Outbreak of Unusual Respiratory Illness in Dogs Raises Alarm in Experts

At least fifteen states in the United States appear to be seeing an outbreak of a serious respiratory ailment in dogs. Veterinarians believe that there could be several causes for the rise in atypical canine respiratory illness occurrences.

They even compare it to "kennel cough," a phrase used to characterize a number of bacterial and viral diseases that can cause dogs to suddenly develop a hoarse cough.

Dog Illness Outbreak

(Photo : Getty Images/Alan Crowhurst)

Dog respiratory illnesses, particularly dog flu, are widespread and frequently result in outbreaks at canine daycare centers and shelters. Over the past year, the current surge has been spreading to other parts of the United States and Canada.

According to doctors, this outbreak differs from common respiratory illnesses due to the high number of cases that are severe enough to induce pneumonia.

Dr. Michael Lappin, director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at the Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, an expert in infectious diseases, reported that from September through November of this year, the number of cases of canine pneumonia in Colorado increased by 50% over the same period in 2022.

A pet insurance firm called Trupanion claims data indicates an increase in dogs suffering from serious respiratory illnesses in several jurisdictions.

Cause of the Illness

Similar to the triple epidemic of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV that affected people last fall and winter, more dogs may be becoming seriously ill due to co-infections with multiple pathogens, such as canine influenza, Bordetella (kennel cough), and mycoplasma pneumonia.

Experts point out that many dogs may be less resistant to diseases since pandemic-era regulations prevented them from being in daycare centers or boarding houses, shielding them from circulating bacteria or viruses. Decreases in dog vaccination rates have also been recorded.

According to a recent study, almost half of dog owners are apprehensive about vaccinating their animals. "We've got more dogs that have a lower level of resistance because they've been exposed less over the last couple of years and they've had less vaccination," Dr. Scott Weese, an infectious disease veterinarian at the Ontario Veterinary College.

However, there's a chance that a fresh strain of germs is out there. A unique bacterium has been identified by researchers at the University of New Hampshire as a potential culprit.

Because the results are based on a limited sample of cases from New England states, they must be verified in a broader and more geographically varied dog population.

According to Kurt Williams, director of Oregon State University's Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, dogs have passed away, but it's difficult to estimate the number of animals who perished from a severe version of the virus in the absence of a reliable method to identify the illness or test for it.

Williams' advice to dog owners was straightforward: "Don't panic." Additionally, he advised dog owners to make sure their pets had received all necessary vaccinations, particularly those that guard against a variety of respiratory ailments.