Dogs » Kennel Cough

chrslp

This question is related to: Multiple the Dogs

Age:1 to 6 years
Gender:Unknown
Breed:Multiple
Neutered:No
Fed On:Science Diet

Kennel Cough

So I work at a small shelter. We have 7 kennels and 2 isolation kennels. Yesterday, we found that every dog we have (6 at the moment) has come down with kennel cough.
We have 1 neutered male, 4 intact males, and a female in heat. We have the female in the isolation room.
There isn't much we can do in terms of seperation of them as the kennels are pretty open but we've only been letting one on each side out at a time.

My question is, what should we do in terms of contact with the dogs? I know that stress just prolongs their being sick but some people seem to think they shouldn't even be touched except to give them meds.
Should we still give them one on one attention since every single one has it anyway or what?
We put our dogs on a 3 week quarantine from the public to prevent further spreading. I just don't want to have 6 dogs in 3 weeks that think no one likes them anymore or they did something wrong. It's ba enough they can't go on walks or play with each other. But is no real human contact going a little too far?
Would appreciate some sort of insight ASAP. We're having a board meeting on this tomorrow.

24/5/12

Answer this question
stuart stuart

if they all have kennel cough then there is nothing to be gained by trying to isolate them from each other. |The problem you have is that of infecting any new dog coming into the shelter the only way of doing that is not to bring any nesw dogs in Transferring infection out of the shelter on clothes etc is possible but unlikely even so change clothes when leaving the shelter Do not take any of the dogs out of thew shelter until at least 1 week after all the coughing has ceaseds As long as the dogs have contact with your workers in the kennels they wioll be fine look at it as thought they are n having a holiday

24/5/12
chrslp

Thats a professional opinion I was actually hoping for. The new thing is, how do I convince a bunch of stubborn old ladies of something that would be best for the dogs psychological well being?
Its hard working at a shelter as pretty much the youngest and the only man. Especially when they're more focused on the business end over the well being of the animals.
I try to do what I can but theres only so much I can do.

I'm even showing up to work 2 houra early so I can ge them some attention

24/5/12

You must be a registered member to answer questions, you can Register here