Stay alert for canine respiratory issues

A new canine respiratory illness has appeared along the west and east coast, causing dog owners to panic.

While very similar to kennel cough, the symptoms from the new illness do not diminish after using kennel cough treatments; they only worsen.

To date, researchers do not believe humans and other pets are believed to be at risk of this illness.

“Luckily, we haven’t seen any cases of the respiratory illness in the area to date,” said local veterinarian Luke Chachere of Chachere Veterinary Clinic. “The best course of action to prevent any chance of infection, though, is to stay up to date on your vaccines.”

Chachere advises to monitor your dog for signs of infection and contact a vet as soon as possible if symptoms occur.

“Just because a dog coughs does not mean it has the new respiratory illness, but you should still be safe and visit a vet,” he said.

Researchers are still collecting data about the outbreak and are seeking treatments to offset the symptoms.