed from infected animal when it sheds infectious bacteria/virus in respiratory secretions by coughing. These secretions become aerosolized (airborn) and float in the air and inhaled by a healthy dog.

 

Myth: Dogs only get Kennel cough if the area they are kept is dirty and not properly cleaned.

Fact: It is a highly contagious and easily spread respiratory infection! A dog can get it from being with or near a dog that has had it. A dog can be a carrier of bordetella for up to 3 months without signs of being sick. Stress level, vaccination status and immune system strength plays a part in a dog getting sick.

 

Myth: "My dog got it from...."

Fact: That is a hard statement to say due to the incubation period of infection. It ranges between 2 days to 14 days. As said before, stress can bring it out as well as the immune system being low. These are just two factors that could allow invading bacteria/virus in. Other things include: Shipping stress, crowding stress, heavy dust exposure, cigarette smoke exposure, other infectious agents, cold temperature, and poor ventilation.

 

Walla Walla valley has seen a surge in outbreaks this summer. Some local Vets are switching vaccinations from yearly to 6 months. The direct source is not fully understood due to how easily it can be spread to other dogs. Bordetella is a chest cold for dogs. Keep vaccinations updated. Vets normally prescribe antibiotics or cough supressent to get them on the road to recovery. It is similar to a human cold/flu that we get and don't know where it came from. A flu shot helps but does not guarantee we won't get sick.

 

We try our best to reduce the chance of dogs getting sick while they stay with us. We reqiure all dogs be vaccinated before they board. We also disinfect our runs every morning to kill bacteria. When a dog leaves it's run is also disinfected before a new dog goes in that run. Our pool gets chemicals a normal pool gets to kill bacteria and algae in the water. We don't know which dogs might be carrying bacteria/virus if it does not show signs of sickness. If a dog does start to cough/backward sneeze it goes into quarantine and is not allowed to have contact with other dogs. We can not guarantee a dog will not get sick, but we are trying out best to reduce the risk.

 

 

Chocolate, is it really harmful? 

Yes. It has 2 potent substances- Theobromine and Caffeine. Theobromine is both a cardiac stimulant and diuretic. Dogs who eat large amounts of these substances may show increased heart rate and excitability leading to possible seizures, as well as increasing the frequancy of urination. If the amount is too much it can cause death. The amount of theobromine and caffeine very in the kinds of chocolate, white, milk, dark and bakers. Be careful this includes cats and other small animals.