Have you seen a change in your dog? A runny nose and/or eyes MAY be symptoms for a dog upper respiratory illness or a cold.

All dog owners have been, and should be, concerned about the severe canine respiratory virus that has not been responding to traditional medications. It is even killing some dogs! At the time of writing this, there has not been a reported cause of the virus so all the doggie colds and respiratory illnesses may, or may not, be the same illness. The first cases in the United States were reported in Oregon, but other states have reported cases as well.

You don’t need to overreact, but you should take precautions.

First, know the signs of a respiratory virus in a dog. They include:

• Runny nose and/or eyes

• Coughing (usually a wet cough as opposed to the dry hacking that can occur with “kennel cough”)

• Excessive sneezing

• Difficulty breathing

• Lethargy

• Lack of appetite

Just remember that your dog will most likely have multiple symptoms, just like humans do. BUT, you may not need to rush to the veterinarian or an emergency clinic if you see signs.

Be cautious of events and training classes if the organization is not addressing safety needs like additional separation, individual water bowls and reduced sizes of class participants - we do all of those all year at Casa Luna Canines - whether or not there is a known health risk in the group.

Call your vet if the symptoms persist for more than a couple of days OR if the symptoms appear severe to you. Don’t second guess yourself. Just call your veterinary care facility to ask questions so you minimize the chance it could turn into something more serious.

If your healthy dog must be in a group setting, it’s best to take some precautions.

• Avoid contact with any dog that has clinical signs of a cold

• Do not share water or food bowls or toys with other dogs, especially if they are unknown.

• Do not let your dog greet an unknown dog nose-to-nose. This IS their instinct so best to keep your distance, if you can.

• If your dog is crated somewhere for an event or class, cover the crate with a sheet to prevent respiratory droplets from getting to your dog.

• Take EXTRA care if you have a senior dog, a puppy or a dog with an existing health issue.

It is believed, at this time, this illness is NOT contagious to humans. But, if YOU may have been exposed to a sick dog, wash your hands, change your clothes and wash up BEFORE interacting with your own dog. MOST viruses are species-specific so you and your dog will not infect each other.

Most of the doggie sickness will self-resolve in 7-10 days, just like a cold in humans. However, if it’s severe, or your dog is not getting better after a few days, additional treatment or therapies may be needed from your vet.

Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinations! You want to discuss what the appropriate vaccinations are for your dog. Some of them will depend on your lifestyle, activities and degree of exposure to other dogs.

The main thing is to pay attention to your dog, keep them home at the first sign of illness and try not to panic. Please, don’t let any of your own residual “Pandemic Fatigue” cloud your judgment and make you think this is “nothing to worry about”. Most dogs will recover and be fine, but why take the risk?

Casa Luna Canines is your partner in dog training, human learning. Join us to learn how to be your dog’s best friend using 100% pain and fear free methods. Imagine what it will feel like when your dog chooses to behave well around you, no matter where you are!