Recent Canine Respiratory Disease Outbreak
(updated 11/29/2023)
At Pioneer Veterinary Clinic, our team is committed to providing the highest quality care for all of our clients and patients. We have received many calls from concerned pet parents about the recent canine respiratory disease outbreak. We understand your worries and would like to share the following information with you.
What we know:
- Periodic outbreaks of canine infectious respiratory disease can occur in dog populations. The current outbreak has been identified as a highly contagious respiratory disease and has only been reported in canines.
- Respiratory diseases are spread through direct contact or through water droplets from sneezing and coughing.
- At least nine different known bacteria and viruses have been linked as causes of common canine infectious respiratory diseases and it is not unusual for the infection to have more than one bacterial or viral agent. Many of which are covered by currently available vaccines. At this time, it is not known what the causative agent is for the current canine respiratory disease outbreak.
- Outbreaks have been reported in 14 states, including Washington, Idaho and Oregon.
Symptoms:
The symptoms being observed are similar to other infectious respiratory diseases such as “kennel cough” or canine influenza.
- Coughing, discharge from the eyes and/or nose, fever, lethargy, sneezing, decreased appetite, labored breathing.
- Sudden onset or rapidly worsening of symptoms.
- Symptoms that are unresponsive to antibiotics and/or tends to rapidly worsen into pneumonia
- If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, please call us to schedule an appointment.
Protocol:
We are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that our clinic remains as safe as possible. We are implementing a new protocol for symptomatic dogs and are offering curbside service for those who would like it.
- We are now asking that any dogs who are showing any respiratory symptoms to wait in your vehicle until your appointment time. You can check in for your appointment by calling in or you can check-in in person while keeping your dog in the car.
- When a room is ready, we will ask you to enter through our rear entrance to avoid the waiting room. You will be brought straight into an exam room to avoid any exposure to other patients.
- As always, we clean every exam room after each patient with a disinfecting spray.
- We will offer curbside service for anyone who would like it or for patients at higher risk to decrease potential exposure.
Prevention and Recommendations:
- Make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccines. Dhlpp, Rabies, Bordetella and Canine Influenza. If you are unsure about their vaccine history or need to make an appointment please call us. We are recommending boostering the Bordetella vaccine every 6 months if your pet is at a higher risk.
- It is unknown at this time what the causative agent is for this canine infectious respiratory outbreak, but keeping your dogs vaccinated against known respiratory viruses will help.
- Keep sick dogs isolated at home until better, except for necessary veterinary care.
- Avoid high contact areas or confined close quarters with other dogs if possible such as dog parks, grooming facilities, boarding facilities, and/or doggy day care.
- Isolate and quarantine any new dogs to monitor their symptoms before bringing them into your household.
- Avoid communal water bowls and toys with pets outside your household.
- These recommendations are for all dogs especially if you are unsure about the health status of other dogs in the environment.
Treatment:
- Treatments will be determined by our veterinarians depending on the severity of the symptoms.
- At least nine different known bacteria and viruses have been linked as causes of common canine infectious respiratory diseases and it is not unusual for the infection to have more than one bacterial or viral agent. Many of which are covered by currently available vaccines. At this time, it is not known what the causative agent is for the current canine respiratory disease outbreak.
- We have a test that can be done that can rule out the most common causes of canine respiratory infectious disease. Since we are lacking definitive testing for this new disease, pets with these symptoms that test negative for the more routine respiratory diseases are perceived to have the new disease.
Websites for more information:
We will be following the situation closely as your pet’s health is extremely important to us. The Veterinary Community is closely monitoring and actively seeking more answers but unfortunately what we know is limited at this time, we will continue to provide updated information as we are advised. Thank you for trusting us to be your source of valued information.
Sincerely,
The Veterinarians and Staff at Pioneer Veterinary Clinic
11/30/2023 UPDATE
Update: Clarification on Curbside Service
We wanted to clarify the Curbside Service we are offering, it is similar to our previous COVID-19 protocol. This is NOT required, we are only offering this as an option for higher risk patients to help decrease potential exposure from sitting in the waiting room. We also have a new protocol that any symptomatic dogs will not be entering the front door into the waiting room. Curbside Service means you will call us to check in for your appointment and let us know where you are parked and you and your dog will wait in your vehicle until your appointment time. Once we have a room available we will come and get you and your pet and you will be taken directly into an exam room where they will be seen as usual by your veterinarian. For our safety and your pet’s safety, we are not offering exams or vaccines in the vehicle itself. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns.