Will my dog get sick?

There are many factors involved when it comes to dogs exhibiting symptoms of illness or showing up positive asymptomatically on a routine test. The fact of the matter is that when groups of dogs get together, they bring with them all the diverse bacteria, viruses, and parasites that they were exposed to in their own separate lives. Then they play with each other and breathe on each other, lick each other’s eyeballs, and swap saliva to the max. It’s a recipe for a germ superspreader! Will your dog get sick though? That all depends on what exactly was passed around and your dog’s individual immune response (which can also depend on your dog’s age, breed, genetic predisposition, energy levels, diet, etc) and any supportive measures they are given (like adequate rest, nutritional supplements). Our team carefully monitors all the dogs in our care for signs of illness in order to identify and immediately isolate any potentially sick dogs, but that doesn’t mean that something can’t get passed around even before symptoms show up. Fortunately, the most common of these are considered by veterinary professionals to be self-limited and not life-threatening. Dogs can also pass around serious diseases that are almost completely preventable through vaccination and we require up to date vaccinations for those diseases based on the advice of our consulting veterinarian. Never say never though, and we will be the first to freely tell you that if you want to avoid an environment where dogs will be exposed to communicable diseases and parasites, you should certainly avoid daycare. And any public place where dogs are allowed. And all other dogs in general. But if you want your dog to engage socially with other dogs and experience the world beyond their home and your veterinarian considers your dog to be healthy enough to do so AND you feel comfortable with your ability to care for your dog should they fall ill, then honestly, then we’re with you!

Listed here are some of the more common diseases or conditions that are found amongst dog daycares in general. A reminder that we are not veterinary professionals and that what we say here is our opinion. You should always consult with a veterinarian for your dog’s health needs:

Upper respiratory infections (AKA kennel cough)
Puppy warts (papillomas)
Giardia
Puppy pinkeye (conjunctivitis)