The new unknown canine respiratory illness has raised alarms among many Veterinarians. Dogs who obtain this sickness have difficulty breathing, which can sometimes even lead to death. Despite the serious impact, no one has been able to figure out what has actually been causing the virus. Hacking cough, fever, lack of energy, little to no appetite, red eyes, sneezing, and nasal discharge seem to be the usual indications. Throughout the course of the past year, hundreds of canines have been experiencing at least one of the many symptoms.
At the rate that it has been spreading, countless states have been reached in the past 5 months and veterinarians predict that the illness will soon cover the entirety of the United States. Due to its mysterious nature, no professional has been able to determine what started the outbreak and how to completely cure it. Only certain dogs have reacted positively to the variety of treatments given whereas others have the ability to recover on their own. The various types of recovery options are hospitalization, oxygen therapy, fluid therapy, and even antibiotic therapy. However, “the cough and the new respiratory complex does not seem to be as responsive to doxycycline therapy as routine kennel cough”.
During some of the recent discoveries and testing on the respiratory illness, investigators have learned that the most similar pathogen to the virus is kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis). Kennel cough is an erratic cough due to increased inflammation of the trachea which lasts 7-10 days with leftover symptoms for 2-4 weeks. The respiratory tract is the main target of both infections. Regularly dogs get infected at doggy daycares and kennel areas where canines are grouped. As more states, schools, and labs release their individual information, closer the cure is to being accommodating to all breeds. Only recently have professionals discovered that it is not a “novel viral upper respiratory and lower respiratory infection” but rather a small bacteria.
Dr Blaicher owner of Blaicher Veterinary Health Care states “It appears that a secondary bacterial pneumonia can be more common in weeks 2 through 4 of this new infection… Due to inflammatory changes in the small and large airways that the respiratory complex can cause, dogs may have a persistent low-grade cough for 3-6 weeks after the infection has cleared, and after they are no longer contagious.”
Dog owners have compared this respiratory illness to the latest outbreak, COVID-19. Similarly, when both patients have tests taken, several will return negative showing hoax results. Comparably the last time something similar occurred was in 2004. However, specialists have explained that this isn’t something to worry to a great extent about, as long as your dog and family have been following the proper precautions recommended.
Dr Blaicher also includes “Owners of dogs with a sudden acute cough should contact their veterinarian as soon as possible for guidance. At-risk dogs, including those dogs who have been boarded recently in a large boarding facility, or those that have been at a dog so recently, should seek veterinary attention if they start to cough for more than just a couple of days.”
As time passes by, more discoveries have been made. Despite an influx in information, the continuous headlining sickness remains a curiosity to veterinarians, specialists, and dog owners.