Mystery illness infecting dogs in LA County; Here’s what is known and how to deal with it

Los Angeles County public health authorities on Tuesday, Nov. 21, urged dog owners and veterinarians to take precautions after a mysterious canine respiratory illness, which has been previously reported in other states, appears to have infected animals locally.

Since Thursday, Nov. 16, the L.A. County Public Health Department has received 10 case reports from veterinarians about dogs that seem to have caught the “sudden respiratory illness of unknown origin,” Public Health officials reported. Those dogs tested negative on an array of tests for common viruses and bacteria specific to canines.

Symptoms of the illness — which is being called Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (aCIRD) —  include coughing, nasal discharge, sneezing and a lack of energy, according to the Public Health Department, which sent out a release on Tuesday afternoon.

Local officials are investigating the cases to confirm whether a new respiratory disease is infecting dogs in the county. The investigation includes coordinated efforts with state and federal efforts.

The Associated Press reported earlier this week that veterinary laboratories in several states are investigating the unusual illness, and encouraging people to take basic precautions to keep their pets healthy as veterinarians try to pin down what’s making the animals sick.

Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire are among the states that have seen cases of the illness, which has caused lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia and does not respond to antibiotics. Symptoms of respiratory illness in dogs include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Some cases of the pneunomia progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August.

Dogs have died, Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University, told the AP. But without a clear way to define the disease or test for it, he said it’s hard to put a number on how many died from a severe form of the infection.

That said, officials have been warning pet owners not to panic. Criteria have been established to determine if a dog might have the illness, according to county officials.

Cases are being defined as having a negative canine respiratory PCR test panel, which tests for common viruses and bacteria identified in dogs with similar symptoms, plus one of the following clinical scenarios:

• Chronic mild-moderate respiratory infection that lasts more than six weeks that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics;
• Chronic pneumonia that is minimally or not responsive to antibiotics; or
• Acute pneumonia that rapidly becomes severe and often leads to poor outcomes in as little as 24-36 hours.

Official urged owners and vets to be on the lookout for cough, sneezing, nasal discharge, and lethargy (lack of energy).

If you are seeing such symptoms, officials suggested taking the following steps:

• Contact the pet’s veterinarian so the pet may be evaluated;
• Isolate sick dogs at home for a minimum of 28 days past the first day of the onset of illness.
• Dogs exposed to the sick dog should quarantine at home and away from other dogs for 14 days to monitor them for signs and symptoms of illness.
• Clean regularly and disinfect surfaces, doorknobs, keyboards, and animal equipment. To disinfect, use an EPA-registered disinfecting product or a stronger bleach solution.
• Keep the dog home and away from day care, boarding kennels, grooming facilities, and dog parks.
• If a dog becomes ill after being boarded or being in a facility, owners should take it to a veterinarian for evaluation and they should also notify the facility about the illness.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.