--- title: Canine Respiratory Illness Outbreaks: What Owners Know url: https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/dog-respiratory-illness/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/) - Canine respiratory illness outbreaks # Canine respiratory illness outbreaks: what owners should know Respiratory illnesses in dogs, including kennel cough and canine influenza, spread through the air wherever dogs gather, and local outbreaks come and go. Vaccines against some causes, a call to your veterinarian at the first sign, and keeping a coughing dog home are the steps owners can take. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) News stories about a mystery dog illness get owners worried about boarding. This page puts such reports in context without scare language. ## Why outbreaks happen Many different germs infect a dog's airways, and they spread in droplets between dogs that share air. Any group setting can see a rise in cases, from a dog park to a boarding kennel. Veterinary schools that answered owners' questions during widely reported waves of dog respiratory illness in late 2023, such as the University of Virginia, stressed that most cases looked like the usual kennel cough causes and that the best advice was to call a veterinarian early. Seasonal timing, travel, crowded shelters and holiday boarding rushes can all raise the number of dogs sharing air at once. A rise in cases in one county does not mean the same illness is in the next one, and most outbreaks fade without notice. Your veterinarian sees the local pattern first, which is why a call to the clinic beats a search engine for current news. ## What the kennel does and says Happy Paws puts a notice on its vaccination page: a respiratory ailment periodically affects dogs in its care, many causes are not in vaccines, and an occasional outbreak happens despite careful prevention. The kennel requires three dog vaccines, including Bordetella, and recommends canine influenza; those two address two of the causes. Runs are heated in winter and air-conditioned in summer, and each dog has its own space with a view of its neighbors. ## What owners can do - Keep core vaccines current and ask your veterinarian about the rest. - Call the clinic at the first cough, sneeze or runny nose. - Keep a sick dog away from other dogs until your vet clears it. - Tell the kennel if your dog has had a cough in the weeks before a stay. ## Staying informed The American Veterinary Medical Association and your own veterinarian publish alerts when something unusual is happening. If there is news about a local illness, phone your vet or the kennel at 707-678-6600. Read about [kennel cough](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough/), [canine influenza](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/canine-influenza/) and [the risk of boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-and-kennel-cough-risk/) for more. If you are weighing a stay during a news cycle, ask yourself three things: is my dog healthy today, are its required vaccines current through pick-up, and have I spoken to my veterinarian about the risks that apply to my dog? A yes to all three is a sound basis for a decision. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [University of Virginia: Q&A on the dog respiratory illness](https://news.virginia.edu/node/366041) - [AAHA 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines](https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/recommendations-for-core-and-noncore-canine-vaccines/) ### Before your first stay - [Vaccination records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) current through pick-up day - A signed [boarding agreement](https://happypawskennels.com/boarding-contract/) - Pets 16 weeks or older - [Bring nothing but your pet](https://happypawskennels.com/what-to-bring/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Kennel cough](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kennel-cough/) - [Canine influenza](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/canine-influenza/) - [Bordetella vaccine](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/bordetella/) - [Boarding and kennel cough risk](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-and-kennel-cough-risk/) - [Vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [Vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/vaccines/) ## Is my pet ready? Who is staying? Dog Cat Both Pick-up date Dog vaccines (three required, one recommended) Rabies Good until Distemper/Parvo (DHPP) Good until Bordetella (kennel cough) Good until Canine Influenza (H3N2 - H3N8) - recommended, not required Good until Cat vaccines (required) Rabies Good until FVRCP Good until Tick each vaccine your pet has had. Add the date it runs out to check it against your pick-up day. This checks our boarding requirements, not your pet's health. Your veterinarian decides which vaccines your pet should have and when. Upload records to your [ProPetware account](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin), email them, or bring a copy at check-in. ## Read next - [Puppy vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/puppy-vaccine-schedule/) - [Adult dog vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/adult-dog-vaccine-schedule/) - [Kitten vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kitten-vaccine-schedule/) - [Which vaccines does a cat need for boarding?](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/cat-vaccines-for-boarding/) - [How far ahead to vaccinate before a stay](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/timing-before-boarding/) - [Titer tests and boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/titer-tests/) - [Rabies exemptions in California](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/vaccine-exemptions/) - [How to send vaccine records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/sending-vaccine-records/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is there a dangerous new dog illness? Ask your veterinarian for current local information. Veterinary sources have said most reported cases resembled known respiratory illnesses. ### Should I cancel a boarding stay because of news? Phone your veterinarian and the kennel. Both can speak to current local conditions. ### Which vaccines does the kennel require? Rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella. Canine influenza is recommended but not required. ### Does a vaccine prevent all respiratory illness? No. Vaccines cover some causes only.