Bordetella - Can my dog catch a cold?

There's been a lot of buzz in the city lately about Bordetella... I thought it might be worthwhile to share some FAQ's that have been posed on us lately....

Another name for Kennel Cough is Bordetella.  You've seen this listed as a required vaccination in our service agreement.  I'm not a vet, but I think of it like the K-9 equivilant to the common cold.  The symptoms include coughing, sneezing, hacking, snorting...etc.  So in a sense, YES, your dog can catch a cold.
If my dog gets it is she going to be OK?  
What happens  to you when you've caught a bad cold.... You take time to rest and recuperate.  You might even see the doctor for a prescriptive remedy.

Is it going around right now?
YES -it's going around right now.  I've heard that vets and other dog trainers in the city are noticing an increased trend  in bordetella.   Luckily, we've only had a few clients contract it (though none directly from our facility).



What are we doing about it?  
We place the highest regard on all matters of health and safety.   This is why we disinfect the entire facility daily (floors, grooming room, equipment, water bowls, etc.) and we require full vaccinations for all new clients.   If you've been to the store recently then you might have noticed the big white machine in the shloof room.  It's made by a company called Surgically Clean Air and it removes the germs from the air.  It's what dentists and other health care facilities use to purify the air in their facilities.  If you suspect that your dog might have bordetella, we kindly ask you to cancel any appointments with us seek advice from your vet.