“Dog Cold” Affecting Local Area Dogs
By Joe Bachman
A respiratory infection is going around that is affecting dogs in the central Wisconsin area.
The Animal Medical and Surgical Clinic of Wisconsin Rapids have released information on the symptoms and treatment of this infection.
According to the clinic, the infection causes coughing, with some dogs coughing up a white, foamy liquid that does not come from the lungs. The infection may cause lethargy and lasts approximately a week.
The infection is contagious, though luckily, no dogs have died from what is likely considered a virus. Dogs placed on doxycycline or minocycline with a cough suppressant seem to recover more quickly than those that are not medicated at all.
None of the dogs that have been tested so far have tested positive for bordetella, which is kennel cough. However, all of the dogs tested have tested positive for respiratory corona virus, which according to the clinic may or may not be causing the symptoms.
“The most important thing that I want people to know is that this does not look at all like canine influenza,” said Dr. Kristie Ponce of the Animal Medical Surgical Clinic of Wisconsin Rapids. “We’ve been testing for that and it’s come back negative every time.”
The clinic recommends bringing your dog in for examination if he or she is showing symptoms of this infection. The best time to test for the virus is within three days of symptoms. According to the clinic, dogs that have been diagnosed with this illness should be quarantined at least a week after coughing subsides.
While the infection is not to be taken lightly, and is treatable, it’s not exclusive to Wisconsin Rapids.
“It seems to not just be limited to Wisconsin Rapids,” said Ponce. “There was a clinic just outside of Milwaukee that had an outbreak two months ago — they said it lasted a month and it was gone. We’ve had someone from the Dells contact us and they’re seeing it, too — and we just had a call from a doctor in Baraboo.”
For more information please contact the Animal Medical Surgical Clinic of Wisconsin Rapids by calling 715-421-2006.
