CIRDC Dog Disease — Courtesy: Shutterstock — MikeDotta
With COVID-19 ravaging the world, there is another virus spreading across South Florida affecting a different part of the population: dogs.
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, also known as “canine cough” or “kennel cough,” is caused by a group of bacteria and viruses, including the flu, that affects dogs’ respiratory tract. It can also be spread very easily regardless of whether dogs live in a home or are awaiting adoption.
While the recent outbreak of kennel cough has been limited to South Florida, the illness can appear anywhere in the country at any given time, according to José Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“We’ll see a case here and there, but then there are times where outbreaks will occur in different areas of the country at different moments,” Arce stated.
Here is all you need to know about CIRDC:
How does CIRDC spread?
Similar to coronavirus strains, CIRDC is easily transmitted whenever dogs are in close proximity, whether it be at a playdate, a dog park, groomer, dog events, or with dogs who are in shelters. Arce said another way the disease can spread is if dogs share toys.
Maria Serrano, chief veterinarian at the Miami-Dade County Animal Services, said the South Florida outbreak most likely came from a shelter dog.
“Respiratory diseases that are transmitted through aerosolized droplets are just very, very contagious,” Serrano said.
The virus does not affect humans.
What are the symptoms of CIRDC?
Common CIRDC symptoms include sneezing and coughing, as well as discharge from the nose. As the virus develops, dogs may have secretions coming out of their noses and eyes and have difficulty breathing, Arce said.
Similar to COVID-19, symptoms will usually appear about five days after exposure, and mild cases will usually last around 10 days. Dogs could be tested by veterinarians to see if they have the virus.
Some dogs may not show symptoms, but could still carry the disease and spread it.
How sick do dogs get?
Most CIRDC cases are mild, but the virus can worsen and dogs can eventually develop pneumonia if left unattended or depending on the condition. Older dogs, puppies, and immunocompromised dogs are the most susceptible to the virus and any worsening symptoms.
“Not attended, it can even be the cause of death,” Arce said.
Dogs with worsening symptoms can end up having to get hospitalized and treated with antiviral
medicine.
In March, Miami Dade-County health officials noticed there was an increase in the amount of dogs infected with CIRDC. On March 23, animal servicers decided to indefinitely suspend all dog adoptions, adoption events and wellness clinics performing spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchipping.
“So far, it’s going pretty well. The cases are already kind of decreasing. We’re still separating the populations and making sure we leave the dogs at least 10 days in isolation to make sure that we have less risks of transmission to other dogs,” Serrano said. “I think we acted very promptly.”
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
