An Infectious Canine Respiratory Illness Spreads Throughout The Country

DULUTH, Min. –Dr. Scott Beeman, a veterinarian at Duluth Veterinary Hospital, has devoted his life to working with animals. He says it is important to remember that during this time of year any respiratory illness is common. However, he noted there is an increase in cases, along with some that are significantly more severe and long lasting.

“This has been our main concern and is across the county what a lot of vets and diagnostic labs are trying to figure out right now. Why is it suddenly changing, and is this a version of normal and will just peter out, or something we need to get on top of that may be a new entity”, he said.

Beeman says symptoms may initially mimic commonly known kennel cough. This disease is spread through coughing and sneezing and is typically treated with antibiotics. But the apparent new strain is different.

Beeman said, “It will progress rapidly into more severe cough, nasal discharge, higher fevers 104 or 105 degrees which is not typical for regular kennel cough causes, and that is usually met with a lot of lethargy where the dog feels very sick and looks very sick. That’s when we see areas of the lung that aren’t filled with air but are filled with infection.”

Treatment is also different from the typical respiratory infection and can range from ingestion of a battery of antibiotics to the use of an oxygen cage.

“It tends to be pretty easy to pass, and that’s why you will tend to see higher numbers boarding facilities, dog parks, grooming, dog shows, places where there can be a lot of animals in small area and pretty easy dog to dog, or cat to cat respiratory secretions”, he said.

This is a time of year where animals are boarded or visiting family locally or across the country. Beeman says it is important to be a little more careful this year.

” Be cautious in areas where there are a lot of animals, particularly if you don’t know the history of those animals.”

And he stressed the biggest message for dog owners is.

“Exercise common sense. Don’t be around sick dogs with your dog, if your dog is sick, don’t have them around other sick dogs.”