HEALTH AND SAFETY

We have a leash rack in our reception area and you may leave your leash there.  You may notice us removing your dog’s collar upon entry. We are a ‘play naked’ facility for the safety of your pet (if you are not familiar with this, please read up on the Naked Dog Project). Playing with collars on can be dangerous. A tooth, nail or jaw can get stuck in any collar resulting in injury or strangulation. We will store the collar and return it upon checkout.

City Dogs is proud to be one of the only kennels in the area to have a fire alert system installed in our facility. This is a real time, commercial fire monitoring and detection system. In the unlikely event of smoke or heat, the system automatically places a call to the fire department and the upper floor sprinkler system would be activated. Our local station is less than a mile away.  The firefighters have visited our facility, they have a copy of our layout and they have a plan for getting the dogs out quickly and safely if necessary. This gives us peace of mind and we hope it helps all our doggy parents relax, knowing their babies are safe. 

Whether your dog is boarding overnight or just visiting for the day, know that he or she will be supervised any time they are interacting with other dogs. There will never be a moment when someone is not right there cleaning up after, redirecting, or interacting with the dogs.

Safety is our first priority!

WHAT ARE WORMS?

There are five main types of worms that commonly affect domestic dogs: roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms, and heartworms.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG HAS WORMS?

Roundworms
Roundworms are some of the most common intestinal worms in dogs. There are two types of roundworms in dogs: “Toxocara canis (T canis)” and “Toxascaris leonina.” T canis is more common in puppies and can also be transmitted to humans, making it a human, as well as animal, health concern. Many puppies are born with roundworms, which is why it is so important that your newborn puppies receive appropriate veterinary care. Roundworms look like long strands of noodles and are diagnosed by a fecal sample and are treated with deworming medications. If left untreated, roundworms can lead to poor growth and death in severe cases.

Tapeworms
Tapeworms are an intestinal parasite that dogs acquire by accidentally eating fleas or by consuming wild animals infested with tapeworms or fleas. “Dipylidium caninum” is the most common type of tapeworm found in dogs in the U.S. and is passed from fleas to dogs, giving you one more reason to take flea prevention seriously. Tapeworms look like pieces of rice.If your vet suspects your dog has tapeworms, he will probably ask for a fecal sample to look for eggs or segments of tapeworms in your dog’s poop. Your vet will then prescribe a treatment regimen for your dog to eliminate the tapeworms from his system.

Hookworms
Hookworms are intestinal parasites that cause anemia in dogs and can be fatal in puppies, if left untreated. There are several different kinds of hookworms that can affect dogs, but all feed on your dog’s blood. Your dog can get hookworms from ingesting hookworm larvae from the environment or, in the case of “Ancylostoma caninum,” the infective larvae can pass from a mother’s milk to her puppies. Hookworms look like small white hooks and are diagnosed by fecal floats and are treated with deworming medications.

Whipworms
Whipworms are a type of worm in dogs that lives in the cecum (the beginning of the large intestine) and colon, where they pass their eggs into the dog’s feces. The eggs can survive for up to five years in suitable environments (warm and moist), which is one of the reasons why cleaning up after your dog immediately is so important for general sanitation and health. Whipworms don’t necessarily cause symptoms in mild cases, but in severe cases they can lead to inflammation, weight loss, diarrhea, and occasionally anemia. Whipworms are very thin, with a tail like tip that moves quickly back and forth. Your veterinarian can diagnose your dog for whipworms with a fecal sample and will prescribe a treatment plan suitable to your dog’s needs.

Heartworms
Of all of the types of worms in dogs, the most worrisome—and the most preventable—are heartworms. Mosquitoes transmit the parasite, and since avoiding mosquitoes is nearly impossible in most places, vets recommend regular heartworm preventatives to keep your dog safe. Symptoms of heartworms include shortness of breath, pale gums, weight loss, exercise intolerance and cough. Heartworms grow and multiply within the heart, so they cannot be seen. If left untreated they will ultimately lead to death.

WHAT IS CITY DOGS DOING?

City Dogs does not allow dogs that have noticeable worms to participate in group play. If we find a dog has worms, we have areas where they can be separated from other dogs until they can be picked up by their owners. If you suspect your dog has worms or if he has recently been treated for them, please do not bring him to City Dogs until the is cleared by your veterinarian.

WHAT ARE PUPPY WARTS?

Puppy warts are small bumps between a dog’s lips and gumline, or on its tongue. They are caused by the Canine Papilloma Virus and are typically benign. The warts look like pale pink raspberries or little pieces of cauliflower and can be compared to chicken pox in humans, because once a dog is exposed to the virus and warts develop, the dog usually does not get them again.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PUPPY HAS PUPPY WARTS?

Puppy warts are usually seen in dogs under 2 years old because their immune systems are less effective. The virus is transferred by dogs touching noses or through saliva when they share toys. It is virtually impossible to prevent puppy warts, because the virus is contagious up to two weeks before an actual wart appears.

Puppy warts usually go away in about six weeks, and veterinarians typically do not prescribe medication unless the warts remain for six months or longer. Occasionally when the number of warts makes it difficult for a dog to eat, a vet may surgically remove them. Canine Papilloma Virus is not a serious health risk and is often considered a rite of passage that many pups go through before reaching adulthood. They are not pretty, but they typically do not pose a health risk for your dog and they will usually just fall off in a week or two.

WHAT IS CITY DOGS DOING?

If your dog does contract Puppy Warts, you may want to contact your veterinarian just to ensure that there are no health concerns you need to consider. Although Puppy Warts are contagious, very few dogs will contract them if they are around another dog with the warts since most dogs’ immune systems are strong enough to ward against them. 

WHAT IS CANINE COUGH?

Just as humans get colds, so do dogs. In dogs, we usually call these “colds” or coughs “Canine Cough” or “Kennel Cough”. Canine Cough or Kennel Cough are common names for tracheobronchitis, a contagious upper-respiratory condition caused by the Bordetella virus, adenovirus, or parainfluenza virus.

Although we require that all dogs that come to City Dogs are current on their Bordetella vaccinations. Much like a human flu vaccine, this vaccine does not protect against every strain of these types of infections.  If your veterinarian states that your dog’s Bordetella vaccine is valid for a 12-month period, we are fine with that. However, we recommend Bordetella vaccines every 6 months for better protection.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG HAS CANINE COUGH?

The main symptoms that dogs get are a cough, runny nose and sometimes sneezing. The symptoms of Canine Cough typically last from a few days to several weeks. Although they do not usually develop into anything more serious, if your dog does present with symptoms, we do recommend that they see a veterinarian since they can be more susceptible to secondary illnesses and antibiotics may be necessary. 

WHAT IS CITY DOGS DOING?

City Dogs does require the Bordetella vaccine for all dogs that stay with us. But the vaccine, like a flu vaccine for people, does not prevent all strains of potential upper respiratory issues. So just as an elementary school cannot prevent colds, City Dogs cannot prevent Canine Cough. Dogs can be contagious for several days before their symptoms become present making it impossible to identify a dog that may be contagious. However, there are things that we do to minimize the frequency and the spread of it.

We use safe and biodegradable cleaners made specifically for kennels and veterinary hospitals. We clean and disinfect each run every morning. The floors and walls of the play areas are continually wiped and mopped during the day. A full cleaning of the play areas is completed each night, regardless of how many dogs have visited. Canine Cough is airborne so cleaning will not prevent it, but it does help.

If a dog is showing symptoms, we have areas where they can be separated from other dogs until they can be picked up by their owners. If your dog is coughing or showing other symptoms, for the safety of your dog and others, please do not bring them to City Dogs until they are well again and have not shown symptoms for several days.

WHAT IS CANINE BLOAT?

Canine bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a rapid swelling of a dog’s stomach, which becomes filled with excess gas, fluid or food, enlarges, and twists the esophagus and intestines shut. Bloat is an unpredictable, life-threatening emergency that primarily occurs in large, deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, German Shepherds, Collies, Dobermans and Boxers.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG HAS CANINE BLOAT?

Although the cause of bloat is unknown, eating and drinking too much and too fast seem to be contributing factors, along with heavy exercise after eating. Symptoms of bloat include vomiting, dry heaves, weakness, restlessness, excessive drooling, pale gums, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, cold body temperature, and standing with the head and neck extended. Dogs with bloat will go into shock, collapse and die if not treated. A veterinarian will x-ray the dog’s abdomen and may attempt to decrease the pressure by decompressing the stomach. Emergency surgery is required if the stomach has rotated. After a bloating incident, a dog’s chances for another occurrence increase. Your vet may suggest a surgery to tack your dog’s stomach in place in hopes of preventing a recurrence of bloat.

WHAT IS CITY DOGS DOING?

We know the symptoms and maintain a symptom chart on the wall next to our first aide cabinet. If we suspect a dog has canine bloat, we will IMMEDIATELY take them to the veterinarian of record or to the emergency veterinary service and contact the owner.

WHAT IS HEMMORAGHIC GASTROENTERITIS (HGE)?

HGE is an acute (sudden) disorder of dogs characterized by vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Most cases occur without warning in otherwise healthy dogs.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG HAS HGE?

The main and most disturbing clinical sign is large amounts of bloody diarrhea, very often bright red. Some dogs may have a painful abdomen, decreased appetite, lethargy (fatigue), or fever. HGE can affect any breed, age, size, or gender of dog, but it is most common in small and toy-breed dogs.

The exact cause of HGE remains unknown (idiopathic). It may be related to dietary indiscretion (ingesting non-food items or different foods), immune-mediated disease, toxins, or pancreatitis. Stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity are thought to be possible contributing factors in many cases.

WHAT IS CITY DOGS DOING?

If we notice more than a speck of blood in a dog’s stool we will call the owner immediately. If we see copious amounts of blood, we will transport the dog to the vet while attempting to reach the owner.

While HGE is not common, we have seen three cases in the 6 years we have been open.