News of a “new” canine respiratory illness has hit the national news this last week, and naturally everyone is a little worried. No need to panic, though. Northside Paws Veterinary Care is hoping to help you understand a little more about what is going on with respiratory disease in dogs and lend some helpful advice.
There has definitely been an uptick in canine respiratory disease within the community. We have been seeing cases for several months that just don’t seem to be typical of the infections we typically treat. The exact cause has not been determined as of yet, but it is likely viral and contagious. Rest assured that there are many excellent and knowledgeable veterinarians working to try to figure it out.
Many patients simply have a cough and recover just fine while others seem to be developing a more serious illness and complications like pneumonia.
How to Protect Your Pooch
So what can you do to protect your furry family? Here is what we know:
- Public areas where other dogs frequent tend to be places for pets to be exposed to infectious diseases such as these. Avoid dog parks and similar places when possible.
- If you have friends or family with pets visiting for the holidays, please be sure those dogs are up to date on respiratory vaccines. We recommend that Bordetella, canine influenza, and parainfluenza vaccinations be current.
- Make sure that your dog is up to date on these vaccinations as well. Parainfluenza is typically part of the distemper combination vaccine. Consider boostering your pet for Bordetella and/or parainfluenza if not done in the last 6 months. While these “bugs” may not be the causative agent of the current infection, oftentimes they can aid in weakening the immune system and putting dogs at greater risk of other infection. Call us at (317) 735-3870 to inquire or schedule an appointment to update your pet.
- If your dog has symptoms or clinical signs of illness (lethargy, cough, decreased appetite, nasal discharge, heavy breathing), seek veterinary care right away and do not take your pet on holiday visits.
Please also be patient with us as we take measures within our hospital to decrease disease transmission. You may be asked to wait in your car while we deep clean a room or wait for a staff member who has not worked with respiratory patients to assist.
Stay safe this holiday week, and we will let you know as information becomes available if additional measures are required.
Sincerely,
Dr. Frank and the entire NS Paws Team