VOTED BEST PET RESCUE IN THE BURG!

One of the intriguing things about rescue dogs is that we often don't know their histories.

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Some have received the best of care early in life; others have been horribly neglected and even abused. Dogs may have been exposed to common, easily treatable contagious diseases such as intestinal parasites, fleas, and kennel cough; ODHS treats these conditions while the dogs are in our care. Prior to adopting, our volunteers will tell you as much as they know about any existing medical conditions.

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Remember, We Are Always Here For You And Your Dog!

• Email: adopt@olddominionhumanesociety.org

• Messenger: Old Dominion Humane Society on Facebook

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Medical Care

Within the first 30 days after adoption, we recommend that you have your dog seen by a veterinarian.

• Medical Exam: Bring the medical records you received from Old Dominion Humane Society to your veterinarian. At minimum, have your veterinarian conduct a wellness exam and a fecal exam.

• Rabies Vaccination: If your puppy is less than 16 weeks of age, they haven’t yet received a rabies vaccination, but they will soon need it. Pups must be at least 4 months old before receiving the rabies vaccine. Review the vaccination log of your dog's medical records for the upcoming due date.

• Heartworm Prevention And Dewormer: If your dog is less than 6 months old, they have not yet been tested for heartworm. This is a blood test performed by a veterinarian and repeated annually. 

  • Begin preventative heartworm treatment as soon as 16 weeks of age. 

  • We recommend using Sentinel given monthly which acts as a dewormer and heartworm preventative.

• Flea and Tick Prevention: For flea and tick prevention, we recommend any of the following brands: Bravecto, Advantix, Seresto, Earth Animal Powder, or Wondercide. Reference the instructions on the label to ensure your dog's safety, but typically pups can begin a flea and tick preventative at 12 weeks. ​

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Kennel Cough

• Kennel cough is a respiratory infection in dogs (very similar to that of a cold in humans) that typically lasts 7-14 days and is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria. Here are more facts about kennel cough:

  • Spreads through airborne droplets when infected dogs sneeze or cough, and through contaminated surfaces.

  • Occurs very commonly in rescue dogs throughout the year. Nearly every dog we rescue will have had it recently, currently have it, or will be getting it while in our care.

  • Dogs may have a hacking, goose-sounding cough, runny eyes/nose, and congestion. This may cause the dog to sleep more and eat less, much like a human feels when they have a cold.

  • If your dog is producing green mucus, has trouble breathing, or other emergency symptoms, seek medical care IMMEDIATELY.

  • Typically, kennel cough can be soothed with the following remedies, however, it can be more serious, especially in puppies, elderly dogs, or dogs with underlying health issues.

    • WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFORE ADMINISTERING ANY OF THE REMEDIES LISTED BELOW. ​

      • Elderberry syrup (sold in most drug stores and Wal-Mart under the brand name “Sambucol”; this is an immune booster). Ensure it does not contain xylitol (also called birch sugar, birch bark extract) which is highly toxic to dogs. Consult your veterinarian for dosage information. ​

         

      • Honey (slightly warmed helps soothe a sore throat). 

      • Chicken or beef broth can be poured over kibble (slightly warmed helps soothe a sore throat). Ensure it does not contain onion or garlic.

      • Shower steam (put your dog in the bathroom when anyone takes a shower).

      • Pat your dog’s sides in a cupping manner to help make the cough productive.

      • Keep up your dog’s hydration and food intake. Again, puppies, older dogs, or dogs with underlying health issues are more susceptible to kennel cough, and may need veterinarian intervention. 

      • CAUTION: Do not use a cough suppressant of any kind (i.e. dextromethorphan) as this will cause the congestion to remain and could lead to pneumonia.

  • If you have other dogs at home, it’s a good idea to watch all dogs for symptoms. As with a human cold, it’s only a matter of time before it’s passed around to all the dogs in the household.

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Lyme Disease

• Lyme disease is an infection passed to a dog by deer ticks.

• The primary symptoms in dogs are achy, stiff joints and trouble walking. 

• At Old Dominion Humane Society, dogs 6 months of age and older are tested for this disease.

• If your adopted dog has tested positive for Lyme, we will make you aware. You will need to consult your veterinarian so that your dog can be treated with antibiotics (typically 21-28 consecutive days of doxycycline). 

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Coccidia

• Coccidia is a parasite that attacks your dog’s intestines. The primary symptom is diarrhea, however, dogs can be infected and not show any signs at all.

• FECAL EXAMS ARE VITAL! Coccidia can be fatal if not treated. 

• Dogs become infected with this parasite by eating affected soil or consuming affected dog feces (common in puppies and older dogs). This is one reason we recommend a fecal test within 30 days of adoption or sooner, especially if symptoms present themselves. 

• If your dog is found to have this parasite, your veterinarian will prescribe medication for treatment.

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Giardia

• Giardia is another common parasite found in dogs. The main symptom is diarrhea. 

• It is typically found on surfaces, soil, or water that is infected with giardia from agricultural runoff, wastewater, or animal feces. 

• If your dog is found to have this parasite, your veterinarian will prescribe medication for treatment.

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Heartworm

• Heartworm disease is caused by worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected dogs; it can be fatal if not treated.

• Canine heartworm disease develops when a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito (the carrier of the parasite).

• Dogs in our care are tested for heartworm from the age of 6 months and should be retested 6 months later (because it takes 6-7 months for heartworm larvae to mature and become detectable in a heartworm test).

• Monthly prevention begins at 16 weeks of age and is VITAL to protect your dog. 

• If your adopted dog tested positive for heartworm, they will likely have been treated by the time of adoption. Depending on the timing of the adoption, your dog may still be on anti-inflammatory medication post-treatment.

  • Treatment includes:

    • 28 days of doxycycline (antibiotic). 

    • Two injections (consecutive days) to kill the heartworms.

    • 30 days of low activity (nothing that makes them pant) following the heartworm treatment. This is critical!

• For more information about Heartworms, visit www.heartwormsociety.org.