29/11/2023
๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ
With so much information (and misinformation) circulating in the news and social media channels, itโs understandable that pet parents are concerned. The bottom line is that there is a new(er) respiratory disease in dogs that typically starts with a wet cough and can progress to fever, pneumonia, and even death.
As of November 28th, this disease has NOT been reported in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, or Delaware, but has been seen in over 14 states across the country, including Maryland. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is monitoring cases closely and is in contact with all state officials.
The actual cause of this illness is still unknown. Meaning, test results arenโt giving answers, making it harder to treat. Some dogs have a cough for weeks that slowly progresses into pneumonia. Others are getting dangerously sick within 24-72 hours.
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC), formerly known as โkennel cough,โ is made up of several known bacterial and viral organisms that cause a highly contagious illness that affects the respiratory tract in dogs. These organisms *can* be tested for and confirmed, and many of them are prevented or lessened by keeping dogs up-to-date on core vaccines (โthat distemper thingโ) and โlifestyleโ vaccines like Bordetella and Influenza if they are high risk. ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. Unfortunately, this means these same dogs are at risk for being exposed to the yet-unidentified respiratory illness thatโs spreading across the country.
If you want to minimize your dogโs risk, then minimize your dogโs exposure with other dogs that arenโt within your family circle. Donโt take them anywhere they can be exposed to โstranger dogsโ unless absolutely necessary. Itโs also important to keep their immune system healthy by keeping up with regular vet checks, feeding a properly balanced diet, and vaccinating appropriately.
What should you do if your dog develops a cough? Not all coughs are caused by CIRDC, but if your dog engages in activities with other dogs outside the household, there is a good chance your pooch picked up one of these contagious respiratory diseases. *Most* cases of CIRDC are mild and self-limiting, meaning if your dog was previously in good health, he or she will likely get better within 7-21 days. ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, especially in light of this new disease!
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก, ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ, including those within the household if possible. Know that some of these bacteria and viruses can be spread on your clothing, on shared water bowls and toys, etc, and that dogs can be CONTAGIOUS before they show symptoms. If you have multiple dogs in your household, monitor the โhealthyโ ones closely. Symptoms can develop anywhere within 24-48 hours up to 2-3 weeks after exposure depending on the specific disease and the individual petโs immune system.
๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. There is an overall shortage of veterinarians everywhere, combined with an increased number of pets. This means that most ER hospitals are swamped and only able to treat the most critical pets, leaving the overflow for Urgent Care and General Practice veterinarians to handle. ๐๐๐๐: You might not be able to get in to your primary vet same-day, and you might be waiting a *long* time if your pet is not critical at an ER, so itโs best to be proactive and call at the first sign of cough. Your vet can advise the best next steps, from monitoring at home to an exam to the emergency room.
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐.
If you have a scheduled appointment with your vet, CALL FROM YOUR CAR when you arrive and tell them you are here because your dog is COUGHING. They will instruct you when it is safe to bring your dog into an exam room as they are trying to minimize any risk of spreading the disease to others.
Follow the vetโs recommendations and be prepared financially. A trip to your primary vet for a cough may cost you $100-$500. A trip to the ER for a cough can run you $500-$1500. These numbers are CONSERVATIVE. Canโt afford it? Look into PET INSURANCE before you need it. We recommend checking out Pawlicy (https://www.pawlicy.com/) as they will compare most of the pet insurances out there for you for FREE. CARECREDIT (https://www.carecredit.com/) is another option to have on-hand for unexpected veterinary bills. Itโs a โmedical credit cardโ that offers promotional, interest-free payment plans depending on the dollar amount.
