New Respiratory Illness in Dogs

We know many of you have become aware of a new respiratory illness affecting dogs in some parts of the country, and there have been suspected cases in Florida. While we don’t know much about it yet, we do know that the symptoms are similar to those of canine influenza and kennel cough. While the symptoms start similar to those, they last much longer and can develop into pneumonia.

Symptoms to watch for include sneezing, coughing, nasal or eye discharge, labored breathing, lethargy, or decreased appetite. If your dog has any of these symptoms contact your veterinarian, and do not take him/her to areas where other dogs are.

Just like any respiratory illness, high risk situations include dog parks, boarding, grooming and doggie day care.

Do not allow your dog to share bowls, toys or chews with dogs outside of the family.

Here at Animal and Bird Hospital of Clearwater, and the Pet Resort and Grooming Salon, we are taking every precaution to lower any risk of dogs getting sick while on the premises. We have a specialized disinfectant solution that is used in our kennels, play rooms and play yard (that is safe for the animals). We do not allow any symptomatic dogs to board or attend daycare. We do ask that if you do notice your dog is not feeling well, keep them at home.

You can monitor for updates at https://www.avma.org/news