Socialize much?  Or  The life of the social butterfly can be ruff

Clinical Updates

Jun 14

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Here in the 21st century, we have all grown accustomed to seeing that most common of all creatures. The most common of all dog breeds. The most popular of all companion animals – you guessed it - The social dog! In fact, US pet owners spent more than $6 billion on boarding and grooming services alone in 2017.1 Yes, just like a trip to the hair salon or an overnight trip including a hotel stay qualify as social outings for humans as it relates to potential infectious disease exposures, such activities qualify a dog as “social.” This dollar figure does not take into account other social outings that may populate that cutest Frenchie’s calendar though.

Excursions to the local dog park, trips to the home improvement store, suppers eaten at restaurants with outdoor patios, the list of social opportunities for dogs in this day and age are nearly endless. Long gone are the days of the presumed agoraphobic bloodhound on the porch! Even hound dogs are social in today’s world. In addition to the canine companions’ robust social calendar locally, dogs move about the global community almost as often and nearly as unfettered as their human owners. The elevation of dogs in social status has surely improved the care and circumstances of an average dog, however, it has also most certainly increased their exposure to and risk of contracting infectious diseases. Few diseases pose more of a threat to the social dog than those of the respiratory tract.

Respiratory pathogens can halt a dog’s social life almost overnight! Because most respiratory pathogens spread most effectively through dog-to-dog contact or shared airspace, dogs spending time with other dogs is the best way to optimize disease spread. However, some canine respiratory pathogens do not require direct contact or social proximity to spread as some pathogens can survive for extended time periods in the environment. Specific pathogens of interest that cause the dreaded canine cough are Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma spp., canine distemper virus, canine influenza virus, and canine parainfluenza virus. Not all of these respiratory pathogens are equal!

For example, B. bronchiseptica can survive in soil for 45 days and in lake water (at optimum conditions, of course) for 24 weeks2 while canine distemper virus is unstable outside the host and unlikely to survive in the environment for any appreciable amount of time.3 While B. bronchiseptica and Mycoplasma spp. are generally susceptible to targeted antibiotic therapy, viral pathogens are not. All of these respiratory pathogens are shed in respiratory secretions of the infected animal and some are shed for lengthy periods of time following clinical resolution. Canine influenza virus can be shed for 2-3 days prior to the onset of clinical symptoms and CIV H3N2 can be shed for up to 24 days total!

Once the coughing dog present for examination, practitioners have several options to begin to attempt to weed out the primary cause or causes of apparent canine respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). Most commercial veterinary diagnostic labs have a “CIRDC panel” available that includes the usual suspects such as B. bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma spp., CIV, and others with PCR being the most specific and common testing method performed. PCR is interesting as a testing modality, especially for respiratory pathogens that may be shed intermittently or only in large amounts near the onset of disease. In such cases, like CIV, a negative PCR result does not rule out infection. It is best, when unsure, for practitioners to contact lab personnel directly not only for guidance in result interpretation, but also for instruction on appropriate sample collection and test selection. Fortunately, many of these respiratory diseases are easily prevented!

Vaccination is the cornerstone of disease prevention in any population, including the social dog. Vaccination decisions should be made based on a dog’s lifestyle and exposure risk and in conjunction with the owner. Including the owner in the risk assessment process will not only mitigate discomfort with cost, but also better empower the owner to routinely institute mechanical measures to prevent disease in their pet. For example, many owners are completely ignorant on the severe disease risk associated with public dog parks or “play groups” at doggie day cares. Once made aware, many owners appropriately avoid these situations for their pets. The risk profiles for many respiratory illnesses are similar if not the same. In fact, the risk profile for B. bronchiseptica and CIV are nearly, if not completely, identical.4 In a clinical setting, practitioners should ideally pair these vaccinations in all dogs. If the risk for kennel cough infection exists for the pet, then the risk for CIV should also be mitigated with appropriate vaccination.

In conclusion, when discussing disease prevention with owners, engagement in the risk assessment is key to owners understanding the need for vaccination for all appropriate pathogens. Once the risk profile is established, vaccines should be administered according to the manufacturer’s labeled recommendations and owners should understand actions that both increase and reduce their pet’s risk for respiratory disease. While these conversations can be a bit more involved than a practice scheduler may like, such dialogue provides a foundation for best pet care. If a short cut is desired, perhaps owners could be asked to bring in their dog’s social calendar for the veterinarian’s evaluation? But, then again, not all dogs can be as organized as a border collie!