Respiratory virus in dogs still a threat, but no local signs

So far, Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire have been reported among the states that have seen cases related to the unknown pathogen.

“I wouldn’t get too excited about the mysterious one that’s going around unless you’re traveling with your pets … or you’re having company come in and they’re bringing their dog,” said Carolynne Cash, veterinarian for Tulsa Animal Welfare.

The city’s shelter hasn’t seen any cases, mysterious or otherwise, that would cause concern, she said.

“There is a condition that even the dogs in the Tulsa area are exposed to, and it’s called canine infectious respiratory disease complex,” Cash said. “Now, this is different than the ‘mysterious’ one, … but the best prevention is vaccinating for all of the respiratory diseases we know about” — canine bordetella, canine parainfluenza and canine adenovirus, influenza and distemper.

At Camp Bow Wow, a boarding and doggy day care franchise with locations in Tulsa and Bixby, the mystery illness has been just talk.

“We haven’t had any of those cases,” owner Amy Nichols-Walters said last week. “I’m knocking on wood. We never had the flu here like other facilities did in spring earlier this year.”

She said the corporation that franchises Camp Bow Wow alerted owners in an email about the morning show segment before Thanksgiving.

Nichols-Walters said kennel cough goes around every year and that kennel operators ask clients to keep their dogs at home if they’re showing any symptoms of a respiratory illness.

Woodland West Pet Resort co-owner Kent Clark said the facility in south Tulsa hasn’t had any issues with dogs getting sick or coming in sick since the canine influenza outbreak last winter. No pet owners have canceled their boarding plans recently due to viral transmission concerns, he said.

Clark’s guidance for pet owners this winter: “Be cautious and aware but not worried. As long as you stay vigilant to the symptoms of an upper respiratory virus (coughing, nasal discharge, eye drainage, lethargy and issues breathing) and notify your veterinarian if any symptoms arise, your dog will most likely have a mild case. The majority of cases of upper respiratory viruses are mild. If your pet shows any signs of an upper respiratory virus, you need to isolate your dog and contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.”

Fatal complications can arise if respiratory illness turns into secondary pneumonia, veterinarians say.

Cash got wind of the mystery illness the week before Thanksgiving, when veterinarians began buzzing about sick show dogs.

“Any time there’s a new pathogen, it’s going to be in populations that are in close quarters,” she said. “Show dogs are in close quarters with each other, and you’re also getting dogs from all over the place. … They’re constantly getting exposed, but usually those dogs are very well-vaccinated.”

If your dog isn’t eating, take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible, Cash said, as it might be running a fever. With just a little sniffle, keep monitoring, but seek care for coughing and nasal discharge exceeding three days.

“Do dogs cough periodically here and there? Yes, but the most common thing it’s going to be is basically kennel cough,” she said, adding that it still can be dangerous for dogs with other serious health conditions.

“You want to make sure your dog is well-vaccinated,” Cash said, “especially if you’re going to be boarding anywhere. … Double check your records. Make sure your pet has been vaccinated.”

The duration of immunity can be poor, she said, so most vaccinations for dogs are recommended every year. A bordetella booster every six months may be best for some dogs, Cash said.