LauraD
Well-known member
Hi there,
In my forever quest to have a happy, well socialized, pup I was taking Riley to local dog parks in my area. He loves it and has a great time playing and socializing with all the doggies. (He plays on the "small dog" side but always goes to the fence to meet all the "big dogs" too- such a social butterfly!) Anyway i thought this would be a good thing since he is an only dog and doesn't have any doggies friends at home to play with.
Well 2 days ago he developed a cough. Everything else is normal, he just coughs occasionally. At first i thought it was something he snuffled up since he is such a Hoover, trying to eat everything in sight. But it was bothering me by Sunday night. Yesterday morning we went to the vet and she told me that this is happening to many dogs that have been to 2 of the dog parks i took Riley to! :yikes He has been vaccinated against Bordetella, but there are apparently many strains and you can't vaccinate against all of them. It could be that or something else. So for now we are doing 10 days of antibiotics and he has to remain away from other dogs and places they may have been until the cough goes away and he is off the antibiotics. If anything changes, I must contact the vet during this time.
I feel terrible! Here i thought that i was giving him this great place to play and be a dog and unfortunately I have exposed him to something nasty that will now force him to be isolated. And that's the best scenario, provided this isn't something much worse.
So i guess this is a warning to those out there who might take their pups to dog parks. You just never know who is taking good care of their dogs and whether they are vaccinated at all or even downright sick. There is no way to tell, there isn't a screening process or anything. Just be careful where you take your doggie and who he might be around. You don't want to end up like me. I'm hoping Riley will be all better within 10 days, it's always hard when your fur-baby is sick. I'm hoping for the best. :xfngr:
Thanks.
In my forever quest to have a happy, well socialized, pup I was taking Riley to local dog parks in my area. He loves it and has a great time playing and socializing with all the doggies. (He plays on the "small dog" side but always goes to the fence to meet all the "big dogs" too- such a social butterfly!) Anyway i thought this would be a good thing since he is an only dog and doesn't have any doggies friends at home to play with.
Well 2 days ago he developed a cough. Everything else is normal, he just coughs occasionally. At first i thought it was something he snuffled up since he is such a Hoover, trying to eat everything in sight. But it was bothering me by Sunday night. Yesterday morning we went to the vet and she told me that this is happening to many dogs that have been to 2 of the dog parks i took Riley to! :yikes He has been vaccinated against Bordetella, but there are apparently many strains and you can't vaccinate against all of them. It could be that or something else. So for now we are doing 10 days of antibiotics and he has to remain away from other dogs and places they may have been until the cough goes away and he is off the antibiotics. If anything changes, I must contact the vet during this time.
I feel terrible! Here i thought that i was giving him this great place to play and be a dog and unfortunately I have exposed him to something nasty that will now force him to be isolated. And that's the best scenario, provided this isn't something much worse.
So i guess this is a warning to those out there who might take their pups to dog parks. You just never know who is taking good care of their dogs and whether they are vaccinated at all or even downright sick. There is no way to tell, there isn't a screening process or anything. Just be careful where you take your doggie and who he might be around. You don't want to end up like me. I'm hoping Riley will be all better within 10 days, it's always hard when your fur-baby is sick. I'm hoping for the best. :xfngr:
Thanks.