Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease

In August 2023 an atypical canine infectious respiratory illness was reported in Oregon. These infections primarily fall within three general clinical syndromes:

1. Chronic mild to moderate tracheobronchitis with A prolonged duration (6-8 weeks) that does not respond well to antibiotics.
2. Chronic pneumonia that is not responsive to
   antibiotics.
3. Acute pneumonia rapidly becomes severe and often leads to a poor outcome in as little as 24-36 hours.
   Many specialists are actively working to find the cause of these infections. The Oregon department of agriculture and the chief medical officer for the Oregon Humane Society do not want people to panic because the number of reported cases is very small. They do have a list of precautions that pet owners may choose to take.

Five things you can do to mitigate risk of infection –

1. Vaccinate your dog as recommended by your veterinarian. This may include vaccinations for canine influenza, Bordetella, parainfluenza and canine adenovirus.
2. Avoid communal water bowls and toys.
3. Avoid playdates with unknown dogs. Socialization is important for your dog, so you might want to consider creating a playgroup of dogs that you know are fully vaccinated.
4. Avoid exposure to settings with unknown dogs, such as dog parks.
5. If your dog is sick, keep them at home and seek veterinary care.
   Once we know more about this disease, or if we begin to see possible cases in the state of Utah, we will let you know via email or on our website.