Canine Cough FAQs

1. What is canine cough? Canine cough is one of several respiratory illnesses that fall under the Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) umbrella. Canine cough is a contagious illness that can be spread from dog to dog through airborne droplets, sharing of water bowls, and through direct contact. Canine cough can be transmitted anywhere dogs congregate. The primary symptom of canine cough is a strong, persistent cough. Other symptoms associated with CIRD include sneezing, loss of appetite, lethargy, and runny nose. Most CIRD illnesses are typically self-limiting and resolve on their own without treatment.
2. When will my dog start showing symptoms? Dogs generally start showing symptoms 3-10 days after they have been exposed to a CIRD-related virus.
3. What happens if you see symptoms at The Doodle Pro™? The Doodle Pro™ is very sensitive to changes in behavior and other symptoms of canine cough. Staff have been trained in how to mitigate the spread of any illness. If we observe symptoms, we will immediately quarantine the dog and notify daycare parents to pick up the dog.
4. What should I do if I see symptoms at home?
   1. If you observe any CIRD-related symptoms, DO NOT bring your dog to daycare or boarding. Just as we wouldn’t send a sick a child to school, we shouldn’t leave a sick dog at daycare or overnights where it could infect other dogs.
   2. Make an appointment to see your dog’s veterinarian. Veterinarians will often treat the cough and may recommend rest and prescribe antibiotics. Some vets may perform tests in an effort to get a specific diagnosis. Multiple viruses fall under the CIRD umbrella. Some variants may require different treatments.
5. What does The Doodle Pro™ do to prevent canine cough?
   1. The Doodle Pro™ requires that all of our guests receive regular Bordetella vaccinations. The vaccination does not guarantee that your dog will not get canine cough; however, a Bordetella vaccine will most often minimize the symptoms and length of illness if your dog does become exposed to the virus.  We require it at least every 12 months and recommend it every 6 months.
   2. The Doodle Pro™ constantly sterilizes play surfaces, drinking bowls, sleeping spaces, etc. with solutions designed to stop the spread of illnesses.  Our upgraded outdoor space with artificial turf has made our daily sterilization much more efficient!
   3. The Doodle Pro™ is educated on symptoms so that we can react quickly if necessary.
   4. The Doodle Pro™ shares notices like this in an effort to make dog owners aware that they too play a role in observing and reacting to their dog’s health.
6. If my dog is not showing symptoms, is it safe to bring my dogs to The Doodle Pro™ for daycare or boarding? Any time dogs are interacting with other dogs, there is a risk that they will contract some variant of canine cough. The Doodle Pro™ does its best to keep any illness from spreading in the facility by following best cleaning practices.
7. Is The Doodle Pro™ the only place my dog could catch Canine Cough?  Absolutely not. Dogs are at risk to contract canine cough if they go anywhere other dogs are present or have been present. Greeting a dog on a walk, visiting a groomer or a vet, training groups, or visiting a dog park are common examples. As dogs don't show symptoms of canine cough for 3-10 days AFTER exposure, it's easy for a parent to unknowingly send their contagious dog to visit. Just as a child may catch a cold or a virus at their daycare, taking your dog to a boarding or daycare environment such as The Doodle Pro™ carries similar risks. However, we do everything under our control to minimize the risk of dogs contracting canine cough while in our care.  By keeping our playgroups small and intimate, we also reduce the chance of catching a cold or virus compared to large facilities.  

NOTE: Not every cough is canine cough. However, do not ignore a persistent cough. Consult your veterinarian for more information.

FURTHER REFERENCE:

http://www.tulsapetsmagazine.com/2015/08/did-my-dog-just-cough/