What is it?
Kennel cough is the common name for “canine infectious respiratory disease”. It is an upper respiratory infection in dogs and is similar to chest colds in people. It can be caused by the presence of any one of many different virus or bacteria. The most common bacteria to cause Kennel Cough is called Bordetella. The dog may experience a runny nose, sneezing, or eye discharge but the most common symptom is a forceful, hacking cough.
How is it spread?
Kennel cough is airborne, and incredibly contagious. It can also be contracted by touching noses, playing, or sharing toys or bowls with an infected dog. One of the things that makes it so contagious, is that it can be transmitted even when a dog is not showing any symptoms of carrying it. Kennel cough is most common anywhere that there are gatherings of dogs such as daycares, vet’s offices, groomers, dog parks, and dog shows.
Is it dangerous?
While Kennel Cough is not usually life threatening, there are certain types of dogs that are at higher risk of developing complications, such as pneumonia. These dogs include puppies, elderly dogs, and those with existing medical conditions. Dogs who have never been around many other dogs before are also more likely to contract it.
How is it treated?
While most dogs will recover from Kennel Cough on their own in a few weeks or less, it is not uncommon for vets to prescribe antibiotics. Depending on which type of germ (virus or bacteria) caused the infection, will determine whether or not the antibiotic is effective. They may also prescribe cough suppressants or anti-inflammatory medications to make your pet more comfortable while the recover.
Is it preventable?
There are many measures taken to ensure that dogs do not contract Kennel Cough, however it is not possible to completely prevent it from ever happening. Wag Atlanta requires that all dogs stay up to date on their Bordetella vaccine. The vaccine helps protect your dog from it, and it also helps ensure that they recover more quickly if they do contract it. Wag Atlanta even offers for that vaccination to be done here; in case you don’t have time to make it to your vet before the reservation begins. It is important to remember that even though your dog has received the Bordetella vaccination, your dog can still contract Kennel Cough. We also have rigid cleaning protocols that help eliminate potential causes of infection, and do not allow dogs that are displaying signs of illness to stay with us.
1. Keep Pot and Pan Handles pointed towards the inside of the Stove
The best food of the year is cooked during the holidays! It's only natural that even the best behaved and trained pup will want to take a look at what is making those great smells. Even though you will be keeping a very close eye on them, it would be best to keep them out of the kitchen altogether, for their and the cook's safety.
If that isn't an option then making sure all the pots and pans handles are pointed towards the inside. This way, even if your pup does jump up on the edge of the stove, they won't topple whatever is cooking down onto themselves. It can be life threatening depending on how hot and what it was that they hit. Keep yourself, your pup, and your food safe!
2. Stock up on chews and treats
Keeping your dog occupied is the best way to keep them happy and more importantly, out of trouble. Some chews and treats last longer than others; here are a few of my favorite:
Peanut butter kongs are a personal favorite, since they're the most economical. The rubber kong lasts for over a year, and peanut butter is a cheap healthy treat. Especially when they're frozen, they last a long while.
3. Move their Kennel to a Quiet Part of the House
If their kennel is larger this is definitely something you will want to do ahead of time. Getting their kennel moved in your bedroom or into a quiet part of the house that won't receive much foot traffic. This will give them a quiet place to have their own space, and be able to chew, relax, and sleep in piece.
4. Keep Dangerous Leftovers out of Reach
Keep in mind what your dog can get into that can be harmful, even life threatening. Cooked chicken and turkey bones will splinter when crunched on. These shards will pierce your dogs stomach or intestines and without emergency medical attention will kill them. Onions and grapes are also commonly found in holiday foods that dogs cannot have.
5. Make a Reservation for Daycare or Boarding
If you want your pup to play with their friends and have a stress free vacation during the holidays, make a reservation for daycare or boarding! They'll have a great time away from home, and you can relax knowing they're safe, sound, and happy. Wag Atlanta Pet Resort is open 24/7 and does daycare everyday, even Thanksgiving and Christmas!
The staff at Wag Atlanta Pet Resort wanted to share this great chart from PetPlan about Temperatures concerning your dog and the cold. It's the same guidelines we use for outside play. Play hard, but play safe!
The staff at Wag Atlanta Pet Resort wanted to share this great chart from PetPlan about Temperatures concerning your dog and the heat. It's the same guidelines we use for outside play. Play hard, but play safe!
We all want the best for our pets. We feed them great foods, take them to the vet regularly, buy them plush beds and fun toys, and give them lots of tasty treats. While these all sound like great things to do for your dog, some can be very risky. This is especially true if the treats you give your dogs contain rawhide.
Some dog owners may not even be aware that they are giving their dog rawhide treats. So, what is rawhide? Rawhide treats come from the inner layer of a cow or horse’s hide. During processing, the rawhide is cleaned and then cut or ground. Next, it is pressed into different shapes such as a bone or a cookie. Some rawhide treats are flavored to taste like chicken, beef, or liver. Or, they might be dyed different colors, like red or green, to make them more appealing to pet parents like you. But what makes a rawhide so dangerous?
Many rawhide treats are laced with harmful chemicals. Nasty things like sodium tripolyphosphate are used to clean the rawhide during processing, and hydrogen peroxide is often used to make the rawhide bright white. As previously mentioned, many rawhides are dyed. These dyes are proven to cause health problems in people as well as our pets. Rawhide treats are also frequently braided or twisted into “cute” designs (like candy canes around Christmas time), which requires adhesive to keep its shape! You’d never let your children eat glue, would you?
Rawhide treats are designed to be long lasting. They are meant to be chewed and chewed until very small pieces come off and your dog eats them. Small pieces of rawhide can be digested, but not easily. If your dog is a hard-core chewer, rawhides are especially dangerous. If large chunks of rawhide are swallowed, your dog is facing the risk of choking, or of a blockage in their stomach. Both of these things are life threatening. Even if the rawhide does not cause a blockage, it can sit in your dog’s stomach for months causing various other gastrointestinal problems.
There are plenty of other options on the market for a tasty, fun, safe treat for your pets. Great alternatives include bully sticks, pig ears, tracheas, or other natural chews. Rawhides pose risks that no pet owner should feel comfortable taking. At Wag Atlanta, we say NO to rawhide!
Spring is finally beginning to show its beautiful face, and we could not be more excited! This time of year, many types of wildlife are emerging from a long winter slumber. Just like you and your canine companion, they’re ready to be out and about! Here’s a few tips to help keep you and your pal safe in the coming months.
Keep your dog on a leash while taking walks. You never know when you or your pup might spot a rabbit or a squirrel! If your dog was not on a leash, they might chase after the rabbit, and could injure themselves, someone else, or the rabbit. There are also plenty of wild animals that could potentially hurt your dog if they were to run after it, such as porcupines, coyotes, and raccoons.
Another way to help protect your pet is to arm yourself with knowledge. Research local wildlife and familiarize yourself with which animals are more likely to live in your area. This can be especially true when it comes to snakes. Although your dog should see a veterinarian as soon as possible if they are bitten by a snake, it can be very helpful to the veterinarian to know in advance what kind of snake bit your dog. Hopefully this never happens to you, but it’s always best to be prepared! Simply remaining attentive during a walk can often times be enough to spot and avoid a snake.
Sometimes, it is not the wildlife itself, but the diseases that it may carry that are dangerous to your pet. Some of the most common carriers of diseases and parasites are fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. Luckily, there are preventatives that help protect your pet. Make sure your pet stays up to date all year long on their flea & tick, and heartworm preventatives. Although these insects are more prominent in the warmer weather, they pose a threat to our animals even when it is cool outside, and even if you have an indoor-only pet.
When I first told my friends a few years ago why I took my dog to doggie daycare at Wag Atlanta, they asked me, "why would you take your dog to daycare?!" Without Wag Atlanta, owning my pup would much more difficult, and less rewarding.
One of Rudy's Play Mates
My dog is VERY energetic, which I love! I chose him because I was looking for a high energy dog that I could hike, run, kayak with etc. And i do these things with often! His high energy means he can keep up with all the things I love to do.
Unfortunately, I don't get to do all those fun things all the time. When I'm at work, it's not fair to leave Rudy home in his kennel or bored around the house when he wants to use his energy to run and play. That's the main reason I used Doggie daycare! I own a breed that requires a lot of exercise, and i'm not always able to keep up with him!
I chose Wag Atlanta because their daycare hours are 6a-10p, which is longer than any daycare I could find in Atlanta. More often than not i and not able to get out of the office at 5pm sharp, and not having to worry about picking Rudy up, and knowing he's getting cared for lets me focus on my work.
Because it makes life so much more enjoyable and easy for both me and Rudy!
Dog's are man's best friend, for all the reasons we already know, They are our constant companions, always there for us. They love us unconditionally, never judging and always ready to show us love. Besides their love, they also benefit us in many health-positive ways! Some of the ways we don't even know are happening!
When we exercise them, we often exercise ourselves! From walking them to jogging with them, from kicking a soccer ball to throwing a frisbee, or even hiking. Often when we exercise our four legged best friend, we exercise ourselves!
Petting Dogs Lowers Blood Pressure
Petting dogs relaxes you and lowers your blood pressure. It also releases stress reducing hormones. Having your best friend by your side to pet isn't just something they enjoy, your body enjoys it too!
Helps with Loneliness and Depression
Having something that looks after you and that you have to look after is important when fighting feelings of loneliness or depression. just knowing that you have to get out of bed to walk your pup and feed them can be a big motivation to just get out of bed. And when fighting feelings of loneliness and depression, that can mean the difference between a good day and a bad one.
Your dog also knows you and when you need extra love from them. They're incredibly intuitive, and want to make you feel better when you're feeling down.
Celebrating your dog's birthday is a fun way to spend fun time together, and create great memories! There's also lots of different ways to celebrate!
Places to go
At Starbucks you can get one of their famous pupuchinos! It's not an official drink but you can order a cup with whipped cream in it for a delicious treat for your pups birthday!
2. Your local dog supply store to pick out a treat!
Not only will you be able to show off your pup on their birthday to strangers, you can have you dog pick out a treat for themselves!
If you and your pup are feeling adventurous check out a short local hike and let them run through the trees!
4. Restaurant with a Dog Friendly Patio
Find a local restaurant that has an outdoor space and treat your dog! You can even order them something off the menu if they've been extra good.
5. Local Dog Daycare
Let your pup celebrate with their friends at your local dog daycare. If you ask, the staff may even sing them a song and get birthday photos!
Choosing a doggy daycare and boarding facility can be a harder prospect than it first seems. Your dog is part of your family, and leaving them behind at a place you’re not totally comfortable with is not an option. So let’s say that you have a few places in mind, you’ve looked at their reviews, called and spoken to staff. Your next step should be to visit the facility for a tour to personally see where your dog is staying.
Some places have only a few set hours in the day when you can come for a tour, other facilities require a reservation for a tour (Wag Atlanta offers tours anytime between 8a until 6pm, no reservation needed). You’ll want to call ahead or check online each facilities process for getting a tour.
What questions should you ask while taking the tour?
You should ask questions that get you familiar with how the facility functions, what it’s schedule for the dogs is etc. You want to make sure that its schedule is a good fit for your dogs schedule (if they close at 7p, and don’t open until 7a and don’t have overnight staff, you will want to make sure that your dog is okay holding their bladder for 12 hours). Wag Atlanta is open 24/7 and take dogs out for potty breaks late at night for those who are on that kind fo schedule, or that have trouble holding their bladder (puppies, old timers, etc.)
You should ask what cleaners they use, how often they clean their play yards, and any other questions you can think of on how they run their facility. You’re also seeing how knowledgable the staff is.
How many ways and how often are you able to contact them? Are they open 24/7 where someone will answer the phone no matter the time so you can check on your pup? If they are not 24/7 be prepared to make sure you know their hours of operation so you can call when they’re open. How active are they at answering emails, or on facebook? (A good way to test this is to send them an email/facebook message a few days before the tour with a few simple questions and see how quickly they get back to you).
Things to Look for
How much of the facility do they show you? Some facilities are not set up to show tours of the whole facility, but you should be able to see a good portion of the place. If you’re show the lobby and a set up “example” lodging, that mean’s you have not seen exactly where your dog is staying and can’t be 100% sure the place is right for them. Wag Atlanta offers full facility tours so you can see exactly where your dog will be staying.
How clean the place is when you come will tell you many things about it. For facilities with tour hours or scheduled tours, you would expect the facility to be pretty clean, they knew you were coming after all. There should always be allowance given to any facility, as dogs can make huge messes without warning, and no one can be blamed for that. Facilities that offer unscheduled tours will likely be a little messier, as they are functioning non stop, with no break in the action for the dogs. Most likely things will not be totally clean, or smelling good all the time, but it shouldn’t be a pig stye. You want you dog to be clean while you’re away.
Do they dogs look active and happy throughout the facility? Are the staff staying busy or do they look idle? A pile of laundry doesn’t mean they are slow to do laundry, it could easily mean they go through a lot keeping the facility clean.
Dogs boarding get used to the staff that care for them, and can tell when a stranger is present. Expect a lot of them to bark at the excitement of seeing someone different, just like they would at home.
There are many ways to make sure that you’re making the right choice in a boarding and daycare facility for your dog. Do your due diligence and homework, take tours and ask questions. Your dog is worth it!
The Wag Atlanta Blog is run by the Wag Atlanta Management and Staff!
Find out more about
Wag Atlanta at our
Wag Atlanta Blogspot!