Thousands of pet owners who will be traveling this holiday season will be boarding their pets at vet’s offices and boarding kennels. But with so much traffic going in and out of these kennels, the chance of your dog catching kennel cough greatly increases.

Kennel cough, or Tracheobronchitis, is caused by a highly contagious airborne virus, and is a type of upper respiratory infection in dogs. The symptoms are dry, hacking cough that may sound as if the dog has a bone caught in his throat. Even though kennel cough is rarely deadly, it can be very expensive for your vet to treat.

If you are boarding your dog this holiday season, there are a few tips you could use that could keep man’s best friend from coming home with kennel cough.

- Make sure the kennel has an effective, daily clean-up process and follows a strict schedule of disinfecting with the proper chemicals.

- Make sure the kennel provides clean, individual water and feeding bowls for each animal.

- Make sure the kennel requires the proper immunization requirements to help prevent from other dogs infecting your dog.

- Make sure that the kennel has proper climate control and that the animals are protected from all elements. Cold temperatures can increase the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.

- Clean all your pet’s toys, bedding, and other supplies that you supply both before and after boarding.

- Check to see if the kennel or boarding facility is a member of the American Boarding Kennels Association.

Another way to ensure that your dog will not suffer from kennel cough is to treat them with K-9 Cough (www.k9cough.com) after returning from the kennel. K-9 Cough is a potent and successful treatment for your pet’s kennel cough. K-9 Cough uses the very best ingredients to ensure that your dog has first-rate treatment to guarantee a complete and quick recovery from kennel cough.

K-9 Cough is safe, effective, and easy to administer. K-9 Cough works for all breeds and all sizes of dogs. Since the symptoms of kennel cough do not appear for 3 – 5 days after exposure, by treating your dog immediately after returning from the boarding facility will ensure that your furry best friend will never have to suffer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching! While you’re busy decorating and preparing your home for guests, here are a few important tips to keep your dog safe this season.

The Christmas Tree

Tinsel, small ornaments, and ornament hooks are major choking hazards for dogs. It’s best to avoid tinsel altogether and keep small ornaments high on the tree, out of the dog’s reach. Also, make sure there are no stray ornament hooks on the floor!

If your family has a real tree (as opposed to an artificial tree), it’s best to block off the area around the tree with a screen or gate. Many dogs become ill from drinking tree water and ingesting pine needles. Vacuum the area around the tree regularly.

Holiday Guests

It’s exciting to have family and friends over during the holidayseven for your dog! But there are certain precautions you should take when having company over.

Dogs can easily slip out the door when people are continuously going in and out. Make sure your dog is wearing an identification tag with your phone number, even if he is micro-chipped. Not everyone who finds a lost dog knows to have him checked for a micro-chip.

Your guests may adore your dog, but don’t let them give your dog any food without asking. Children especially may want to give the dog a treat hand them a safe treat and supervise while they give it to the dog. Under no circumstances should your dog be given turkey or chicken bones. They are too small and are a serious choking hazard. As an alternative, buy a marrow bone at the grocery store as a special holiday treat.

Why You Shouldn’t Give Dogs as Gifts

Bringing a new dog into the family is a wonderful thing, especially if you adopt a dog from a shelter. However, giving a dog as a Christmas gift is never a good idea. Regardless of whether the dog is a puppy or an adult, his first few days in your home should be all about him. The holidays, for most families, are too chaotic and busy for a dog to get used to his new environment, and he may become anxious or frightened.

A great idea for families who want to give their children a dog for Christmas is to gift wrap a dog bone. When the child opens it, tell them it’s for the new dog that you’ll be getting in a few weeks. Or you can leave a note from Santa explaining that he didn’t have enough room on his sleigh and will be coming back with the dog. Animal shelters are flooded every January with dogs who were given as Christmas gifts so January is a great time to adopt a dog who needs a home.

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to have your vet’s phone number posted in a visible spot. Your vet’s office should have someone answering the phone 24/7.

The most important thing to remember, amidst all the chaos of the holidays, is to always know where your dog is and what he’s up to. That way everyone in your home, including the four-legged family members, can have a Merry Christmas.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com