Health Information
If your dog is showing any signs of illness. Please keep them home. Just like a child at school you want to keep your dog and their friends safe and healthy.
Signs of illness include: coughing, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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"MYSTERY DISEASE" UPDATE
December 2, 2023
Dear Pet Parents,
We hope this message finds you and your beloved furry companion in good health. We are writing to address the recent reports and concerns surrounding a national mystery disease affecting dogs across the country.
At Delaware Pet Stuff, the health and safety of your pets are our top priorities. We are closely monitoring the situation and staying in constant communication with veterinary experts, local authorities, and relevant organizations to gather the latest information on the nature and scope of this mysterious illness.
As of now, there are no confirmed cases in Ohio. However, we want to reassure you that we are taking proactive measures to ensure the well-being of all pets in our care. These measures include:
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Increased Vigilance: Our staff is trained to recognize any signs of illness in pets, and we are implementing additional health checks to detect potential symptoms early.
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Enhanced Cleaning Protocols: We have intensified our cleaning and sanitation procedures to minimize the risk of any potential transmission.
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Isolation Protocols: If a pet shows any signs of illness, we have established isolation protocols to prevent the spread of disease to other animals.
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Collaboration with Veterinary Experts: We are working closely with veterinary specialists to stay informed about the latest developments and to ensure that our practices align with the best available guidance.
While the exact nature of the illness is still under investigation, there are some common symptoms that have been observed in affected dogs around the US. It's important to note that these symptoms may vary, and not all dogs exhibit the same signs. Please be on the lookout for:
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Coughing and Sneezing: Persistent coughing or sneezing that goes beyond normal behavior may be cause for concern.
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Difficulty Breathing: Labored breathing or any signs of respiratory distress should be addressed promptly.
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Vomiting and Diarrhea: Unexplained or frequent vomiting and diarrhea can be indicative of underlying health issues.
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Lethargy: A significant decrease in energy levels, reluctance to play, or overall lethargy may be a sign of illness.
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Loss of Appetite: If your pet shows a sudden disinterest in food or experiences a significant decrease in appetite, it's important to take notice.
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Nasal Discharge and Eye Discharge: Unusual or persistent discharge from the nose or eyes may warrant attention.
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Increased Thirst and Urination: Drastic changes in drinking or urination habits may signal an issue.
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Fever: Elevated body temperature, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, should be addressed promptly.
Upper respiratory infections can be transmitted at a dog park, a pet store, from a neighborhood dog, a daycare, the groom spa, the vet's office, or anywhere that dogs come in contact with one another. If your dog is showing symptoms of any upper respiratory illness, please avoid all areas above until they are symptom-free for at least 7 days. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
The health and happiness of your pets are of the utmost importance to us, and we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care. We will continue to keep you updated on any developments and remain available to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your furry family members.
Sincerely,
Sherri Mitchell, Owner
Delaware Pet Stuff
740-368-1999
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Kennel Cough
Bordatella is an upper respiratory infection also known as canine cough or kennel cough. Much like children spreading a cold or flu to each other in school, it is common for places where dogs have nose-to-nose contact to contract cases of kennel cough this time of year (Ex. doggie daycares, boarding, grooming, training facilities, dog parks, dogs who greet on walks, have play-dates with other pups, etc,).
Dogs most likely to come down with a cough are puppies, dogs who have not been exposed to the cough before and dogs with underlying health or immune system problems.
The Bordetella vaccination that your dog has already received protects them from most, but not all strains of canine cough, just like the flu shot prevents against many, but not all flu/cold viruses. This means that any cases we see here at Pet Stuff are from strains of canine cough that are not covered by the Bordetella vaccination. The good news is that these strains are usually less severe. A dog can shed the Bordatella virus up to 7 weeks after receiving a Bordatella vaccine. The vaccine helps protect our pets from known strains and minimize the severity of an exposure, but its presence is always possible in the facility for this reason.
Most strains of the canine cough virus can be carried and spread by dogs for up to 7-10 days before any coughing starts. This makes it impossible for our staff to know which dogs may be carrying the virus or have been exposed to the virus. If our staff notices that a dog is coughing, we will separate the dog from the play group immediately to minimize exposure to others.
If you notice your dog coughing, please be sure to keep them home from daycare until the cough is completely gone, even if your pet is on antibiotics. If your dog develops a cough that is deep, persistent or is accompanied by foamy mucous or other symptoms, they should be seen by a veterinarian to determine if treatment such as antibiotics and/or a cough suppressant are right for them.
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Delaware Pet Stuff utilizes a stringent cleaning and disinfecting protocol. We exceed best practice recommendations for the industry standard.
If you decide to keep your dog home, please let us know.
If you have any questions, please give us a call.
Grooming clients will be contacted by the Grooming department regarding cancelation of appointments or rescheduling of appointments.
Boarding clients will be accommodated for drop off and pick up regardless of weather. You may be contacted to schedule a specific time for drop off or pick up if weather restricts travel.
Daycare will be cancelled during a Level 3 snow emergency. Other daycare delays or cancellations will be posted and updated below:
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No current notifications
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