DOG owners in Oswestry and the nearby areas are being urged to get their pets vaccinated against a bacterial infection after a rise in case numbers.
Park Issa Vets, in Salop Road, is encouraging dog owners to make sure their dog is vaccinated against Kennel Cough – a bacterial infection which causes a harsh dry cough and sore throat.
The call comes after a rise in infections among dogs in Oswestry recently, with Park Issa Vets clinical director Kim Holliday stating there has been an ‘abnormal increase’ in case numbers.
“It is abnormally high at the moment,” she said. “We’re probably seeing a couple of cases a day.
“Normally we may see one-a-week or one every other week. I imagine it’s because people are out walking their dogs more.
“Once it starts to spread around you start to see it a lot more.
“A lot of people just vaccinate their dogs when they go into kennels. They assume, because it’s called Kennel Cough, that dogs only get it when they go into a kennel, but actually they can get it out on walks when saying hello to other dogs.
“They don’t have to be in kennels to pick it up, they can pick it up when socialising anywhere.”
Kennel Cough is a very contagious infection, which dogs can contract as a result of socialising with other infected dogs, or from contact with food bowls, beds and other items which have been in contact with an infected dog.
Kim explained that Kennel Cough can potentially lead to further complications, and highlighted the importance of making sure your dog is vaccinated.
She said: “It is a very contagious infection, so if one dog in your household gets it, the others will likely get it too.
“Generally, they get a hacking cough for a couple of weeks and it’s more annoying for them than anything else.
“They will get a sore throat and the cough can sound quite awful and last for a few weeks.
“Sometimes they can end up getting a secondary infection on top of that – especially older or young dogs, they can get more poorly with it.
“It can lead to even pneumonia if they got a secondary bacterial infection, so it’s very important people get their dog vaccinated even if they’re not going to a kennel.
“If they’ve had the vaccine, they can still get Kennel Cough but the symptoms will be a lot more mild, should only last for a few days and they will be less contagious.”
To find out more about Kennel Cough vaccination, visit Park Issa Vets on Facebook, or to book an appointment, call 01691 670067.