05/27/2026
Hello all! We are absolutely LOVING the warmer weather and sunshine 💜
We wanted to take a moment to address the recent gastrointestinal illness that affected some dogs in our care. As dog owners and animal lovers ourselves, we completely understand the concern, hesitation, and questions surrounding it. Please know this has been taken very seriously from the very beginning.
We have been working closely with several local veterinarians, including Dr. Dawn's, Dr. Deb at Southwood Veterinary Clinic, as well as Dr. Maddox at NDSU. Throughout this process we have remained transparent and in contact with owners whose dogs boarded before, during, and after the affected timeframe, as well as upcoming reservations.
At this time, all f***l and PCR testing has returned negative for contagious bacterial, viral or parasitic causes, with findings primarily showing an overabundance of normal enteric gut flora. As it has been explained to us by the veterinarians involved, all dogs naturally carry bacteria in their digestive systems. Some dogs, however, are considered “heavy shedders,” meaning they release a larger amount of bacteria, especially when over excited, stressed (good or bad stress), or even something as simple as a water source change, into the environment through their stool. Even with prompt cleanup, trace bacteria can remain on the ground. Other dogs may then unknowingly pick it up on their paws and ingest it later through normal grooming behaviors, potentially leading to gastrointestinal upset due to the sudden imbalance in gut bacteria.
Based on current veterinary recommendations from both Southwood and NDSU, we are encouraging all boarding dogs to begin a pre/probiotic before their stay, continue during boarding, and remain on it for approximately two weeks afterward.
In addition to our already strict sanitation procedures, we have implemented several enhanced preventative measures, including:
• Weekly bleaching of our turf run areas
• Heavy sprinkler flushing of outdoor spaces to help push excess bacteria deeper into the soil
• Continued use of freshly mixed TP 256 disinfectant daily
• Installation of a heavy-duty commercial dehumidifier
• Upgrading to a larger air conditioning unit for improved airflow and humidity control
• Allowing longer spacing between departures and arrivals when needed to ensure proper disinfecting saturation and drying time between dogs
Moving forward, we are also requesting that all dogs:
• Be fully up to date on vaccinations
• Be on flea/tick prevention
• Arrive with a pre/probiotic to be added to their meals during their stay
We truly appreciate the trust you place in us to care for your pets. We know how much they mean to you because we feel the same way about our own (and yours). Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support while we navigate this carefully and thoughtfully.
As always, if you have concerns specific to your dog, we encourage consulting directly with your veterinarian for guidance 💜
Ginger says, "Sounds exhausting. Anyway, keep the neck scritches coming!"