This holiday season many people are concerned about their beloved dogs due to a mysterious canine respiratory illness making its way across the country. Around Thanksgiving, there were suspected cases of the new illness among dogs on the Front Range. Locally, dog owners are cautioned to keep an eye out for symptoms.
Not much is known about the sickness that affects a dog’s respiratory system, and can lead to a bacterial infection and pneumonia.
A Nov. 16 article, published by CSU’s College of Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS), stated that “In September, October and November of this year, CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital has seen more than double the cases of canine pneumonia compared with the same period in 2022.”
Common symptoms to look out for are coughing that lasts 7-10 days or more, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy.
“Most people who study these kinds of things, think that it’s probably more of a virulent strain of the usual causes of ‘kennel cough,’” Dr. James Ziegler with Red Hill Animal Health Center told The Sopris Sun. “Certain bacteria and certain viruses synergize with each other to cause the symptoms. Some of the viruses and bacteria may be stronger, so we are seeing in some patients more severe signs.”
Ziegler mentioned that contagious respiratory illnesses are common for dogs, and will come and go through the Valley. But, he acknowledged that this illness may be potentially more harmful to dogs that are not treated.
“To our knowledge we have not seen any cases at our hospital or in our boarding facility,” stated Kelly Cuttitta, the hospital manager at Red Hill Animal Health Center, Carbondale.
Locally, “There have been cases of dogs with a cough, fever, and bacterial pneumonia.” Ziegler added, but there is “No way to confirm if this is the mysterious disease since we do not know exactly what it is.”
For the moment, dogs are being treated on a case-by-case basis, “depending on how severe a patient’s [symptoms] are,” he added. “We’re asking people to be diligent when taking their dogs to certain places that could expose them to illnesses.”
For instance, when folks bring their dogs to the boarding kennel at Red Hill the staff will ask if they’ve noticed any relevant symptoms.
Ziegler explained that dogs in the Valley could be at higher risk of spreading such ailments, because of the social settings the area provides. Going to parks, such as the dog park in Carbondale, provides a lot of face-to-face contact with fellow canine friends.
The CVMBS article assured that “CSU experts are working to unravel the mysteries surrounding this unusual syndrome and are particularly interested in determining whether the cause is a new or existing virus or bacterial infection.”
“The possible virus, which is under intense observation by CSU veterinarians, has been linked to cases of severe pneumonia and, tragically, resulted in some fatalities,” the article continued.
Ziegler said that the most important thing for dog owners to do to keep their companions safe is to vaccinate them for upper respiratory illnesses. It’s particularly important to do so if they have to go to doggy daycare or a boarding facility.
The CSU article recommends avoiding social settings for a dog until two weeks after its “last dose of a vaccine” and once “immunity has developed.” In that vein, Ziegler further recommended keeping dogs as stress-free as possible so that their immune systems are less compromised.
Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or are concerned that your dog is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
For more information on the mysterious canine respiratory illness, visit https://bit.ly/46J3r3p