Health Concerns

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is uncommon at our facility but it does occur. Although most dogs never get diarrhea while being boarded, others get it every time they are boarded. Occasionally a pet that has had a normal stool while here will get diarrhea when they return home.

What can cause this sudden onset of gastric upset?

Stress-Related Diarrhea:

The most common cause of diarrhea is "stress." This cause of diarrhea most frequently occurs with your pet if he has never been boarded or is  infrequently boarded. A sudden change in your pet's routine can cause some dogs to stress a little bit and the result can be gastric upset. This is also the reason your pet might develop diarrhea when he returns home.

It is the change in environment that causes the stress.

Dietary Change:

Another cause of diarrhea can be a result of sudden change in diet. This type of diarrhea can usually be avoided by providing us with your pet's food. Here at Dog Gone Smart, we serve Healthwise Adult (Comparable to Innova), Healthwise Lamb ( Comparable to California Natural), and Precise. If your pet is receiving a different food than what we have, we recommend you provide food for your pet's stay.

Canine Cough

It is important that all clients are made aware that canine cough DOES NOT ORIGINATE IN A KENNEL. We absolutely WILL NOT allow dogs at Dog Gone Smart who are coughing or showing other signs of canine cough. However, it may be impossible for us to tell when a dog has been exposed to canine cough PRIOR to his/her arrival.

We require all dogs coming into Dog Gone Smart to be vaccinated for canine cough. We require that your dog be vaccinated every six months or per your veterinarian's recommendation.

Canine cough, commonly referred to as a "Doggie Cold" is a generic term used to indicate canine infectious tracheobronchitis, a highly infectious upper respiratory disease that is caused from a number of bacteria such as Bordetella bronchisephca, and viruses such as canine parainfluenza. Coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge are common symptoms of canine cough. These symptoms can last from a few days to several weeks. Since canine cough is a viral infection, there is no "cure", just as there is no cure for the common cold. As a self-limiting disease, it will go away on its own just like any other cold or flu. However, many veterinarians will prescribe a cough suppressant and/or antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.

Canine cough is not "born" at Dog Gone Smart. It can be (and usually is) "caught" outside Dog Gone Smart and brought in by a dog. A dog can be exposed at the park, grooming shop, pet store, veterinarian's office, walking around the neighborhood, or any place where dogs congregate or pass through. Unfortunately, canine cough does not show visible symptoms for five to ten days after exposure. While we make intense efforts to prevent an outbreak at Dog Gone Smart through extensive cleaning and disinfecting, public awareness, and by requiring vaccinations, we can not guarantee that your dog will not be exposed.

Just as a child who attends school has the potential to contract a cold or flu which is seasonal, a dog being boarded also has the potential to contract canine cough which is also seasonal. When a child gets a cold or the flu, parents do not expect the school systems to pay for treatment. It's the same if a dog gets canine cough at Dog Gone Smart. You should not expect us to cover the cost of treatment. Through our efforts, the possibility of your dog's exposure to canine cough at Dog Gone Smart is minimal. However, it is still possible. Please be advised that if exposure to canine cough does occur, Dog Gone Smart will not be held liable for its treatment, cost thereof, or consequence.

Again, we make every effort to prevent an outbreak of canine cough.

All dogs are required to be up-to-date on all vaccines including Bordetella. Therefore, CLIENTS WHO BOARD THEIR DOGS WITH US DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK.

Flea and Tick Control

Because Dog Gone Smart is treated with a variety of dog safe flea and tick products, we have never had a flea or tick infestation on the premises. Therefore, it is very unlikely that your dog will become infested with fleas or ticks while boarding at Dog Gone Smart. However it is still possible. Please check for the presence of fleas and ticks before you drop your pet(s) off at Dog Gone Smart.

In addition, please tell us if your dog has had a recent flea or tick infestation so that we can check for the reappearance of the parasite. We feel that it is extremely important that we be notified if your dog was treated "dipped" within a week of coming into Dog Gone Smart. Although dips are a very effective treatment, they only kill the fleas that are present at the time the dog was treated. All too frequently the entire environment is not treated and re-infestation occurs. If this occurs, we will need to treat the dog again. SO PLEASE TELL US IF YOUR DOG WAS RECENTLY INFESTED. Also, please contact us immediately if you believe that your dog became infested while being boarded with us.

We also feel that it is an excellent idea that you use preventative measures to help control fleas and ticks.

PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR DOG INTO DOG GONE SMART WITH A FLEA COLLAR ON.  Your dog is playing with other dogs all day long and other dogs can ingest the pesticide from the flea collar. Please ask us about other forms of flea and tick control.

Dog Injuries and Illnesses

If your dog becomes ill or injured while being boarded with us, we will, at our sole discretion, engage the services of your veterinarian. If your dog's regular veterinarian is not available, we will use our veterinarian on staff or bring your dog to the local emergency clinic. Any expenses incurred as a result or veterinarian's services must be paid at the time of check out. Please carefully read our contract.

We will make every attempt to contact you if your dog becomes sick or injured. If it is an emergency or we can not reach you, we will go ahead and treat your pet.

While we make every effort to ensure that Dog Gone Smart is a safe place for even the most exuberant dog, we will not be held liable in the event that your dog injures itself.

Geriatric Dogs

Over the years we have had many clients who have boarded geriatric dogs that are in failing health. In each situation we have felt that it was important to ask the questions, "What do you want us to do if your dog's health should fail?" and "What would you want us to do if your dog should pass away?" It would be an unfortunate situation if a geriatric dog were to be failing in health and possibly pass away, however it is a possibility. Should the situation arise, we feel that it is extremely important that we know exactly what the owner wants us to do. Clients who board geriatric dogs must provide us with precise information as to the procedure to follow at check in.

Administering Medication

We will administer medication to your dog as part of our routine. Specific provisions have been made to accurately administer and record the passing of medications. We will not charge extra for medication administration.

Please make sure the medication is clearly marked with the medication name and dosage information and your dog's name.