The Washington Post spoke to veterinarians and veterinary medical experts about what people need to know about the disease and the precautions dog owners should take when planning holiday travel.
Avoid kennels, doggy daycares, and dog parks
Veterinarians say dog owners don’t need to panic, but there is still much we don’t understand about the disease. There are simple precautions dog owners can take to avoid respiratory illnesses in dogs.
Experts suggest avoiding situations where your dog comes into contact with packs of dogs, advice that can thwart many people’s plans to care for their pets during vacation trips.
“If you don’t need to bring your dog with you, use a pet sitter,” he said. amanda kavanagh, a veterinarian specializing in emergency and critical care at Colorado State University. “Try to avoid going to the dog park or doggy daycare if you don’t need to. Don’t exercise with other dogs who aren’t in the same household.”
Experts do not know how contagious the disease is or how it spreads. However, like other respiratory diseases, The disease is spread when dogs inhale aerosolized particles from infected dogs. curt williamsDirector, Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Oregon State University.
Williams added that evidence shows it is more common in dogs in situations where they are kept with other dogs, such as shelters or boarding facilities.
“Most of the dogs coming in with this cough were at doggy daycares or dog parks, so we believe the cough was transmitted between dogs that congregated in groups,” Cavanagh said.
Experts also say the disease appears to be unique to dogs and is not contagious to humans or other animals.
Take care of your dog’s health
If you are concerned about your dog, especially if your dog is coughing, contact your veterinarian. If your dog is showing signs of illness, don’t send your puppy to a kennel or dog daycare near other dogs.
The healthier the dog, the better able it is to fight the disease. lena carlsonPresident of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a nonprofit organization representing more than 100,000 veterinarians.
“Make sure your dog is as healthy as possible,” says Carlson, a veterinarian in Idaho. “This includes veterinary visits, vaccinations, nutrition, exercise, and all the other things a dog needs to be healthy.”
Get Bordetella and Canine Influenza Vaccines
Cavanagh ensures all dogs are fully vaccinated, including four common vaccines: distemper virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza and parvovirus, and two boosters this year: Bordetella vaccine and canine influenza vaccine. is recommended.
If you plan on bringing your dog with you or socializing it with other dogs, please make sure your pet is vaccinated at least two weeks before arriving at the kennel.
“Vaccinating now probably won’t be enough time to board your dog now and be safe until Thanksgiving, but it could be enough time by Christmas,” Cavanagh said.
Be careful of symptoms
Experts don’t know whether it’s a virus or bacteria that causes the respiratory illness.
“There are a lot of rumors that there is a virus, but we have tested it here in Oregon and have found no evidence of any known or new viruses that may be associated with canine respiratory disease. ” Williams said. .
New Hampshire researchers found evidence of a variant bacteria in sick dogs around New England, but the team said it’s unclear whether that applies to other dogs across the country. david needlea senior veterinary pathologist and director of the pathology department at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Cavanagh said dogs with the disease can start with a dry cough, runny nose and eye discharge. However, it can progress to pneumonia, where the dog develops a wet cough.
“They become lethargic and weak, don’t eat, and often have a fever,” Kavanagh said.
of Oregon Department of AgricultureThe institute, which has received more than 200 reports of the disease from Oregon veterinarians since mid-August, said the cases appear to fit into three common clinical syndromes.
- Chronic mild to moderate tracheobronchitis – inflammation of the upper respiratory tract — Little or no response to antibiotics for a long period of time (more than 6 to 8 weeks).
- Chronic pneumonia with little or no response to antibiotics.
- Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes within just 24 to 36 hours.
Most animals receive supportive care as needed. Carlson said the most important thing is to make sure the dog is well-hydrated and well-fed.
Additionally, additional doses may be required if your dog has pneumonia. oxygen. Some dogs are given anti-inflammatory drugs to minimize the inflammation caused by the disease. “Ask your veterinarian to determine how severe it is,” she says.