The Dog Kennel

Many dogs can tend to be a little particular when it comes to what people they are comfortable with. When this is the case traveling can present a problem. Whether you are planning several weeks of vacation or your job requires you to be away for a few days, dog kennels will probably be on your radar as an alternative to leaving your pet in the care of a neighbor or friend.

There are two distinctly different types of dog kennels. There are the traditional facilities where you drop off the dog then pick it up when you return. There are also portable dog kennels. These range in complexity and price and can be a great solution for those who can not afford the traditional dog day care or simply can not bare to be away from their beloved pet for long periods of time.

Traditional pet kennels can be quite expensive, some as much as one hundred dollars a day. These can be quite nice though, providing individual rooms for each dog, excellent meals, walks, play time, and other interesting forms of entertainment and exercise. These traditional kennels are staffed and equipped to care for your dog for up to several weeks at a time. When looking for one of these traditional kennels keep in mind that are not all created equal. Check the number of staff per number of residents ratio. Physically inspect the facility and be sure they carry some kind of guarantee. One of the risks of housing so many dogs in one building is that sickness can be spread. Kennel cough, which is simply a common cold for dogs, has been known to sweep through kennels at a rapid pace infecting many dogs in a short period of time.

Portable dog kennels have been around for some time. The first versions were simply a length of low cut chain link fence and a few stakes. These seemed convenient however, set up was quite difficult if not impossible. Now there are several types on the market that come in kits. The typical kit would consist of a frame around which you stretch the fencing. This can be quite difficult as well, especially if you are going it alone. Also, don’t be swayed by the term chain link which tends to bring to mind thick rings of steel. The fencing that comes with these kits is quite soft in order to accommodate stretching it around the frame. Bigger dogs and the more aggressive types can either chew right through it or knock it down easily.

The other type of portable dog kennels can be purchased in the form of modules. These modules are very convenient as well as an improvement on the other versions because they come in completed sections. If you need more room you simply attach more modules together. Construction, tear down and moving the modular dog kennel is very easy since all that is required is fastening or unfastening the modules. The modules can be purchased in different strengths as well. Strengths are measured in chain gauges. A small dog will do fine in an eight gauge kennel while eleven gauge kennels are better for bigger dogs. The smaller the gauge the stronger the fencing.

Be sure to check with a community official or law enforcement agency first because there may be restrictions on the type and size of dog kennels allowed on your property. The same goes if you are traveling and need to put your kennel up on someone elses property.

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Infectious tracheobronchitis and bordetellosis are two very common forms of kennel cough. These are not deadly, neither are any of the other forms of this condition however, it can make your dog quite miserable. The cough is persistent and can last for several weeks. The infection exposes nerve endings in the windpipe and bronchi which causes the irritation resulting in a rough, dry hacking cough. The cough releases the germ into the air and can easily be transmitted to other dogs that are close by and is therefore not exclusive to kennels.

Most dogs can recover without medication however a vet can give him or her a cough suppressant to relieve the annoying hack and to protect other dogs that may be living with or play with your dog. Antibiotics can be prescribed to speed up the healing process but they are not necessary.

There are other diseases that manifest as a hacking cough and can be mistaken as kennel cough. Some of these diseases are quite serious. If your dog has a cough you should definitely get him or her checked out by a veterinarian to be sure. Also, be sure your dog gets all the proper vaccinations, especially if you’re planning to put him or her in a kennel or in close proximity to many other dogs.

This by no means should be taken as a warning against the sanitary conditions of all kennels in general. On the contrary, pet kennels must adhere to strict guidelines in order to gain and retain their license to do business. However, it is impossible to control how their customers care for their animals previous to being admitted. Nor can they accurately test each dog upon its entrance to the boarding kennel.

Besides proper dog grooming, vaccinations and good dog care, one thing a dog owner can do to help keep his or her animal safe is to be sure that when they return home from the dog kennel, they return to a clean environment. In the event that your dog did catch something you wouldn’t want it to spread to any of your other pets.

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