Policies

Dog Evaluation Policy

A formal introduction and temperament test is required for all new dogs before they can participate in daycare, or boarding with daycare, at Lucky Dog. The evaluations are done Monday through Friday free of charge and include the whole day of daycare! NO appointment necessary. We just ask that dog is at the facility before 10am and that proof of vaccinations are provided.

Vaccine Policy

Lucky Dog is a highly social environment for dogs. Just like in the human world, if something is going around you are going to be exposed, so you get vaccinated as a preventative measure.

Required

  • Rabies– according to your vet’s recommendation (yearly or every 3 years depending on age and circumstances of your dog) We will accept an elderly dog exemption with a veterinary recommendation.
  • Distemper/parvo– yearly, or every 3 years if that is what your vet recommends. We will accept an elderly dog exemption with a veterinary recommendation.
  • Bordetella (Canine Cough) – either intranasal (6 months), oral (1 year) or injectable (1 year) depending on your vet’s preference.
  • H3N2 Canine Influenza (new strain) – We require the H3N2 canine influenza vaccine. Depending on the vet, this may require a booster. Good for 1 year. For puppies, ask your vet about getting it at the same time as their rabies vaccination.

Recommended, talk to your vet

Canine Influenza

At Lucky Dog, we are going to be proactive and require the H3N2 canine influenza vaccine, and recommend the H3N8 vaccine. We consulted with local vets and the Dept of Agriculture, plus our experience from the city wide H3N8 outbreak in 2008. The H3N2 virus has spread widely since it surfaced in 2015, and some experts suspect over 40 states have been affected. With a transient military and tourist population, dogs from all over the country are arriving all the time.

News reports on Canine Influenza; KOAA 5 , KKTV 11 and Fox 21.

Here is some information from the CDC:

The symptoms are cough, runny nose, and fever, but not all dogs will show signs of illness.

It is spread to other dogs by direct contact with aerosolized respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing) from infected dogs. This can happen in any social environment; training, grooming, store, dog park, boarding, daycare, etc..

If your dog is coughing contact your vet, keep them at home and avoid contact with other dogs. Also ask your vet to contact the manufacturer of the vaccine used, they should pay for your dog to be tested and may pay for the treatment.

Please talk to your vet about getting your dog vaccinated as soon as possible.

At Lucky Dog, we strive to provide the best service possible for your dog, and we hope you appreciate us being proactive to protect your dog against potentially deadly respiratory infections. Thank you for your understanding and your continued business.

Here are a couple more sources of information:

American Veterinary Medical Association

Merck vaccine manufacturer

Kennel Cough – Simplified In Human Terms

You visit a daycare center for your child and find it to be clean, well run, safe, and your child is happy there. Enter another child who happens to be coming down with a cold. This child coughs and sneezes near your child and the particles containing the virus or bacteria move through the air and are inhaled by your child. Nothing humanly possible can stop the spread of this cold unless one of two things happen. First, the child showing signs of the cold is kept home away from other children, or the child is heard to sneeze or cough by a daycare worker and is immediately put into isolation, away from other children. A proper isolation area prevents the air that child is breathing from mixing with the air every one else is breathing, but any child already exposed is susceptible to the illness as well.

Substitute the word “dog” for “child” in the above paragraph and you have the canine cough scenario. Canine cough is here to stay, and the bordetella vaccine, although helpful, does not prevent all types. At Lucky Dog we take cleanliness and hygiene very seriously, but it does not mean your dog will not get kennel cough at Lucky Dog, or any other canine facility. No dog showing signs of illness is permitted to enter our facilities, but a dog may be harboring a virus without showing signs. When looking for a canine care facility ask the staff if a one-way air flow isolation room is available. This is a Dept of Agriculture requirement! An isolation room does not have to be pretty, but it does have to be effective. Bathrooms, cubby areas, and closets do not make effective isolation rooms!

Should your dog experience any of the symptoms listed below, please call your veterinarian and do not expose him to other dogs.

  • Cough/gagging/vomiting white foam
  • Nasal or eye discharge
  • Excessive sneezing
  • Loss of appetite and/or general lethargy

To learn more about Canine Cough and our procedures, see What Is Canine Cough?

Neutered or Spayed

All dogs boarding with playgroup or attending daycare must be neutered or spayed if over 1 year old. Non neutered or spayed dogs will have to use our Individual Care option at either facility.

Tours

We are happy to give tours at either Lucky Dog location. Please note that our during our high volume times of the day (6am-9am & 3pm-6pm), there may be a wait. Best times are between 10am and 2pm.

*We do not give tours around the holidays, due to the high number of dogs boarding during that time.

*We recommend that you take your tour, and fill out paperwork before your dog is scheduled to board, or arrives for their first session of daycare. Remember that your dog must have an evaluation before boarding or daycare. Schedule your appointment at Lucky Dog Central at 599-9663 or Lucky Dog South 527-9663.

What to bring

All of our overnight guests should bring their own food, and any medication needed. (see Medication Protocol)

We provide beds, blankets and bowls. We will not use any beds or blankets that have “stuffing” as this is a choking hazard.

Medication Protocol

All medication provided for your dog MUST be in it’s original container/bottle and will ONLY be given as directed on the bottle. If directions have been altered, a letter from your veterinarian must accompany the medication.

High Occupancy Days

During times of high occupancy dogs may be rotated through the play area in manageable numbers. This is for the safety and comfort of the dogs, and is generally only necessary around holidays. All dogs will receive their share of play time!