You Don't Need to Panic About the 2023 Mystery Respiratory Illness in Dogs
Key takeaways:
News reports about a new “mystery” illness in dogs can sound scary to dog owners. The illness causes upper respiratory symptoms such as a cough.
Based on what we know so far, dog owners likely don’t need to panic. Like other respiratory conditions, dogs in community settings and shelters have the highest risk of getting sick.
To protect your dog from this mystery illness and other conditions, keep them up to date on their vaccines. And limit your dog’s exposure to other pups as much as possible.
Table of contents
It’s been everywhere recently: Scary headlines about a “mystery” illness in dogs. It appears to cause respiratory symptoms such as a cough that last longer than usual. But how worried should you be?
Hearing about a new threat to your furry companion can be scary. While there’s definitely something going around in dogs, it poses the biggest threat to dogs in shelters. For your pup, there likely isn’t a need to panic, especially if you take some common-sense precautions.
What is the 2023 mystery respiratory illness in dogs?
The mystery illness you may have heard about doesn’t have an official name yet. It’s being referred to as atypical canine infectious respiratory disease (aCIRD).
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Here’s what we know about the condition so far:
It causes respiratory symptoms in dogs.
It doesn’t respond to the usual treatments for other respiratory illnesses.
Testing shows it’s not one of the more common respiratory infections dogs can get.
It’s spreading among a pretty small number of dogs so far.
There have been no reports that the illness affects humans.
So what does this all mean? Well, it’s not uncommon for illnesses like this to develop and spread among dogs — or any animal for that matter.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has pointed out that infections like this pop up in dogs from time to time. Sometimes these “new” illnesses are due to a combination of existing viruses or bacteria. This new illness could also be due to an existing bacteria that has changed over time and now causes a respiratory infection in dogs.
Researchers are already on the case. Experts in New Hampshire began investigating this illness in “late summer and autumn of 2022,” according to a statement provided to GoodRx Health by David B. Needle, DVM, DACVP. Needle is the pathology section chief at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
The mystery respiratory infection has been identified in several states so far, including:
Colorado
New Hampshire
Oregon
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Should you be concerned about your dog getting the mystery illness?
It’s normal to be concerned about your dog getting sick from any infection. But in the case of this new mystery illness, the risk to your dog is probably lower than news reports make it sound.
With any infectious condition, dogs in community settings are most at risk. This holds true for the 2023 mystery illness as well as common infections such as kennel cough. Community settings include boarding facilities, doggy daycares, and shelters.
Dogs in shelters are particularly at high risk for getting sick because they live in close proximity to many other dogs. At the same time, shelter settings are stressful. Stress can make a dog’s immune system less effective, increasing their risk of getting sick.
What symptoms does this mystery respiratory illness cause in dogs?
The latest mystery illness causes upper respiratory disease symptoms in dogs. Common symptoms reported so far include:
Chronic coughing that lasts 2 weeks or more
Sneezing
Lack of energy
Eye or nose discharge
Difficulty breathing
Some dogs who get this respiratory infection also develop pneumonia. The pneumonia lasts longer than expected, and it doesn’t get better with usual treatments.
Other dogs may develop severe pneumonia that can become life threatening within 24 to 36 hours. However, Needle said it’s “rare” for dogs to develop “acute and sometimes fatal pneumonia after the longer chronic disease.”
When should you take your dog to the vet for a cough?
It’s time to take your dog to the vet “if the cough lasts longer than 2 days,” Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ, told GoodRx Health.
You can also schedule a vet visit any time you’re concerned about your dog’s symptoms.
How can you protect your dog from infectious respiratory diseases?
Protecting your dog from this latest mystery illness is the same as for any other respiratory or contagious infection.
Stay on top of your dog’s vaccination schedule
First, make sure your pup is up to date on their core vaccines. Even after getting their initial vaccines as a puppy, adult dogs will need periodic boosters. This includes boosters for the DHPP or DAPP combination vaccine that protects against:
Distemper
Adenovirus
Parainfluenza
Parvovirus
It’s also a good idea to consider vaccinating your dog against additional illnesses, including kennel cough. Ask your veterinarian about vaccines for:
Bordetella
Parainfluenza
Canine influenza
These are considered non-required (or noncore) vaccines for dogs. But they can provide your dog additional protection against illness.
Limit your dog’s exposure to other dogs
Infections spread most easily in places where many dogs spend time together. For the time being, consider keeping your dog away from other dogs as much as possible. When you can, avoid:
Boarding facilities
Doggy day cares
Dog parks
Shelters
Consider using a pet sitter when you travel
Dogs in community settings are at higher risk of getting sick. So instead of boarding your dog while traveling, “get a pet sitter and keep your dog home,” said Wooten. This will limit the amount of time they spend around other dogs and lower their risk of getting sick.
Talk to your veterinarian
Any time you have questions about how to keep your dog healthy, check in with your vet. And Wooten added, “If your dog has any kind of immunosuppression, talk to your vet about additional precautions.”
Your vet can review your dog’s vaccines as well as provide additional guidance. They’ll be able to provide advice based on your dog’s individual health history.
The bottom line
It always sounds scary when you read reports about a new mystery illness spreading among dogs. But there’s probably no reason to panic. The latest respiratory illness can cause symptoms such as an ongoing cough, lack of energy, and pneumonia. Dogs who spend time in community settings like shelters are most at risk of getting sick.
To protect your dog from the mystery illness and any infectious condition, keep them up to date on their vaccines. You can also limit how much time your dog spends with other pups. Keep them out of dog parks and consider hiring a pet sitter to come to your home instead of boarding your pet.
Why trust our experts?
References
American Animal Hospital Association. (2022). Recommendations for core and noncore canine vaccines.
American Animal Hospital Association. (2022). Table 2: 2022 AAHA core and noncore vaccines for dogs.
Brooks, W. (2023). Pneumonia management in dogs and cats.
Carballo, R. (2023). Mysterious respiratory illness affects dogs in multiple states. The New York Times.
Center for Shelter Dogs. (n.d.). Transition and stress. Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
County of Los Angeles Public Health. (2023). Public Health investigating respiratory disease in LA county dogs.
Hohman, M. (2023). A potentially fatal mystery illness in dogs is spreading in the US. It starts with a cough. Today.
New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. (2023). Respiratory syndrome of unknown etiology in dogs 2022-3 in New England: diagnostic investigation.
Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. (2023). Canine infectious respiratory disease in Oregon.
