As news of a new canine respiratory illness quickly emerges Oasis Animal Hospital wants to make sure we keep our pet parents up to date with any information we receive.
Please call our office if you have any questions at 480-899-7738. We are here to help and want to make sure your fur babies stay happy and healthy.
Here is what we know (Source AVMA)
As of Tuesday, November 28th, so far in Arizona, we have had zero reported cases.
It has been reported in 14 states that we know of: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is monitoring reports of canine respiratory illness in the state of Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, and across the country.
The AVMA has been in contact with officials in Oregon, who say they have received a little more than 200 case reports from veterinarians in that state since mid-August. Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) officials are working with state and national diagnostic laboratories to identify the causative pathogen, are asking veterinarians to report cases to the department as soon as possible, and advise dog parents to work with a veterinarian if their dog is ill.
What should you monitor?
Pet parents should monitor their dogs closely for progressive coughing that may be accompanied by signs of ocular or nasal discharges and sneezing.
If your dog concurrently loses their appetite, has trouble breathing, is coughing continuously, or is extremely lethargic.
Please consult a veterinarian immediately if those clinical signs develop.
What you can do to help protect your dog from a respiratory illnesses
· Reducing contact with large numbers of unknown dogs. Just like with other respiratory pathogens, the more contacts your dog has, the greater the risk of encountering a dog that's infectious.
· Reducing contact with sick dogs. This can be harder to determine but if a dog looks sick (coughing, runny nose, runny eyes), keep your dog away from it.
· Keep sick dogs at home and seek veterinary care.
· Avoid communal water bowls and toys shared by multiple dogs.
· Ask your veterinarian for advice on which vaccinations your dog should have. Common vaccinations include canine influenza, Bordetella and parainfluenza.
· If your dog is sick, consider having your dog tested with a PCR test to help determine the causative agent (viral/bacterial), when possible.
As we are updated on information we will be sure to update you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions at 480-899-7738.
Thank you for choosing Oasis Animal Hospital to take care of your fur babies as we navigate this together!