I just saw this on FB from the Colorado Equine& Small Animal FB page:


“ Colorado Equine & Small Animal clients,

We wanted to take a minute to make you all aware of a new and sometimes quite severe respiratory illness that is starting to show up in the Colorado Springs and Monument communities so that you can take precautions with your dogs. We have had several dogs present to us in the last few weeks with respiratory illness. We have consulted with doctors at many of the local emergency veterinary hospitals as well and they are seeing similar cases.

Dogs present to us with cough, fever, and sometimes pneumonia. Many of them are not responding to typical treatment for respiratory illness in dogs and are even progressing to needing hospitalization in the ICU on oxygen and IV antibiotics. We have seen a couple patients where it has become fatal due to hemorrhagic pneumonia – even in younger pets. Pets that are older or have other systemic diseases seem to get sicker much faster.

We have tested several of them with our respiratory disease PCR test and they are coming back negative for all pathogens in many cases (we have had a couple test positive for Mycoplasma). We believe it is likely some kind of viral mutation based on the fact that it is not responding to antibiotics the way that we typically see bacterial pneumonia and respiratory disease respond.

We don’t share any of this because we want to scare you but we do want you to have this information so that you can be proactive in keeping your pet as safe as possible. Many pets who have become sick have socialized with other dogs in daycare, dog parks, boarding, or grooming. Be cautious in these situations right now, especially if you have an older pet with other illnesses. And if you notice that your pet is coughing, sneezing, has a runny nose, or seems otherwise ill please let us know right away so that we can start treatment as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out,

The Colorado Equine & Small Animal Clinic Team

Thank you!”

Great info! Thanks.
I read last week this was in the NW United States and was hoping I didn't make its way down here.
Praying it is contained and for those families affected by it.

With the holidays right here and people getting pets groomed, boarded or using pet sitters with multiple responsibilities I hope most people can avoid this serious concern with some awareness.

I think one of my dogs just got over this. She was sick for a good 8 weeks. At first I thought she was choking on something so I took her to the vet to be seen. I was literally yelled at for bringing her in with "Kennel Cough" and immediately had to take her outside. They said she needed an appointment but the first one they had was 5 days away. I studied up on Kennel Cough and it sounded like it could be treated at home. She coughed (hacked), had a fever for a couple days and had a really runny nose. I seriously thought she had pneumonia, I would pound her back when she was having a coughing fit and that seemed to ease it. She was "sicker than a dog" (no pun intended). I was really, really worried about her.

My question, if it was Kennel Cough where did she get it? She hadn't been around other dogs but she did have a medical procedure done at the vet about 2 weeks prior. On the other hand, a few weeks before all this, we adopted a dog from the Denver Animal Shelter. The dog was sneezing every now and then but thought it was allergies.

Now I wonder if it was this respiratory illness that she had.

So good to hear your dogs recovered bdogsgal, kinda sounds like your adopted dog may have brought it, but strange it would take weeks to show symptoms.

I was reading about this new virus and it does sound bad. Appears it is also on the East coast, New Hampshire and west coast Oregon. I had seen a Facebook post by a relative on east coast that was saying goodbye to their dog that died from a cold that became a pneumonia and then saw Jo’s post - thanks Jo, which made me question if this was other places, too.

This is one of those times, I’m glad we are home bodies…lol

“Researchers have identified a bacterium that could be behind the surge in respiratory illness in dogs, but more testing is needed to confirm.

The bacterium is smaller than normal bacteria and hasn't been known to cause disease before. Smaller bacteria can sometimes cause worse illness because it's easier for it to bypass the dog's immune system and get into the respiratory tract and lungs.”

https://www.today.com/health/mystery-do ... iadXw8qrV0

Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences published an article about this recently. Not much on the new information front yet, other than updated advice: Keep vaccines updated, Watch them closely, Consult your Vet, Avoid voluntary gatherings of dogs.

I was going to get Kobe to a groomer, but the articles warn that’s a public place.

Ran across this in my news feeds . . .
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/coupl ... ng-america

no groomers, no boarding facilities, no dog parks - and I'll add, no doggie get togethers (no doggie birthday parties with visiting doggies). Right now, it's just not worth it.

A dirty dog is a happy, healthy doggie!

We cancelled all our appointments at the Vet and groomers, and they only play fetch in the backyard. Scary stuff

My little girl is overdue for a vet visit but I’m going to ride it for awhile…