Information about Dogs

Vaccination information & requirements

There are various categories of vaccinations for dogs. Some are as follows:

C3 Vaccination: protection against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Contains NO immunity against kennel cough and therefore will not be suitable for a dog entering a kennel facility.

C5 Vaccination (or C4 + BB): protection against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and the bacterial component that causes kennel cough known as Bordetella. This vaccination provides the greatest protection against kennel cough and therefore is the preferred vaccination for dogs entering boarding .

Here at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels & Cattery we require all dogs to be vaccinated with their C5 vaccines (or equivalent). When you arrive with your pet you will be asked to show written proof of vaccination. Incorrectly marked cards won't be accepted.

Puppies must be at least 20 weeks of age on entry to our boarding kennel, which will ensure maximum disease protection from his/her puppy vaccination schedule.

Vaccination will provide effective protection in the majority of animals but there is no 100% guarantee. All possible hygiene, health and safety procedures are carried out here at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels & Cattery. It is therefore unreasonable to expect that the costs of treating any case of Canine Cough of a dog boarding with us be borne by this establishment. Please see our section on Canine Cough for more information.

Please do not ask for your pet to be boarded with us if they are not up to date with their vaccinations as refusal may offend. If you don't have a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate please contact your vet to organise one before you bring your pet to board with us. Your preparation prior to booking will ensure your plans are not spoiled. Thank you.

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Parasite Control

Please ensure your dog is up to date with his/her worming and flea treatment before coming to stay with us.

Worms

The most common worms that infect dogs and cats are Roundworm, Hookworm, Whipworm, Flea Tapeworm and Hydatid Tapeworm. To control these worms it is necessary to have a regular worming routine. It is important that worming take place whenever there is evidence of worms, no matter when your pet was last wormed.

Regular worming with an all-wormer is required to remove intestinal worms. Puppies need to be wormed every fortnight from 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks of age. They should then be wormed at 4 months of age. All dogs over 4 months of age should be wormed every 3-4 months.

Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a serious yet preventable disease spread by mosquitoes. A female mosquito ingests heartworm larvae from an infected dog while obtaining a blood meal. The larvae further develop inside the mosquito, and then the mosquito injects more mature larvae into another susceptible dog. This dog becomes infected with heartworm disease.

The heartworm larvae migrate in the dog's body from the area of the mosquito bite and eventually enter the dog's blood. Adult heartworms develop in the right side of the heart and major lung blood vessels, causing damage to these vessels and obstructing normal blood flow. Over 250 adult worms may develop in a dog's heart and vessels. Direct infection from dog to dog does not occur. The heartworm larvae must develop inside the mosquito to reach their infective stage.

Many dogs do not have symptoms of heartworm disease until severe infection occurs. Common early symptoms include coughing and difficulty breathing. Decreased ability to exercise, abdominal swelling, and muscle wasting occur as the disease progresses. Finally, death results from heart failure.

Dogs over 6 months of age should be confirmed heartworm-negative by a simple blood test before beginning any type of heartworm prevention. Heartworm disease can be prevented by either tablets or, in adult dogs, a yearly injection. Year-round prevention is recommended in climates that support year-round mosquito activity.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms can infect dogs and cats. Owners may notice rice-grain-like segments of tapeworms in faeces or in the fur around the anus. Most tapeworms will not make pets ill, but some can be contracted by owners and make them quite unwell.

Tapeworms are a different parasite to other types of worms found in dogs and dogs. They have flattened, segmented bodies, while other worms have rounded bodies. Adult tapeworms live in an animal's small intestine. Tapeworms vary in length from a few millimeters to several meters.

Tapeworms have no digestive system and they eat by absorbing nutrients through the body wall of each segment, which is responsible for feeding and reproducing for itself. Their food is whatever its host has eaten and which is in the intestines. Each segment is a hermaphrodite – it has both male and female organs! Once they have created fertilized eggs, the egg segments pass out of the host in faeces, and can be sometimes be seen wriggling in faeces deposits. Many owners will notice rice-grain-like segments in their pet's faeces, or attached to the fur around the anus. The eggs are then released and can remain viable for several years.

A tapeworm requires some time in an “intermediate host” usually a flea, to mature into adults. When the flea is ingested by your pet the immature tapeworm makes its way to the intestine, and starts its life cycle.

Tapeworm can be contracted by your pet swallowing a flea infected with a tapeworm. Your pet may swallow while self grooming.

Tapeworms generally cause little harm or inconvenience to their definitive hosts. Pets with tapeworm infections may experience digestive upsets, itching of the bottom and vomiting. Some worms can be several feet long and can potentially cause intestinal blockage, but this is exceedingly rare.

Infected dogs often 'scoot' (drag their bottom) across the ground or carpet due to irritating tapeworm segments. Stringent flea control is a must for eliminating tapeworm from your pet's life.

Hookworm

Hookworms are the most common canine intestinal parasite, infecting nearly 20% of all dogs. Hookworms attach to a dog's intestinal lining with hook-like teeth.

Hookworm infection is transmitted by ingesting the infective larvae (which usually live in soil) or by the larvae attaching to and burrowing through the dog's skin. Once inside the dog's body, larvae travel to the small intestine, mature, mate, and lay eggs. The eggs pass into the soil through the dog's faeces. Hookworm can also be transmitted through a nursing mother's milk.

Since hookworms can penetrate skin tissue, it is possible for people to pick up the larvae when walking barefoot on infected soil. Children should not be allowed to play in areas where dogs defecate. Symptoms of Hookworm infection include anaemia (severe cases), diarrhea and diminished strength and vitality. In dogs, an adult tapeworm can remove up to 0.8mL of blood each day! If a dog were carrying 100 parasites this would add up to 80mL a day. In a small pup, this would mean a significant proportion of its blood volume being removed in just a few days. Heavily-infected pups can lose 25 per cent of their red blood cells a day.

The worms feed on the host's blood. Puppies can develop life-threatening anaemia from blood loss even before eggs are detectable in the faeces. Hookworm disease is diagnosed by examining the faeces for eggs.

Whipworms

Worm larvae and adults can live in the intestine of animals or people and cause intestinal disease. The adult worms lay eggs, which are shed in the faeces of infested individuals and can serve to further spread the disease. Whipworms are found worldwide, especially in warm, humid climates. Animals get whipworms by ingesting (oral) worm eggs which develop into larval then adult worms.

Eggs are passed in the faeces of an infested animal and this contamination of the environment is the source of exposure for susceptible animals. Under ideal conditions, whipworm eggs can survive in the environment for years. Most cases of whipworm infestation show no signs of illness. Some animals may be in poor condition (rough hair coat, thin body) or have reduced performance. Heavy parasite infestations can cause diarrhea, with or without blood, weight loss, and lethargy. In these cases, the worms can also cause blood loss or anaemia. Humans can get whipworms by ingesting (oral) soil or water contaminated by the faeces of infected animals or people. Most cases in humans do not show symptoms of illness. Heavy infections can cause gastrointestinal signs, especially in children. These can include abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal prolapse; growth retardations also possible.

Roundworm

Adult roundworms live in the intestines of dogs and cats that have eaten small infected prey e.g. mice, or swallowed roundworm eggs in the soil or on their coat. Adult worms produce microscopic eggs which pass out in the faeces. These eggs usually lie in the soil or can be ingested by small hosts e.g. mice. Roundworm infection is transmitted through ingestion of eggs in an infected rodent, infected soil, or milk from an infected mother. The eggs hatch into larvae in the stomach, and the larvae travel to the small intestine where they mature into adults. The adults lay eggs, which pass out of the pet in faeces. The worms can also be transmitted from mother to puppies or kittens in utero. If humans ingest roundworm eggs, the eggs can cause infection. It is important to wash hands after handling dog faeces. Children should not be allowed to play on soil where dogs defecate.

Children are especially at risk if they eat soil and/or they don't follow the basic handling suggestions such as, discourage pets form licking faces, make sure people wash their hands, and do not place their fingers in their mouth, after handling pets.

Ingested eggs hatch into immature larvae which migrate through the human body causing a general non specific illness. If the larvae find their way to the eye, they can cause permanent damage to the retina and vision problems.

Symptoms of Round Worm infection include:

• Bloated belly
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite

Hydatid Tapeworm

This tapeworm is different to the more common flea tapeworm's segments which can be seen in your dog's faeces. The Hydatid tapeworm is microscopic and you will not be able to see the segments although they too will be passed in the pet dog's faeces. Hydatids can be a dangerous and potentially fatal disease to people. The dogs at risk (and therefore the people) tend to be those in rural, agricultural areas or those who visit these areas from the larger metropolitan centers. Man can act as an intermediate host for this tapeworm if he picks up eggs from an infected dog. These eggs will develop into cysts or hydatids in the organs of the human, in the same way that they will in the sheep or other intermediate host. If hydatids develop in the lungs, the liver or the heart of an infected human, severe disease can result and may only be cured by surgery. It is important to realise that it is the hydatid which affects man, not the adult worm.

So man cannot become infected by eating hydatids in the offal of sheep but he can become infected by picking up eggs from the droppings of dogs. Because rural dogs are most likely to have access to infected sheep offal, hydatid tapeworm infection is mainly a problem in rural areas. The hydatid tapeworm is probably best avoided by not feeding uncooked offal.

Lifecycle of a tapeworm The tapeworm needs two hosts to complete its life cycle:

• Intermediate host – such as sheep, pigs, cattle, goats, horses, camels, wallabies and kangaroos. Infection begins when the grazing animal eats dog, cat or dingo faeces infected with tapeworm eggs. The eggs hatch in the animal's gut into embryos. These embryos penetrate the wall of the intestine and are carried in the bloodstream to vital organs such as the liver, lungs or brain, where they can develop into watery ‘blisters' called hydatid cysts. These cysts contain around 30 to 40 tapeworm heads (the first segment of the tapeworm). A mature fertile cyst may contain several million such heads.
• Definitive host – such as dogs, cats and dingoes. Infection begins when the animal eats offal that contains hydatid cysts. The swallowed cysts burst and the tapeworm heads travel to the gut and attach themselves to the intestine wall. The tapeworms are mature after about six weeks. An adult tapeworm is only six millimetres long. Thousands can inhabit the gut of an infected animal. Each mature worm grows and sheds the last segment of its body about every two weeks. This last segment contains immature eggs. The eggs are passed from the animal's body in faeces and may stick to the animal's hair or contaminate the vegetable garden. The eggs are highly resistant to weather conditions and can remain viable for months. The eggs have to be swallowed by an animal (intermediate host) to form hydatid cysts.

Fleas

Fleas are wingless, hard bodied, blood sucking ectoparasites. Not only are they a nuisance to you and your pet, but also they can spread disease and tapeworm. They need to be dealt with efficiently and effectively to prevent them from returning.

Life cycle

• 1) Egg: At .5mm in length, flea eggs are barely visible to the human eye; the female flea lays approximately one egg per hour. The flea egg is whitish, smooth & dry & easily falls off the coat into the environment. Flea eggs hatch in around 1 - 10 days, depending on conditions. Flea eggs & flea droppings are often found together. When your pet scratches itself, the eggs, (along with the droppings), fall off the animal. The droppings provide food to the larvae when they hatch. The eggs & droppings together have the appearance of salt & pepper. Environmental conditions such as humidity, light & temperature determine how quickly & how many flea larvae hatch from flea eggs. The lower the temperature, the fewer larvae will hatch. Optimal conditions for flea larvae to hatch are temperatures of 21 - 32 degrees C. Flea eggs fall off your pet when it jumps, scratches, moves & sleeps. Eggs are found all over the home, but in their highest concentrations in your pet's preferred spots such as bedding.
• 2) Larvae: The larvae are vermiform (maggot like) like in appearance & up to 6mm long; flea larvae avoid light by residing deep in carpet fibres, under furniture & rugs & in crevices. At this stage they have no legs or eyes, but have chewing mouth parts. Flea larvae feed on adult flea excrement, food debris & dead skin.
• 3) Pupae: This is the transition stage between larvae & adult flea. After approximately 7-18 days the flea larvae pupate. It takes approximately 7 - 10 days for the larvae to develop into a flea, although it may be some time before the flea emerges from it's protective cocoon. They are at their most resilient as pupae, and resistant to insecticides. The flea larvae spins a sticky, protective silken outer cocoon, (produced by the saliva of the larvae), covered with particles of debris such as dust, hair, lint etc. The pupae are found in carpet fibres, crevices etc., and are virtually undetectable.
• 4) Adult flea: The adult flea emerges when it is stimulated by environmental factors such as vibrations, warmth or breath of the host. The flea can come out of its cocoon within seconds of stimulation. The lifespan of an adult flea is around 2 - 3 months. The adult flea is around 1.5 - 4mm long, and dark brown or black in appearance. Adults suck blood from their host. Adult fleas begin laying eggs within 36 - 48 hours of their first blood meal. A female flea consumes up to 15 times her body weight in blood per day.

As you are now well aware only about 5 - 10% of the flea population exists on your pet so just treating your pet will not get rid of any flea problem. Fleas must be controlled on your pet and in your pets environment. Successful flea control must rid the pet and the pets environment of fleas. When an animal is allowed access to the garden, parks and other people's homes with pets it is almost impossible to completely eliminate fleas from it environment. Knowing this, flea control should still be attempted.

Did you know only 5% of fleas live on your pet? You may be surprised to learn that only 5% of fleas are found on your pet. The other 95% - eggs, larvae and pupae, can be found in the immediate environment, such as your home or garden. Unfortunately, this commonly results in a constant source of re-infestation throughout the year.

To effectively control fleas there are a number of products on the market, including sprays, collars, washes, combs, powders, oral suspension and spot on treatments. Many of the above methods of removing fleas have limited effectiveness against fleas because they are only effective for a few hours after application, and most of them are only effective for the adult flea. Flea powders, sprays and shampoos will kill the adult fleas present on your pet at the time of application. If no treatment is applied to your pets “environment” your pet may be covered with fleas within a few days, after being treated.

To effectively control fleas all year round, you need a treatment that kills adult fleas on your animal PLUS their eggs and developing larvae in the environment. ‘Revolution', ‘Advantage', ‘Frontline', and 'Advocate' are all spot-on products that treat infestations on the pet and in the environment by killing three stages of the flea's life cycle. Please consult your vet for the best treatment for your animal.

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What should I bring for my dog?

For everyone's safety, ALWAYS bring your dog into our kennels on a lead. We need you to support our efforts in safety and emergency procedures and leave your dog's lead with us during his/her stay.

We supply everything your dog might require during his/her stay with us. This includes suitable and comfortable bedding, food, water bowls and toys.

You are welcome to bring something which smells of home, like a towel, Tee Shirt, a small light blanket or your dog's favourite toy.

Please DO NOT bring doonas, pillows, large blankets, bean bags, beds or bags of toys. Due to the cleaning procedures of our kennels, bedding and toys can get damp, which is not ideal for your pet to be sleeping and playing with. It is also impossible for us to take care of your belongings, some of which when chewed make a dreadful mess in our kennels.

It's really important that we are able to clean our kennels daily, effectively and efficiently. The less efficient our cleaning is, the less time we have to play and care for your dog.

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What will we feed your dog?

We feed top quality Tucker Time roll in a variety of flavours. We stock premium, quality dry food which caters for every stage of the dog's life, including puppy growth, adult, light/senior, and for the active and the less active dogs.

For our small or fussy eaters we have available individual serves of My Dog, Pedigree and Optimum, and stock a complete range of flavours.

If your dog has previously been a fussy eater please advise us of what food your dog prefers so we can make sure it is available for his/her stay. We pay close attention to your dog's meals on our boarding record sheet to ensure your dog has a healthy and happy stay with us.

If we find your dog continues not to eat after trying a variety of brands and flavours we will then buy them roast chicken and cook them some rice which in most cases has a successful result. If we incur any extra expenses, these will be charged to the client.

We also stock a wide range of treats which we like to spoil our dogs with, however you are welcome to bring your dogs own delicious treats from home.

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Is your dog on a special diet?

If your dog is on a special diet or any dietary supplements for health reasons, we need to know (at the time of booking). In order for us to cater properly for your dog, please provide us with enough of the supplement and/or food for your dog's stay.

Please provide us with enough of the supplement and/or food for your dog's stay, along with instructions on amount per meal. Home prepared meals must be supplied in individual meal portions. This will ensure freshness (allows us to freeze) and correct portion control for your dog at all times.

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What if your dog is unwell while at the kennels?

We keep record sheets on each of our kennels so we can keep track of our dog's daily eating, drinking and toileting habits. This helps us to pick up on any issues quickly so if it is felt your dog is unwell and may need medical attention, a vet will be called immediately and the dog's owner notified.

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Medications

If your pet is on regular medication, please ensure that the instructions you give us are clear and precise, both on the medicine container and in any additional written information. Please ensure the instructions you give us don't contradict veterinary instructions for using that particular medication.

In case of any difficulty administering medication to your pet, or you choose to extend your holiday; please provide us with more medication than is required.

At the time of booking you will be asked which veterinary practice you regularly attend. This is so that in the case of an emergency we can call your vet as they are familiar with your dog and will have your dog's medical history. This will help us to provide fast and effective treatment if necessary.

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What does my dog do all day?

Your dog's day will start at 8 am when our staff come into the kennels.

A security check is done to make sure everyone is happy and well. Each dog is taken out of their kennel individually to have time in one of the exercise areas where there are plenty of toys; this is one of the dog's favourite times of the day. Some dogs only like to like each other from a distance so it is our policy not to force friendships. Only dogs from the same family are socialised together.

While your dog is exercising our staff clean the kennel with Vira Clean (a hospital grade cleaner/disinfectant), pick up faeces, change the bedding and give fresh water. Each kennel is hosed out to remove urine and sprayed with Vira Clean. We use Vira Clean as opposed to bleach as bleach tends to be very harsh on the dogs skin, paws, as well as on the environment. Vira Clean is a fantastic alternative to bleach and is environmentally friendly. The floors are scrubbed down with a bristle brush and then squeegeed out so the floor is as dry as possible.

Once all the dogs have been exercised, food is prepared and given to each dog and any medications are administered. After feeding, each dog is checked on, their empty bowl is removed, and any faeces are removed from their kennel. Through the middle of the day the dogs nap and have quite time.

Throughout the day all the dogs are checked on, each dog is given individual attention, a big hug and a treat, and any faeces are again removed. In the afternoon any dogs which are fed twice daily are fed, medication is administered for any dogs which have afternoon medications and dogs are let into the exercise areas, again individually. At the end of the day, there is final check on dogs, a final faeces removal and all dogs are tucked in for the night.

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What can I expect on arrival & departure?

Upon arrival you and your dog will be greeted by one of our friendly staff. We will have a booking form ready which we will go through with you to confirm dates and contact information. You will be required to show proof of vaccination for your dog and to sign our booking form. We will give you the pink copy of the booking form for you to take with you. If your dog is on any special diets, medications or supplements, we will record all instructions so he/she will receive the correct type and amount during their stay. Please note that your dog must be on a lead to enter our boarding facility. Please allow about 15 minutes when bringing in your dog for us to check them in.

You will be given the option to pay the bill either when bringing your dog in or when picking your dog up. For long term bookings you may be required to pay a deposit. We accept cheque, cash, credit cards (except American Express and Diners) and eftpos. Credit cards attract a 3% surcharge.

Our staff will ask you whether you would like to accompany your dog down to their kennel or if you would prefer to say your goodbyes at the door. Please note that during busy peak times it may not always be possible to accompany your dog down to their kennel. We will make sure that your dog is safely settled into his/her kennel where they will find a treat waiting for them on their bed and if your dog requires a meal when they come in we will prepare a fresh meal for them.

Upon collection of your dog you will again be greeted by one of our friendly staff. If payment wasn't received on arrival you will be required to pay on departure before collecting your dog. We will ask you whether you would like to accompany us down to the kennels to pick up your dog, please again note that during busy peak times it may not always be possible to come down with us.

We have strict opening times so please don't come outside our hours. Our opening times are there to minimise stress to the animals in our care and to allow us to properly care for your pets during the day. If you come outside of hours you won't be permitted entry.

Please note that No person is to enter the kennels or cattery unless accompanied by a staff member.

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Hydrobaths

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Delivery & Pick-ups

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What is Kennel Cough/Canine Cough?

Kennel Cough is a contagious condition affecting the respiratory tract of dogs characterised by a persistent hoarse cough. It can be caused by several airborne bacteria and viruses, however, the bacteria Bordetella Bronchiseptica, Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Canine Parainfluenza are thought to be the main causes of Canine Cough.

Symptoms may also be associated with exposure to certain environmental factors, including irritants such as dust and excessive barking.

Dogs are most commonly affected after interaction with other dogs with the incubation period varying from a few days to a couple of weeks. The term “Kennel Cough” is actually quite misleading in that many dogs will come into contact with the causative agents in environments other than a boarding kennel, including the local park, the dog beach and dog training classes. For this reason many Veterinarians now prefer to use the term “Canine Cough” to describe the disease.

While a vaccine is available to help prevent your dog contracting Canine Cough, it is important to understand that the vaccine is only partially protective. The vaccine aims to prevent your dog from developing the more severe forms of the disease caused by Canine Parainfluenza Type 2 virus and the Bordetella Bronchiseptica bacterium, however, vaccinated dogs are still at risk from the other infectious agents and environmental factors that have been implicated in the syndrome. Although these less severe cases tend to resolve spontaneously after a few days, cough suppressants or antibiotics may occasionally be necessary where symptoms are persistent.

Much like the situation where a child is at risk of contracting a cold or flu at Day Care or school, boarding kennels do present a possible risk to your dog with regard to Canine Cough. Such infection can occur despite vaccination, strict hygiene standards and all due care and attention. All possible hygiene, health and safety procedures are carried out here at Canning Vale Boarding Kennels and Cattery. It is therefore unreasonable to expect that the costs of treating any case of Canine Cough of a dog boarding with us be borne by this establishment.

Please see your local veterinary clinic for more information.

Canning Vale Boarding Kennels & Cattery takes pride in ensuring the best of care for your pet during their stay. Dogs boarded at owner's risk. Up to date vaccination including Canine Cough essential.

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What is Bloat?

Gastric Dilation and Volvulus Syndrome, commonly referred to as "GDV" or "Bloat", is a condition affecting dogs in which the stomach fills with ingesta and gas and becomes twisted around its central axis. It primarily affects deep-chested, large breed dogs such as Great Danes, Rottweillers, German Shepherds and Pointers and is a true Veterinary emergency.

The twisting of the stomach compromises its blood supply producing severe circulatory shock and cardiovascular failure. Affected animals are depressed, may be retching and will have a markedly distended abdomen. Treatment must be sought immediately and involves intensive medical therapy to stabilize the patient followed by surgery to correct the displacement of the stomach.

While there is no single straightforward way to prevent the syndrome occurring in an individual dog, there are a number of management strategies that may be employed to reduce the incidence in those breeds that are particularly at risk.

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• Avoid rapid ingestion of large volumes of food or fluid by feeding smaller meals multiple times a day and ensuring ready access to water at all times.
• Avoid vigorous exercise immediately after eating.
• Feed the main meal at a time which allows for observation of the dog over the next hour or two.

Canning Vale Boarding Kennels observes all of these strategies and recognizes the importance of prompt Veterinary attention should any dog in our care develop the syndrome.

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What do we need to know?

When you leave your dog with us, in order for us to make their stay as comfortable as possible we need to know:

• If your dog is on medication and how the medication is administered.
• How often your dog is fed and what it is fed.
• If your dog has any “special” needs.
• If you have changed your plans and your dog will need to stay for a longer or shorter period of time.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact one of our friendly staff. Have a safe and wonderful trip.

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