Dog Sick After Boarding: Symptoms, Prevention, and Vaccination

If your furry friend is feeling under the weather after a boarding stay, it's not uncommon. According to the article, up to 70% of dogs experience some form of illness after boarding.

The common symptoms of a dog being sick after boarding include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and loss of appetite. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, changes in environment, and exposure to new germs.

Prevention is key, and making sure your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations is a crucial step. The article notes that a dog's vaccination status can significantly impact their risk of getting sick.

Even with proper precautions, some dogs may still get sick after boarding. But knowing what to look for and taking prompt action can help your dog recover quickly.

For more insights, see: Dog Flea Symptoms

Preventing kennel cough is easier than treating it, so it's worth taking some precautions. To minimize the risk, vaccination against bordetella bronchiseptica is generally recommended.

When looking for doggy play date partners or daycare facilities, ask about their vaccine requirements to ensure the dogs your pup will be in contact with are also vaccinated. This can help keep your pet protected.

A vaccine for kennel cough is available in oral, intranasal, and injectable forms, and it's usually given in two doses two to four weeks apart, followed by a booster every six months to a year.

Mild cases of kennel cough can be treated with rest, nutrition, and hydration, as well as a cough suppressant to reduce the frequency of the cough. Your dog's airways can dry out from all the coughing, so keeping them in the bathroom while you shower or adding a humidifier to the room they sleep in can be beneficial.

Here are some tips to help your dog recover from kennel cough:

Kennel cough in dogs can be caused by multiple bacteria and viruses, including Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, Canine adenovirus, Parainfluenza virus, Mycoplasma, Canine influenza virus, Canine distemper virus, Canine respiratory corona virus, and Canine reovirus.

Dogs can contract kennel cough through respiratory secretions from an infected dog, which can be spread through coughing or sneezing. They can also pick up the infection from contaminated objects like toys, food bowls, or water bowls.

Crowded areas are breeding grounds for kennel cough, so it's essential to avoid them or take precautions when visiting places like animal shelters, boarding kennels, dog daycare facilities, grooming facilities, or dog parks.

Some of the most common places where dogs can get kennel cough include:

Prevention of kennel cough in dogs is crucial to minimize the risk of your pet getting it. Vaccination against the bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium is generally recommended.

Fully vaccinated dogs can still get kennel cough, but this preventative measure may help keep your pet protected.

Ask about vaccine requirements when looking for grooming facilities, daycare facilities, or general doggy play date partners to ensure the dogs your pup will be in contact with are also vaccinated.

Dogs who are frequently boarded, visit dog daycare, compete in canine sports, or are exposed to groups of dogs may benefit from the kennel cough vaccine.

The vaccine is available in oral, intranasal, and injectable forms, and it's usually given in two doses two to four weeks apart, followed by a booster every six months to a year.

While the bordetella vaccine may not prevent your dog from catching kennel cough, it's still an important step in prevention.

Speak with your veterinarian to see if the kennel cough vaccination makes sense for your dog, especially if you notice your pet coughing or plan to introduce your dog to a group of new dogs.

Mild cases of kennel cough can be treated with supportive care, focusing on rest, nutrition, and hydration. This can include keeping your dog in a bathroom while you shower to help keep their airways moist.

A humidifier in your dog's sleeping area may also be beneficial. Some dogs can recover from mild kennel cough on their own with no treatment required. It should take about one to two weeks for a dog to recover from a mild case.

Your veterinarian may prescribe a cough suppressant to help reduce the frequency of your dog's cough. For complicated cases of kennel cough, hospitalization may be necessary. Treatment can involve intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and possibly oxygen therapy.

If your dog has developed pneumonia, hospitalization is usually required. Your veterinarian will decide if your dog needs to be hospitalized for the duration of the treatment. In some cases, a fasting approach may be used to treat acute vomiting with bile.

This involves withholding food for 24 hours and then gradually reintroducing small amounts of a bland diet. Your veterinarian will decide if your dog needs to be hospitalized for the duration of the treatment. Monitoring of your pet and administration of fluids by the intravenous method may be required.

In some cases, medication may be prescribed to eliminate parasites or address gastric motility disorders. If an obstruction is causing the vomiting with bile, surgery may be performed to remove the obstruction.

Dog boarding facilities can be breeding grounds for kennel cough, a contagious respiratory disease that affects dogs. Kennel cough is caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and can be spread through the air when an infected dog coughs or sneezes.

Kennel cough is highly contagious and can be spread quickly among dogs in close quarters, such as those found in dog boarding facilities. It's essential to choose a reputable and well-maintained dog boarding facility to minimize the risk of kennel cough.

The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that dog boarding facilities have a vaccination policy in place to protect against kennel cough. This policy should include requirements for Bordetella vaccination and regular boosters.

Some dog boarding facilities may also require a health certificate from your veterinarian before admitting your dog. This ensures that your dog is healthy enough for boarding and reduces the risk of kennel cough outbreaks.

If your dog has kennel cough, you may notice a strong cough with a "honking" sound, runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and low fever. Kennel cough is easily treatable in healthy dogs, but it's essential to report any coughing symptom to your veterinarian because it could be a sign of a more serious disease.

Kennel cough symptoms can include a persistent dry, hacking cough, coughing during the night, retching with white foam, clear eye drainage, runny nose, and sneezing. In severe cases, dogs may experience lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, and labored breathing, which require immediate veterinary attention.

If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, monitor their symptoms and consult with your veterinarian. They may recommend diagnostic testing for dogs with pneumonia, those that don't respond to supportive care, or those with systemic disease.

If your dog is showing symptoms of illness, it's essential to pay attention to the signs. A strong cough, often with a "honking" sound, is one of the most obvious symptoms of kennel cough.

You may also notice a runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and low fever. These symptoms can be similar to other conditions, so it's crucial to report any coughing symptom to your veterinarian.

In addition to kennel cough, other conditions that can cause coughing in dogs include a collapsing trachea, bronchitis, asthma, and even heart disease. It's not uncommon for dogs to experience a dry, hacking cough that keeps them and their owners awake at night.

Some dogs may also exhibit retching with the production of white foam, clear eye drainage, and runny nose and sneezing. Tracheal sensitivity is another symptom, where your dog coughs when you apply gentle pressure to their trachea.

Here are some common symptoms to look out for:

If your dog is showing severe symptoms, such as lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, or labored breathing, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Schedule a visit with your veterinarian as soon as possible if you notice your dog vomiting with bile, as this can lead to serious consequences like severe dehydration or excessive weight loss.

A vomiting record is a valuable tool for your veterinarian to diagnose the issue. Keep track of how often your dog vomits, whether the vomit is bile only, mixed with bile, or contains partially digested food. Additionally, note your dog's daily well-being, including whether they act normally at times other than vomiting episodes.

Your veterinarian may perform a thorough physical examination, followed by diagnostic tests such as a blood count, blood profile, and chemical profile. A urinalysis may also be included, and it's helpful to provide a sample of the vomit.

Diagnostic tools may include radiographs or ultrasounds of the abdomen to check for obstructions or foreign bodies. An endoscopy, which requires general anesthesia, may be performed to evaluate the abdomen, and a biopsy may be taken at this time. In some cases, MRI, CT scans, or abdominal contrast studies may be necessary, and in severe cases, exploratory surgery may be required.

The following possible causes of vomiting with bile in dogs should be evaluated by your veterinarian:

Treatment of vomiting with bile in dogs can vary depending on the underlying cause. Acute vomiting is sometimes treated with a fasting approach, where food is withheld for 24 hours and then reintroduced in small amounts.

The goal is to gradually increase food intake without inducing more vomiting. Your veterinarian will decide if your dog needs to be hospitalized for treatment, especially if water must also be withheld.

Monitoring your dog's condition and administering fluids intravenously may be necessary. Intravenous therapy may also be used to balance electrolyte levels.

If parasites are the cause of vomiting, medication will be prescribed once your dog is stabilized. If an obstruction is causing the vomiting, surgery may be performed to remove it.

In some cases, medication may be prescribed to treat conditions like gastric motility disorder. Adding a small evening meal to reduce stomach reflux may also help end the vomiting cycle.

Here are some possible treatment approaches for vomiting with bile in dogs: