Today, there’s not a much scarier news headline than a “mystery illness.” You may have seen a similar story about respiratory disease in dogs the past few months. The hype has calmed down, but there’s still a lot unknown about what happened. As we learned with COVID-19, claims of a mysterious new illness should not be taken lightly. But thankfully, not every news headline becomes a global pandemic, either. Here are some things to know about the “mysterious” canine respiratory disease.
First, no new pathogens (agents that cause disease like viruses and bacteria) were found in any sick dogs. Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) is like “flu season” in people. Many dogs get symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, and tiredness every year. Several different viruses or bacteria can cause CIRDC. So far, nothing new has been discovered in any dog with the “mystery illness.” Most recover with no problem, but sometimes individuals get very ill. The hype focused on the few dogs that got a lot sicker for a longer time, called “atypical” or aCIRDC. There are a few reasons it seems like more dogs have gotten the atypical version this year:
Brachycephalic or short-nosed breeds are more susceptible to severe respiratory disease. The French bulldog became the most popular breed in America in 2022. This means there are many more short-nosed dogs than in past years.
Many dogs missed their yearly exams and vaccines during the pandemic. This makes them more vulnerable to severe disease.
More dogs are “getting out there” at dog parks, day cares, and traveling, and meeting other dogs along the way. Pair that with less vaccine coverage and more dogs will get sick.
Unless an illness has significant public health effects like rabies, there is no required reporting. Recent numbers on respiratory cases come from pet insurance claims. Pet insurance has grown in popularity, meaning more people submitted claims when their dogs got sick. It doesn’t mean that more dogs got sick in total, we are just more aware of them.
Ultimately, the hype around this disease was likely an increase in attention and not a true increase in illness. But it reminded us to take steps to prevent or limit the spread of severe disease. These steps can help against diseases like respiratory, brucellosis, parvovirus, and others:
1. Keep dogs up to date with core vaccines. USDA requires all licensed kennels to vaccinate against rabies, distemper, and parvovirus [Section 3.13(a)(3)]. These, adenovirus types 1 and 2, and parainfluenza make up the core vaccines recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccines such as leptospirosis, canine influenza, Lyme disease, and Bordetella. We don’t have vaccines for every disease, such as brucellosis. But regular vaccinations we do have keep the immune system “primed” and ready to fight off other infections.
2. Check for disease often and address it quickly. USDA also requires screening tests for heartworm and fecal parasites. You also must observe dogs every day for signs of illness. Certain states require screening for brucellosis. If you find evidence of disease from testing or your observations, acting quickly can minimize the severity for that dog and the spread to other dogs.
3. Isolate sick dogs to minimize disease spread. This is more than physical separation! When a dog has a contagious illness, anything it touches can physically carry the disease. These fomites can include the cage, bowls, toys, equipment, your hands, clothes, shoes, or even trash. Set up your isolation area so you reduce this spread. Have separate items that stay in the sick dog area. Remember things like syringes, needles, bandages, and other items you might need to use for a sick dog. Wear gloves, and cover or change your clothes and shoes. This doesn’t have to be hospital-style gowns. Put a coat or other layer over your clothes while you’re working with sick dogs and take it off when you’re done. Your clothes underneath stay clean. And ALWAYS wash your hands and anything else you’re bringing out with you.
4. Quarantine new animals to make sure they’re not bringing in a disease they already had. Keep them physically separate and follow all the procedures for isolation. Basically, you watch and wait to see if they get sick, and test as necessary like for brucellosis. Vaccinate them if they haven’t been yet, and once they clear quarantine they can go in with the rest of the dogs. Depending on state regulations for the diseases you’re looking for, quarantines can last up to several months. That means no contact with other dogs, or with people or other animals who have contact with other dogs. Because these animals are generally healthy, plan the quarantine area to provide everything your other dogs get, including toys and space to exercise.
5. Minimize contact with unknown dogs. Obedience classes, shows, and other dog meetups are a great way to trade germs around. If your dogs do these activities, complete their vaccines before they go, and quarantine when they come home. This quarantine is just to cover the incubation period, or how long it takes from when they first get exposed until they start getting sick. That’s about 1-2 weeks for most illnesses.
6. Keep the kennel sanitary. Follow all instructions for sanitizing cages and equipment. This will get rid of any pathogens that might have slipped out from isolation or quarantine. It also cleans up after dogs that might already be spreading disease without acting sick yet.
USDA does not specifically require these measures. But your veterinarian can write them into your Program of Veterinary Care. USDA does have some new AC Aids that explain more about these procedures. Ask your inspector for copies, or find them at https://www.aphis. usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_ publications/ct_publications_and_guidance_ documents.
The times are changing. USDA Animal Care, a unit within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, administers the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). This federal law establishes requirements concerning the transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals. To enforce this law USDA Animal Care uses Inspectors throughout the country providing unannounced inspections. These inspections are regularly posted on the web for the world to see.
If you have a USDA License, you need to understand that things continue to change with how they are enforcing
the Animal Welfare Act. I want to introduce myself and my reasons for writing this article and some future articles about the USDA.
The Dog Journal USDA Today As a USDA Compliance Coach, my first priority is to make sure that you understand the rules and regulations and
