After hearing reports about a new illness affecting dogs, Montana Murg decided to get her oldest dog vaccinated for extra protection.

“I made sure that she was getting her canine influenza shot, even though it’s not required,” Murg said. “With this whole virus going on, it’ll definitely be more of an advantage to get all of the vaccines.”

News about a canine respiratory disease spreading across the country has some dog owners concerned about the safety of their pets.

Eudora Animal Hospital veterinarian Matthew Kelso said veterinarians are doing their best to investigate the illness and dog owners should be aware that it’s out there.

“I do think it brings some comfort that it’s not in Kansas yet,” he said. 

Kelso said vaccinating your dog is the most important thing to do during this time. He recommends worried owners call the Eudora Animal Hospital. 

“The reception staff is really good about what symptoms warrant being seen versus what symptoms we could probably just keep an eye on for another day or two,” Kelso said. 

The American Veterinary Medical Association said infectious respiratory disease outbreaks occur regularly and said the recent one “isn’t cause for alarm.”

Most dogs with infectious respiratory diseases will have mild illness and recover within seven to 10 days, the association said on its website. Symptoms include a frequent, honking cough, sneezing and/or runny nose or eyes.

Only a small percentage of dogs will develop more severe disease, the association said. The American Veterinary Medical Association advised watching for these symptoms:

• Lingering cough

• Weakness

• Loss of appetite

• Difficulty breathing

• Worsening of illness

• A cough so severe that your dog vomits or has trouble breathing

Dogs more at risk include those that are short-nose breeds, like French bulldogs, or those very young or old. Dogs with compromised immune systems and pre-existing respiratory disease or heart disease are also at higher risk, the association said.

Kelso said there isn’t a treatment plan in place for the new illness yet.

“There’s so much unknown about this so that makes it really hard,” Kelso said. 

The illness produces symptoms similar to kennel cough. Dogs with a typical cough don’t need to be tested, said Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and clinical professor at Kansas State University. 

“The dogs that really need to be tested to kind of help out are the ones that are developing pneumonia or their coughs are lasting for weeks.” Nelson said. “Those are the ones that you really want samples from to test and see if they can isolate something that is different from what we’ve seen in the past.”

Kelso said there are a few other unique symptoms. 

“If they get lethargic, aren’t eating, playing, acting like themselves or they start vomiting,” Kelso said. “Those are things to look out for.”

How widespread the illness is across the nation remains unknown due to differing reporting requirements among states and because the time period for detection may have passed by the time a dog can get tested, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has received over 200 case reports of the illness since mid-August, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, but Nelson said this illness has been circulating for at least a year.

Nelson said there are precautions worried dog owners can take to protect their dogs. 

“Don’t take your dog to doggy daycare. Don’t take them to the dog parks,” Nelson said. “Your best defense is to isolate your dogs.”

Murg has been following those steps herself to protect her two dogs. 

“We’ve definitely been like, ‘No, let’s not take them to the dog park.’ We just walk them around ourselves and make sure we are giving other dogs their privacy,” Murg said.

Eve Pierson regularly houses lost dogs to keep them safe while she looks for their owners. She said this outbreak is concerning given the amount of stray dogs in Eudora. 

“We can’t stop our dogs from coming into contact with strays, which is part of the problem,” Pierson said. 

Kelso agrees it’s difficult to isolate your dog from every other dog in the city. 

“If another dog from down the street comes and coughs in your yard, your dog can pick it up that way,” Kelso said.

Pierson hopes dog owners are careful during this time in making sure their dogs aren’t running off. 

“Be responsible with fencing and leash laws and not letting them run loose,” Pierson said.

Kelso said there hasn’t been a decrease in dogs boarded at the Eudora Animal Hospital. He said families typically board their dogs as they travel for the holidays. 

“[Boarding] is an increased risk now compared to a couple of months ago. But how is that any different from a child going to day care or school with all of the other diseases affecting humans right now?” Kelso said.  “The most important thing dog owners can do is making sure they are up-to-date on their vaccines.” 

Nelson recommends four vaccines that protect dogs against respiratory illnesses: Bordetella, parainfluenza, adenovirus and canine influenza.

Both veterinarians said keeping in touch with your local veterinarian is important. 

“Veterinarians in labs are investigating, so it’s not being taken lightly,” Nelson said.

Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected].

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