11/30/2023
We have been receiving inquiries about the 'recent' canine respiratory outbreak. (We are located in SE Virginia). The veterinary community is still researching this and we do not know yet if it is a new issue or not. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions with Answers.
Respiratory Illness in Dogs 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I read the New York Times article/saw a Facebook post about it. Should I be worried?
A: Dogs in central Virginia have been reported to be infected, but the cases are not confirmed yet.
Q: Does my dog have this disease?
A: Clinical signs are similar to kennel cough, including sneezing and eye discharge (both CLEAR), coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, and fever.
Q: What should I do if my dog shows these signs?
A: Think how we prevent the spread of COVID-19 – another respiratory disease! If your dog is showing clinical signs, take them in for evaluation to your veterinarian, and in the mean-time, keep them isolated at home. This means NO daycare, boarding, dog park, grooming appointments, board-and-train, puppy classes, or anywhere where dogs of different households congregate.
Q: But I have plans for Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice I can’t cancel, and Sammy/Brodie/Lilly/Bella is going to boarding/grooming/daycare/training camp in X number of days/weeks. What should I do?
A: If your dog is showing clinical signs, we recommend having them evaluated by a veterinarian and otherwise isolating them at home. We also recommend ensuring your dog is up-to-date on CORE vaccines (rabies and distemper/parvo) and LIFESTYLE vaccines if going to boarding/daycare (bordetella/kennel cough and canine influenza).
Q: Why can’t you just give me antibiotics if my dog is sick?
A: If your dog is showing clinical signs of this respiratory illness (sneezing and eye discharge (both CLEAR), coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, and fever), we recommend bringing Sammy/Brodie/Lilly/Bella to be seen for an exam. Furthermore, the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories suspect this is caused by a virus, though the causative agent hasn’t yet been identified. Antibiotics don’t help viruses. They can help with secondary bacterial infections. One of our veterinarians will be able to determine if your pet has a secondary bacterial infection after an exam.
Q: If antibiotics won’t help, why should I bring my pet in to be seen?
A: One of our veterinarians can evaluate your pet to determine what form or clinical syndrome of respiratory disease your dog has. We can also determine whether your dog has a secondary bacterial infection, in which case antibiotics will help. We can also provide supportive care, including fluids to help with dehydration and fever, and appetite stimulants and anti-nausea medications for inappetence, and so on. One of our veterinarians will determine what best avenues of treatment your dog may need.
Q: Should I be worried that I can get this disease? What about my cat?
A: There have been no reports that this disease can be transferred to humans or to other species. However, if you or someone in your household is immunosuppressed (e.g., infant, elderly, on medications after an organ transplant, undergoing chemotherapy, etc.), and your dog is showing clinical signs, we recommend isolating the dog from that person.
Q: My dog has clinical signs of respiratory disease. What should I expect?
A: There are three different types of clinical syndromes caused by this new pathogen, including:
Tracheobronchitis or inflammation of the windpipe, causing a cough that can last for six to eight weeks or longer
Chronic pneumonia
Acute pneumonia that becomes severe very rapidly and often leads to poor outcomes
These three clinical syndromes are minimally or not responsive to antibiotics. However, we can help provide supportive care in the form of a bland diet, fluids, and so on.
Sources:
Larkin, Malinda. “Oregon dealing with respiratory illness incidents in dogs: Causative agent remains unknown.” AVMA News. November 17, 2023. https://www.avma.org/news/oregon-dealing-respiratory-illness-incidents-dogs
“Canine Respiratory Outbreak: Respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology in dogs 2022 to 2023 in New England: Diagnostic Investigation.” New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. November 21, 2023.
https://colsa.unh.edu/new-hampshire-veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory/canine-respiratory-outbreak.
Carballo, Rebecca. “Mysterious respiratory illness affects dogs in multiple states.” The New York Times. November 20, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/20/science/dog-respiratory-illness-us.html #:~:text=Laboratories%20in%20at%20least%20four,prove%20fatal%2C%20according%20to%20veterinarians.&text=The%20infected%20dogs%20develop%20a,and%20intermittent%20loss%20of%20appetite.
Gartner, Jordan. “Mysterious and potentially fatal respiratory illness affecting dogs in multiple states.” Gray News. November 17, 2023. https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/11/17/mysterious-potentially-fatal-respiratory-illness-affecting-dogs-multiple-states/.
There's a new warning for dog owners about a mysterious illness.
