It’s that time of year, when a symphony of sneezes and cacophony of coughs often echo throughout homes and apartments.
But if it’s your dog that has the sniffles, experts say pet owners should keep a careful eye on them — a new, concerning respiratory illness is circulating among canines across the country, with cases first detected in Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire, according to the Associated Press.
There’s no confirmation the illness has made its way to Utah, state veterinarian Daniel Christensen said, because experts don’t yet know what’s causing it, so there are no confirmatory tests.
“Whether it’s a mutated form of the typical upper respiratory diseases that dogs see, or if it’s something entirely new, we don’t know yet,” Christensen said.
He added that about 15 states have now reported cases, “so it’s likely that it will either get here or is already here.”
What’s happening in Utah
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dogs interact with Abeni Ochoa at Aarf Pet Care in Murray, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Christensen hasn’t seen an increase in local vets reporting canine respiratory illnesses, but this new disease has all the same symptoms other respiratory illnesses often produce in dogs — watery eyes, coughing, runny nose or lethargy.
The only differences: It can last six to eight weeks, and it doesn’t respond well to antibiotics.
“The one thing I want to stress to people is not to worry, just to be cautious,” Christensen said, adding that most dogs “seem to just be recovering on their own.”
With holiday travel and pet-boarding season in full swing, Suzie Ellison — owner of Aarf Pet Care — said she’s made a point to stay informed about the new disease. She refers to her dog-walking and petsitting business as a “doggie bed-and-breakfast,” which only takes around 12 dogs per night.
“We can really be careful and [screen] out anyone who might have a cough or any of the other symptoms,” Ellison said. “We ask our clients to keep their dogs at home if if they are symptomatic in any way.”
She’s communicated her concerns to clients in emails, so they know to check their pets carefully for symptoms. She and her staff also keep up with enhanced cleaning protocols developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
“We clean the dog bowls every two hours and and we do thorough cleaning of the whole place every day,” Ellison said. “Keeping up our cleaning procedures and making sure that no one comes who is sick, I think, really gives people a lot of peace of mind that their dog is safe when they come to stay with us.”
What you can do
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Dogs interact at Aarf Pet Care in Murray, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
Christensen recommended preventative measures for any pet owners worried about boarding their animals over the holidays, such as making sure dogs are up to date on their vaccines. A recent study found that many pet owners are hesitant about getting their animals vaccinated.
He also recommended that pet owners ask if their boarding facility has a check-in screening process, as well as a quarantine process if boarded animals start to show symptoms.
If a dog does show symptoms of illness for an extended period, Christensen said it’s never a bad idea to get them checked out.
“Just like in people with colds, there are things that a vet can give your dog that will help with symptoms,” which could make them feel more comfortable as their body works to fight it off, Christensen said.
He added that it’s best to keep your vet informed, even if you don’t go in. “That way, if the worst happens, they know what they’re dealing with and they can get you what you need.”
As to whether humans can catch illnesses from pets, Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said in a statement this month that in general, such transmission risk is “extremely low.”
“However, because we don’t know yet exactly what agent or agents is or are causing the current outbreak,” she said, “it’s a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands after handling your or other dogs.”
For more information about the emerging illness, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website.
Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.