BUTLER TWP — Jade's Dog Park at Alameda Park has been closed for one week as a precautionary measure, as dog owners have reported their dogs experiencing cases of kennel cough after visiting the facility.

Lance Welliver, director of the county parks and recreation department, said Tuesday he has heard of multiple cases in the last seven days.

He said the park is cleaned routinely, but will be given an extra going over while closed.

The closure is meant to allow any trace of the viruses that can cause the condition to die, Welliver said.

“We're hearing it's going around, and we're trying to be on the cautious side,” Welliver said. “It's highly contagious, so that's what we're trying to prevent.”

He said while it is not required like the rabies vaccine, all dog owners who bring their pets to the dog park should have the bordatella vaccine.

That vaccine can help prevent kennel cough, Welliver said.

Confirming that assertion is Dr. Teena Waltman of Deer Creek Animal Hospital on Saxonburg Road in Jefferson Township.

Waltman said kennel cough can be caused by parainfluenza, canine adenoviruses and canine herpes as well as bordatella bronchseptica.

“The most common is bordatella,” she said.

She said the highly contagious illness can be transmitted via cages, food and water dishes and through saliva contact.

Waltman advises all dog owners whose pets go to groomers, kennels, doggy day care, dog parks or other facilities where multiple dogs are present to add the bordatella vaccine to their dog's list of shots.

Symptoms of kennel cough, which she said is prevalent in late summer and early fall, is a progressive, dry sounding, hacking cough that becomes worse with exercise and sometimes is accompanied by nasal drainage.

Waltman prescribes a course of antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections that can occur if kennel cough is left untreated. Cough suppressants are available as well.

“Animals with kennel cough should not be around other dogs for at least a couple weeks,” she said.

Welliver said a list of tips regarding kennel cough is available on a sign at the dog park or on the Jade's Dog Park Facebook page.

He said an average of 25 to 50 dogs per day visit the park, depending on the weather.

“This type of thing could happen anytime throughout the year,” Welliver said. “We just want to make sure everyone is safe.”

Jade's Dog Park will reopen at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16.

The dog park opened on May 11.