Flu and cold season is upon us this year — and our canine companions aren’t exempt. You may have seen recent reports about a respiratory disease that is infecting dogs in parts of the United States.
I asked our Chief Veterinarian and Animal Care Officer, Dr. Maria Pyrdek, to write a guest column this week to inform you about this sometimes-fatal disease. Dr. Pyrdek (who we affectionately call Dr. P) writes:
This fall veterinarians in Oregon, Colorado and San Fernando Valley reported clusters of dogs with coughs and pneumonia that were not responsive to treatment. Some of these dogs became very ill very fast, and unfortunately, a few passed despite aggressive treatment.
These outbreaks were all linked to dogs who had been in boarding facilities, doggie day cares and dog parks, where many dogs were interacting. Similar cases have been reported in LA County and Pasadena, and more cases are expected to be reported in the next few weeks.
This disease is called Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex.
A diagnosis is made when a dog meets the following criteria: chronic cough and/or pneumonia that is minimally responsive or non-responsive to antibiotics, coupled with a negative test result on a Canine Respiratory Panel PCR performed by a veterinarian.
The way this disease is spreading indicates that it is likely caused by a long-standing pathogen in our dog population that we have not diagnosed before, rather than a completely new disease.
Remember, coughing can be caused by many things other than CIRDC — such as allergies, heart disease, trauma and infectious agents — so it’s important to not panic at every dog that coughs.
Also, there is no evidence that CIRDC can pass from dogs to humans.
However, vigilance is needed to protect our furry friends. If your dog is exhibiting persistent coughing or nasal discharge, take them to the vet ASAP and listen to your veterinarian!
While a PCR test may seem expensive, getting a diagnosis earlier in…
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