Tauranga dog owners are being warned to vaccinate their animals against an outbreak of kennel cough.
Vet Care Bethlehem contacted the Bay of Plenty Times after treating about 20 dogs for the disease, similar to whooping cough, in the past few weeks.
Director Garry Ball said that was many more cases than they would usually see, especially at this time of year. He said it was typically transferred from dog to dog at boarding kennels, doggy day care and at other places where dogs socialised.
"The majority of dogs that go into boarding kennels and doggy day care get vaccinated but there are plenty of dogs that don't," he said. "When it does occur, we get an epidemic. It's not dissimilar to kids going to school and coming home with bugs that are doing the rounds."
After being alerted about the kennel cough outbreak, Neville Falconer was straight on the phone to Vet Care Bethlehem to get his guide dog, Sophie, vaccinated.