Atchison Veterinary Hospital

Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is a highly contagious upper respiratory virus that is spread via the air in small airborne droplets by infected dogsThere are multiple agents that can cause kennel cough and just like the flu vaccine for humans we vaccinate for the most common agentsKennel cough
is usually not life threatening, and other than a loud honking cough the animal are otherwise (eating, drinking, etc.)Most dogs recover in 7-days and are usually treated with antibiotics and cough suppressantsKennel cough can be complicated with bacterial bronchitis and pneumonia, and older respiratory compromised pets are at higher risks for complicationMost dogs infected with kennel cough will start coughing about days after exposureAccording to documentation that Mrs*** provided, she had all three of her dogs vaccinated at the local county shelter on June 21, The dogs were most likely exposed to kennel cough at the shelter given the incubation periodShe then entered our facility on June 23, and her pets broke with kennel cough June 27, the day they were discharged***, a forty year Registered Veterinary Technician, was attempting to explain this to Mrs*** but she took offenseThis is one scenario of how a well-organized, clean, sanitized boarding facility gets infected with kennel coughWe were very fortunate Mrs***’s pets were discharged June 27, The kennel did not experience a single kennel cough infection during that time, including the filled to capacity 4th of July holiday weekendNot a single boarder except for Mrs*** called to complainAtchison Pet Center is very concerned about the potential contamination and spread of Tracheobronchitis within the kennelAll dogs that enter the facility must be vaccinatedThe facility is kept clean and disinfectedAll dogs are walked twice daily and allowed time in a large exercise runAll kennels are washed and cleansed twice dailyNo dogs are housed together unless requested by the ownerAny concerns by the kennel help (coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, lameness, bleeding, etc.) are reported to ***, who lives at the facilityShe then decides if Veterinary care is necessaryThe Veterinary Hospital is attached and a Veterinarian is available hours a day for any medical needsI have not met Mrs*** nor have I examined her petsAs a Veterinarian it would be illegal to prescribe medication without doing a complete physical and establishing a relationship firstGiven the opportunity I would have loved to meet Mrs***, explain the medical conditions and prescribe the appropriate medications for her petsIn regards to the desired settlement, Mrs***’s pets were well cared for in a clean sanitized environment, and observed by qualified staff with professional supervisionI find no reason to refund her boarding fees*** *** DVM, BS, MS