Ultimutt Dog Care

What's Happening at Ultimutt This Week...
Oh how we love this sunny, warm weather!! Its been a great week here at Ultimutt. We have two big fans blowing, the back garage door open and the side door open for the dogs to run and in out as they please. We have the swimming pools filled up and its a blast watching the dogs swim and play in the water. We refill the water a couple times a day and its so fun with the labs, Charlie, and Sophie with the water hose. Haley is a 12 year old black lab and you'd think she was 2 again when you get the water hose out. It just brings a smile to my face. Nothing better than having fun and playing with dogs!!
We are wrapping up our training class on Monday. Its been great seeing how much progress these dogs are making. We will have another training class soon. Stay tuned.Come visit our Ultimutt booth at The Dog Days of Summer this Saturday at St. Barts Episcopal Church from 10 - 3. We'll have a door prize. The Humane Society is sponsoring this event. You can get Microchip and Rabies Vaccines provided by South County Animal Hospital, Games for the Kids, Pet Photos, Caricature Drawings, Snacks, Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, Largest Dog, Smallest, Best Dressed & Best Trick Contests & Bless the Pets at 12 noon. For more info click here.Starting in May we will have a door prize full of goodies. Everyday your dog comes to daycare, his/her name will be entered to win! Be sure to keep your dog on heartworm and tick/flea prevention. We put out tick crystals in our backyard monthly to ensure a tick/flea free zone. We sanitize our facility nightly to ensure a safe environment for your pet.Although we require your dog to be vaccinated once a year, we highly recommend that you vaccinate your dog twice a year for Bordetella (kennel cough). This is a highly contagious sickness that can get passed easily through dogs. We still have cow bones for sale. They are $3 and $5 each. They are a great way to keep your dog satisfied on the weekends. You can grill or bake them for about 20 minutes and let it cool and then give to your dog outside. They will have a treat they can enjoy for hours!`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` All About Kennel Cough Kennel cough is one of the most common respiratory infections affecting dogs. Highly contagious, the illness is transmitted from dog-to-dog in much the same way that a cold is spread among humans.What is Kennel Cough and How Does it Spread?Kennel cough is a catch-all term for several different conditions which are often transmitted together, resulting in an acute constellation of symptoms.The most common cause of kennel cough is a bacteria called Bordetella Bronchiseptica. In clinical cases of kennel cough, this bacteria is commonly seen alongside one of two viruses: the Adenovirus and the Parainfluenza virus.Kennel Cough is easily spread in kennels, animal shelters, doggy day care facilities, and anywhere else that dogs are in close contact within an enclosed area.The bacteria often becomes airborne when an infected dog breathes, barks and coughs, and once airborne, the bacteria is inhaled by another animal, resulting in the transmission of kennel cough.What Are the Symptoms of Kennel Cough?The symptoms of kennel cough are often quite acute. The Bordetella bacteria will take up residence in the respiratory system, causing severe irritation to the trachea and bronchi.A dog with kennel cough will have symptoms of a very dry, hacking cough. The cough is typically quite frequent, and the very act of breathing can trigger a coughing fit. Activities such as walking, running and playing also tend to trigger bouts of coughing in a dog with kennel cough.A dog who is infected by kennel cough is generally well otherwise. Its rare to see other symptoms like a fever, poor appetite or lethargy we usually just see the frequent, hacking cough, explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.Symptom will typically persist for a span of one to three weeks and during this time, the infected dog will be at risk of spreading kennel cough to other animals for several weeks after the symptoms have disappeared.Treating Kennel Cough in DogsCough suppressant medication, combined with antibiotics, are the most common treatments for dogs who have been diagnosed with kennel cough.In most cases, isolation from other pets, combined with supportive care is the best treatment. In some cases, antibiotics will be prescribed, particularly in dogs who have a history of respiratory infections because there are some instances where kennel cough can lead to pneumonia, Dr. Levine explained.Notably, pet owners can currently opt to vaccinate their pet against Bordetella, essentially eliminating the risk of developing this contagious ailment.Kennel cough vaccinations are now requisite for admission to many boarding facilities, animal shelters, doggy day care facilities and dog training programs.Source: http://dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/kennel_cough_in_dogs