The First UK C�o da Serra de Aires Website

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: Joanna
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:17 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

Lola went to the vet today for a check-up regarding the Kennel Cough. She's still got a slight cough but it's only when she gets excited. Only 1 week's antibiotics are usually given so she should now get better on her own?! - here's hoping! As long as she doesn't go walking with another dog or come into nasal contact with another dog, we can now take her for a walk - at last Our vet recommended that we get Lola vaccinated against Kennel Cough when her annual boosters are due next month, just to give her a little more protection as it seems there is a lot of Kennel Cough about We had never planned to put Lola into a kennel for boarding, we shall use either family or pet sitters if we go away, so that's why we didn't think of getting her immunised against this virus earlier. It just shows you though how easy it is for pets to become ill through no fault of their own or their owners! Now I know how easily this cough spreads I shall encourage other dog owners to get their dogs vaccinated too as apparently, like human viruses, it can be spread by people easily- wearing clothes with dog saliva on and not washing hands correctly, even dog groomers can inadvertantly give this disease to other dogs if they see many dogs in one day as it takes 7 days for this disease/virus to go from exposure to symptoms, so you can be unaware of the consequences for some time. Food for thought! Hope all your dogs are fit and well out there, let's keep it that way!

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: Pauline Martin
Subject: Kennel Cough
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:50 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

I can't say about leaving dogs in kennels as I haven't do so but family and friends do. Each has found a kennel which the dogs like and the owners trust. They asked people they know about the kennel, even their vet. They had a good look around well before they booked their dogs in. Now they go back regularly so the dogs are happy - they wag their tails when they go. They are housed together, take their own food and get exercised together. The test is what they are like when they are collected - they are fit and healthy. But I hear of people who have bad experiences possibly because they don't find out about the kennel before hand. Another solution is for a friend to stay at your house. I have done this very successfully. I even used an agency called House Sitters when I was really stuck once. The friend had a major problem and couldn't come and we were booked to go abroad. I recommended them to other friends who use them regularly. They not only look after your dogs but your house as well. Marvellous However, I hate being away from my dogs I am so sad
_________________
Amigavel Portuguese Sheepdogs www.portuguesesheepdogs.co.uk

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: teresa
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:01 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

I have never left my dogs in a kennel. Thought about it this year because Ana was very miserable when left alone since the other two dogs died and she raised hell at night (poor neigbours). But then Sara came, she was too young to go to a kennel and Ana was much more happy and calm with her company, so I did what I usually do, got a friend to come look after them for some few days I was away.
It's a hard choice. If they stay here, they'll be at home but will only have someone come two or three times a day to give them food and water. Although I've never noticed any behaviour damage, and my neigbours say they're calm all the time, it's still not an ideal situation. If they go to a good kennel, they'll be walked dayly and have some attenttion, but they'll be in a strange environment. Do your dogs bear well being in a kennel?

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: Pauline Martin
Subject: Kennel Cough
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:35 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

Wow! I was obviously very unaware of the implications Bonita gets her boosters soon so I will see my vet about it too - for all 3 dogs even though we aren't around other dogs that much. Visiting the vet is always a heavy bill so my sympathies. To keep the annual insurance bill down I recently raised the voluntary 'excess' to ��100 mainly because a one off visit can cost that much. I did think about not having insurance but I wasn't that brave. I wonder about the safety and health of a dog in any kennel that does not ask to see the dog's vaccination certificates including kennel cough. I think it's a case of owners beware.
_________________
Amigavel Portuguese Sheepdogs www.portuguesesheepdogs.co.uk

Chit Chat :: RE: Sara

Author: Pauline Martin
Subject: Sara
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:25 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 43

Yes Purina is a good food. To get Sara to go down first get her to sit - just hold a treat near her nose and take it back over her head that usually brings about a sit. Go to a down from a sit. Hold a treat and take it down as if under her chin towards the ground and out between her paws. This will bring about a down with a bit of practice - you don't have to touch Sara for either command. And as you know lots of praise good down with her treat. Good luck
_________________
Amigavel Portuguese Sheepdogs www.portuguesesheepdogs.co.uk

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: chava
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:44 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

we have got the advise of awre vet to give the dog a vaccination agianst kennel cough mostly becouse we go to a lot of shows it is not a garantee thy whont get it buth the syntoms are not so bad then.
_________________
awre puppy aires "CHAVA"is becoming a beautiful dog,and we are very happy to have him

Chit Chat :: RE: Travels with my serras in France

Author: chava
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:35 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 4

for us France is the most beautiful contry in Europe we spend a lot of time there
_________________
awre puppy aires "CHAVA"is becoming a beautiful dog,and we are very happy to have him

Chit Chat :: RE: Welcome Home Charlie

Author: chava
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:32 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 2

Welcome home can not wait to see pictures
_________________
awre puppy aires "CHAVA"is becoming a beautiful dog,and we are very happy to have him

Chit Chat :: RE: Sara

Author: teresa
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:57 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 43

Sara is eating ProPlan Puppy from Purina, I don't know if you have it in England, it's suposed to be very good. She still eats three times a day.
She's becoming less reserved with other dogs, today at the beach she really wanted to go meet a dalmatian and a golden retriever, unhappyly both their owners said they didn't trust their dogs with other animals and prefered if Sara didn't aproach.
Saturday I'm going to a nearby town to see an obedience show and meet the owner of a training school, hopefully she will be able to start obedience classes soon. With me, she's doing very well with 'come' and 'sit', and now that I've understood how it's done we're training 'stay'. The 'down' command is proving more difficult, for I can��t get her to lie down on her own and don't want to force her into it. But it will come.

Chit Chat :: RE: Sara

Author: Joanna
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:56 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 43

Sounds to me like Sara is doing swell! I'm so glad your trip was so successful - the photos are just lovely. It is great to hear how dedicated you are in training Sara, I'm sure she will continue to blossom, well done!

Chit Chat :: RE: Welcome Home Charlie

Author: Joanna
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:52 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 2

Welcome home to you all - sounds like a fantastic adventure - hope to hear all about it soon

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: Joanna
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:50 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

My vet advised that we get Lola vaccinated against Kennel Cough when we get her booster injections done. There is no guarantee she won't get the disease again after the injection, just that the symptoms may not be so severe. In worse cases, Kennel Cough can lead to pneumonia, I suppose it is worse if you live in a city like us because you are usually surrounded by so many other dogs, whether next door, down the road or meeting a few dogs in the park/street etc. Apparently the vaccine for kennel cough isn't an injection - you have to blow the medicine up the nasal passages which isn't easy We will definately get the vaccine for Lola once she's fit and well, just to ensure that she's not going to be a timebomb and infect other dogs so easily - I would be so upset if she spread this disease further - all these drugs and visits to the vet are rather expensive. It's all bad timing as Lola was due to have her 'spaying' operation this Thursday coming and it looks like she won't be well enough to go under anaesthetic. Never mind, I just hope she gets back to normal very soon and more like her old self - she's rather miserable at the moment, poor girl

Chit Chat :: RE: Sara

Author: Pauline Martin
Subject: Sara
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 5:19 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 43

I don't think you need to worry about Sara. At 13 weeks Bonita weighed 7.4 kg, at 15 weeks she weighed 8.96kg, at 20 weeks she weighed 10.6 kg. The main thing is that Sara is eating a high quality, well balanced diet. Such food is quite expensive but it's worth it to ensure good bone, muscle and nervous system development. I feed mine a complete dry food with clean water always available. They are fed twice a day 1/3 for breakfast and 2/3 for dinner. I weigh it so that they get the right amount according to their weight and the manufacturers instructions. Bonita worked her way through puppy, junior and is now on adult kibble. While she was growing the amount she ate was calculated on her expected adult weight. I expected her to be 20/22 kg. She has settled at 20.kg. I feed them a UK product called James Wellbeloved. It is made from ocean white fish and rice kibble. They love it. I think other brands would be Eukneuba, Iams and is there one called Cann?
_________________
Amigavel Portuguese Sheepdogs www.portuguesesheepdogs.co.uk

Chit Chat :: Welcome Home Charlie

Author: Pauline Martin
Subject: Welcome Home Charlie
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:59 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 2

Charlie, owned by Micky & Caroline Wherry, has returned home to Jersey after a year travelling Europe with them. Micky said:
We have now arrived back into the UK with Charlie. We had a wonderful year and Charlie had a ball. So many of the campsites were dog friendly, it really wasn't a problem travelling with her.
Welcome home, may be you would tell us about some of your adventures? We'd love to hear them.
_________________
Amigavel Portuguese Sheepdogs www.portuguesesheepdogs.co.uk

Health :: RE: Kennel Cough

Author: teresa
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:48 pm (GMT 0)
Topic Replies: 9

One of my portuguese water dogs caught kennel cought a few years ago, and she wasn't in any kennel, it was just by meeting other dogs when going out. But my other dog didn't catch it althou they lived together and happilly it was easily treatable.