The Worries of Attending a Dog Show

by Lisa Dubé Forman

Originally published: November 2012

Nearly all of us have exhibited at a dog show and brought something unexpected home with us, and I am not talking about a Group or Best In Show rosette. I am discussing canine illnesses such as bacteria, parasites or possibly a life-changing virus for your dog. Even the most precautionary, prudent dog show exhibitors like myself have been afflicted. No matter whether the venue is indoors or outdoors, some dog shows may be a delivery mechanism for angst and heartache.

The term kennel cough is a catch-all description for a number of varying pathogens and is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection, either viral or bacterial. Nonetheless, it can be all the following: emotionally draining, laborious, expensive and deadly. Canine respiratory virus, or rather canine influenza, is a virus originally prevalent in horses but jumped species to dogs. I have been extremely fortunate since 2004, when the virus was first identified in racetrack Greyhounds, with just two worrisome episodes. Perhaps this is due to my hounds having enviously strong constitutions but I fret about it every time I enter a dog show.

Even so, earlier this year I returned home from a dog show and, shortly after, the hounds began coughing. Although almost all the hounds were able to recover with a Cephalexin drug protocol, three did require a simultaneous course of Baytril. If you are familiar with this drug you know it is expensive, especially for giant breeds who weigh upwards of 150 to 200 pounds. As I said, I was one of the fortunate ones despite all the costly drugs, my veterinarian expenses, the worry, as there have been other people who were not so lucky.

Another possible and equally concerning corollary of attending dog shows is contagious diarrhea. The latter is not only revolting but is deeply concerning as this too is caused by a communicable virus. Often, it is not innocuous but can be Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis which can be fatal requiring aggressive support therapy.

The list goes on and on as to what our dogs can bring home from a show but the mode of transport is not as long. Many viruses are aerosolized–airborne through respiratory secretions–and contracted by means of proximity to the infected dog. Viruses can be carried on dog’s hair and feet, along with our hands, crates, shoes, as well as common grooming objects such as brushes and combs. Although, at first, one may interject that no one else uses their grooming tools, these implements are usually placed on a grooming table, often near a show ring where other people will lean on it or another exhibitor borrows the table. Another common method for transmittal is contaminated feces which leads me to my hot button issue.

It never ceases to amaze me how there are so many lazy and disgusting dog owners when it comes to the requirement of cleaning up their dog’s waste. Cleaning up and disposing of your pet’s waste is a customary, acknowledged responsibility of dog ownership. I simply cannot grasp why dog owners cannot and do not stoop to pick up their dog’s feces. Yet every time, and I do mean every time, we attend a dog show or a public area allowing dogs, I see and sometimes step in dog waste. On infrequent occasions, we have even come upon dreadful piles of diarrhea. How can a conscientious breeder-owner-handler leave a liquid mess on the ground and simply walk away? Yes, diarrhea can happen to a healthy but otherwise stressed dog, however, everyone must come prepared. Just as everyone must have a traveling canine emergency medical kit with them, they must also always bring a small bag of kitty litter for covering such liquid evacuation.

I consider their actions downright negligent, especially at dog shows because feces transmits parasites. It is a common conveyance of worms and, most importantly, dangerous viruses. Dog show exhibitors who knowingly fail to clean up after their dog are apathetic toward fellow exhibitors, and mostly to the public at large. Their callousness knows no bounds, and one can logically conclude that their failure to promote clean standards of hygiene is more than a management failure; it reveals their lack of moral hygiene.

I often exclaim out loud, “Can you imagine how these people live at home?” What manner of filth do they live in and how are these poor dogs and other animals kept at home if their owners cannot behave in a socially acceptable manner in public? These deplorable actions are emblematic of a larger problem with many dog show exhibitors, the reality is that they are not good or qualified stewards of man’s best friend which simply provides more ammunition for the animal rights activists.

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