kennel cough

[flubber]

I have made a tentative booking for my dog for a week in kennels. The kennels have had the problem with kennel cough not so long ago so I mentioned I would have my dog vaccinated for it. Received a surprise reply stating that the kennels would NOT accept my dog if I had her vaccinated for it!

Just spoken to the vet who is amazed and says that nearly all kennels demand you have this vaccination done before a dog can be kennelled - so I am wondering what is going on. Anyone kennelled a dog recently and told that they must NOT have the have their dogs vaccinated against kennel cough?

[mountainboo]

Hi, our dog is going in the kennel in a week, I find that shocking that they wont allow your dog in if he/she is vaccinated against kennel cough. Our kennel said our dog must be vaccinated against it so we had to get it done. I would go for another kennel if I were you Flubber

[flubber]

To be honest, the vet's and the nurses were bemused when I told them what I had received on a sms phone message from the kennels in question. Its a good veterinary practise that I am with - they don't try and get you to spend money on injections for your dog (that you may not need) but they were so surprised/bemused/bewildered and said to me that most "reputable" kennels demand that a dog is vaccinated for kennel cough but I had been told by this particular kennels that I cannot board my a dog if she had received this vaccine.

I am trying to protect my dog from picking up anything that may require expensive treatment. I would have thought that kennels would demand this type of innoculation (apart from the annual boosters) and I am so surprised to be told that my dog would not be welcome if she had been vaccinated against kennel cough so I must agree with you at this point that it may be wiser to board my dog elsewhere.

[mountainboo]

Definatley a good idea. Go with your instincts, you'll feel happier knowing your dogs health wont be in jeopardy as I expect your dog will too. I'm sure there are plenty of other reputable kennels around. All the best

[kita1]

I would ring the kennels and make sure the text message was correct?

I find it a little strange a kennels sending a text message over something so important.

It may be an error - or it could even be something like an upset ex-employee trying to put off customers.

Even if you end up going elsewhere it might be an idea to let the kennel owners know you have received this text - they may be completely unaware of it for all you know!

[lankeela]

How soon is your dog due to go into the kennels? It could be that they are wary of the live vaccine given for kennel cough, when I managed kennels we would not let people bring in dogs that had been vaccinated for kennel cough within the two weeks prior to the kenneling, as the vaccine gives them a mild form of kennel cough, so they then build up immunity, and go home ok, but leaving other dogs infected.

There may well be other vaccines available now, but I have never had one done, especially as they only lasted six months. Most kennels ask for the other vaccines, but not kennel cough.

Personaly I never vaccinate my adult dogs, they are done as puppies and this has been my policy for 20 years although if there was an outbreak in my area of say parvo, I would have them done for this, or if they were in contact with rats, for lepto.

If my dogs go into kennels, it is they who are at risk, not the other dogs, so it is at my own risk and my kennels are happy to accept them on this basis. It is NOT a legal requirement for dogs to be vaccinated before going into kennels.

[NICKYNACK]

hi im really shocked that a kennels has said this. nobivacc kc vacc now last a year and are covered 72 hrs after tthe vacc so you dont need to wait 2 wks b4 them going into kennels, missing vacc of any sort means your pet is not covered and need 2 vacc (puppy course) tobecome covered again, when people dont vaccinate this ishow outbreaks occur ,if all pets where vacc fewoutbreaks would occur.!!!!

[lankeela]

How can not vaccinating make an outbreak occur? It has to be there already for a dog to catch it!

What about all the side effects of vaccination? Do you know how many dogs are sick or die due to being vaccinated?
It is just a money getting game as far as the vets are concerned. You don't vaccinate children every year, so why do it to dogs? There is now evidence to prove that vaccinations are life long.

[NICKYNACK]

I have worked as a vet nurse for over 10yrs around the country and not once seen an animal suffer or die from being vaccinated , ( dont you think if animals were dying the drug companies would look into the vacc. millions of �'s are put in to making the vacc safe they dont just let them sell it to vets you know!!!!)
BUT i have seen animals young and old die from parvo ,lepto and hepatitis because of not vaccinating once you have seen this you would understand why people should vaccinate their animals.

[flubber]

I used to work in a vet's and I must agree that innoculating a pet is sensible and wise. I am still concerned about kennel cough injections though. It's all very well saying "don't have it done or we won't board your dog" but all it needs in a kennels of 30 residents is one dog who comes in with it . I am investigating other kennels this week to see what their view is on this injection.