Bay City is currently seeing an outbreak of Canine Upper Respiratory Disease. Bay Valley Animal Hospital is working with Zoetis and Michigan State University to determine the pathogens that are affecting our patients. The most recent finding is dogs are being infected with Mycoplasma sp. and Canine Respiratory Coronavirus, and continue to test. Unfortunately, these two pathogens that have been identified are highly contagious and there is no vaccine for these pathogens. Dogs can pass these pathogens on by just being normal dogs. Most times dogs get infected at dog parks, grooming salons, and boarding facilities where dogs gather. They can pass it on by barking, licking cage doors, water bowels and coughing. But dogs are not always coughing, they can be asymptomatic and pass it on.
Currently, as a hospital and boarding facility, we are screening dogs that have been to grooming salons, pet stores, and dog parks within the last 2 weeks, if your pet has been to any of these places and/or is coughing alert our staff, we will be conducting our initial exam outside, as we do not want to introduce any of these pathogens into our hospital. If you need to board your pet with us please quarantine your pet for 2 weeks prior to your scheduled stay and make sure your dog’s vaccines for CIV and other CIRD pathogens are up to date at least 2 weeks prior to their stay. The following vaccines need to be current for their boarding stay
• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV)
• Canine adenovirus 2 (CAV-2)
• Canine distemper virus (CDV)
• Canine influenza virus (CIV).
Bay Valley Animal Hospital we use The Zoetis family of CIRD vaccines VANGUARD B ORAL For vaccination of healthy dogs at 8 weeks of age or older as an aid in preventing canine infectious tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough) caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica VANGUARD B (INTRANASAL)
• For primary vaccination against Bordetella bronchiseptica in puppies as young as 3 weeks of age BRONCHICINE CAe (INJECTABLE)
• For boostering dogs against Bordetella bronchiseptica VANGUARD CIV H3N2/H3N8
• For vaccination against CIV H3N8/H3N2 VANGUARD CIV H3N2
• For vaccination against CIV H3N2 VANGUARD CIV H3N8
• For vaccination against CIV H3N8 VANGUARD PLUS 5
• Protection against canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV), canine adenovirus 2 (CAV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) VANGUARD RAPID RESP 3 INTRANASAL
• For vaccination of healthy dogs at 8 weeks of age or older as an aid in preventing respiratory disease caused by canine adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza caused by canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV), and disease caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb).
If your dog is diagnosed with Canine Upper Respiratory Disease, there is no single ‘drug of choice’ for treatment of canine influenza or CIRD 13-17
• CIRD has many causes, including viral and bacterial pathogens – Treatment is based on diagnostic results, clinical signs, and vaccination history
• In most cases, treatment mainly involves supportive care and is limited by the health of the dog
• Antibiotic treatment may be used for dogs with evidence of bacterial disease or risk for secondary bacterial infection – unreliable
• Steroids, antitussives, and bronchodilators have been reported for treatment of clinical signs, but with mixed results.
At home supportive care is
• Rest
• Avoid neck leashes
• Nominal exercise
• Avoid stimulants to barking and quarantine for 3 weeks.
If you have any concerns please ask your veterinarian, but we recommend at this time to limit your dog’s exposure the best you can.
