Doggy Day Care – What to Know, Before You Go

Dog parks and day care facilities are great places for your pet to socialize, get some exercise and overcome separation anxiety.  However, they are also a great place for your dog to catch an illness that could be very harmful or fatal.  To create a relatively carefree event, and prevent illness in your dog, you need to take a proactive approach to their health, by getting regular checkups, vaccinations and preventative medicines.

Immediate concerns while attending the dog park or doggy day care are worms/parasites and deadly viruses.  Most of the worst parasites and viruses are easily transmitted via fecal matter and the sniffing of the anal area, which is what makes dog parks and doggy day cares such dangerous places, if they are not PROTECTED.

Here is a more detailed list of hidden dangers at doggy day care, dog runs and dog parks, and how to prevent them:.

WORMS – Internal parasites (endoparasites)

Heartworms

Technically, heartworm disease is considered an external parasite ailment, as it spread by mosquitoes that harbor the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. But because the illness manifests itself in the heart, we’re listing it with Internal parasites.  Signs include cough, difficulty breathing, and death.^[33]

Roundworms

Roundworms, also known as ascarids, are parasites that live inside and feed off an animal’s intestines.They’re usually white or light brown and a few inches long. (They look like spaghetti.) If your dog has roundworms, you may notice them in his poop or vomit.

Symptoms

Some dogs don’t show symptoms of being infected, but many do. Here’s what to look for:

• Pot-belly
•  Weakness
•  Diarrhea
•  Vomiting
• Belly pain
• Dull coat
•  Weight loss
• Roundworms in poop or vomit

If you see these signs, take your dog to the vet. He’ll test a sample of your dog’s poop and begin a set of treatments if necessary.

 

Tapeworms

Tapeworms* are also common and in the dog are usually Dipylidium caninum, which is spread by ingesting fleas and lice. Also common is Taenia pisiformis, spread by ingesting rabbits and rodents. Rare tapeworm infections are caused by species of the genera Echinococcus, Mesocestoides, and Spirometra. There are usually no symptoms.^[6]

Whipworms

Whipworms are parasites that live in the cecum and large intestine. The canine whipworm is Trichuris vulpis.

One of the most common ailments in dogs is worms.  Worms are initially contracted through the bites of mosquitoes, then shared through contact with the feces of other animals.  The real issue is that the worms do not go away with the feces.  Instead, they burrow in

Hookworms

Hookworms* are a common parasite of dogs. The most common is Ancylostoma caninum, followed by Uncinaria stenocephala and A. braziliense. Signs include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.^[6] Similar to tapeworms and roundworms, hookworms are intestinal parasites that live in the digestive system of your dog (or cat). The hookworm attaches to the lining of the intestinal wall and feeds on your dog’s blood. Its eggs are ejected into the digestive tract and pass into the environment through your dog’s feces.

Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms can be a danger to dogs. That’s why broad-spectrum parasite protection is important to help keep your dog healthy. Trifexis^® (spinosad + milbemycin oxime) protects dogs against three types of intestinal parasites with just one chewable tablet each month.

If your dog has intestinal parasites, the parasitic infection could cause symptoms such as:

• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Anemia
• Blood loss
• Inflammation of large intestine
• Coughing
• Even death, if left untreated

– Trifexis on Intestinal parasites (https://www.trifexis.com/about-parasites/intestinal-parasites)

Treatment for Worms

There are many safe and effective deworming drugs. They include fenbendazole, milbemycin, moxidectin, piperazine, and pyrantel.  Before going to the dog park or doggy day care, get a check up and blood analysis.

VIRAL INFECTION

Parvovirus (Parvo)

The canine parvovirus (“CPV”, “parvo”) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in two different forms:

• INTESTINAL – The most common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of appetite (anorexia).
• CARDIAC – The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of fetuses and very young puppies, often leading to death.

The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvovirus infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.

How is Parvo Spread?

Most cases of CPV infections are caused by a genetic alteration of the original canine parvovirus: the canine parvovirus type 2b. There are a variety of risk factors that can increase a dog’s susceptibility to the disease, but mainly, parvovirus is spread either by direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route.

Heavy concentrations of the virus are found in an infected dog’s stool, so when a healthy dog sniffs an infected dog’s stool (or anus), that dog can contract the disease. The virus can also be brought into a dog’s environment by way of shoes that have come into contact with infected feces.

There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for up to a year. It is resistant to most cleaning products, or even to weather changes. If you need to clean up a parvovirus-contaminated area, first pick up and safely dispose of all organic material (vomit, feces, etc.), and then thoroughly wash the area with a concentrated household bleach solution, one of the few disinfectants known to kill the virus. If a dog has had parvovirus in a home, it is best not to have a puppy in that home for several years.

Signs & Symptoms of Parvo in Dogs

The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form of a canine parvovirus infection include:

• Severe, bloody diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Severe weight loss

Coronavirus

Distemper

Leptospira

Rabies

Lyme Disease

Bordatella

Parainfluenza

: While the chances of your dog getting rabies in a day care are slim to none, there is still a risk AWAY from the facility.

What To Consider When Vaccinating Dogs

As with the debate on whether or not to vaccinate children, there is a debate waging as to whether or not to vaccinate your pet.  The truth is, from a statistical standpoint, your pet is as much higher risk for contracting a deadly disease than your child, statistically more pets are unprotected than children.  Therefore, vaccinating your pet against debilitating diseases should be a simple choice.  So the real decision is WHAT to vaccinate for.

Core Vaccines

Non-Core Vaccinations