Urgent Alert: Mysterious Canine Respiratory Illness on the Rise in Western Washington – Vets Take Note
The Washington State Veterinarian’s Office has been alerted to a potential increase in atypical respiratory disease cases in dogs across Western Washington. Several veterinary clinics in the region have reported unusual patterns of respiratory illness, raising concerns about the prevalence and nature of this emerging condition. While seasonal trends and the lack of baseline prevalence data make it difficult to pinpoint exact causes, veterinary authorities are actively investigating the issue.
What Is Known So Far
Affected dogs are presenting with a range of respiratory symptoms, from chronic tracheobronchitis to acute, rapidly progressive pneumonia. In some severe cases, the condition has led to poor outcomes within 24 to 36 hours of onset. These cases appear minimally responsive to standard treatments, including antibiotics.
How Veterinarians Can Help
To gather consistent data and identify trends, the State Veterinarian’s Office is asking veterinarians to carefully document and report cases of canine respiratory disease that meet specific criteria. The following information should be recorded for each case:
Patient History: Include travel history, recent exposure to other dogs, timeline of disease progression, and a detailed description of symptoms.
Vaccination Status: Note if the patient is up to date on vaccines, particularly those targeting respiratory pathogens.
Diagnostic Findings: Document examination results, radiographic findings, and any infectious disease testing performed.
Treatment Response: Record treatments provided and the patient’s response—or lack thereof.
For cases meeting the following clinical syndromes and yielding negative results on a Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD) diagnostic panel, veterinarians are encouraged to report the case to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA):
Chronic Tracheobronchitis: Persistent mild-to-moderate respiratory symptoms lasting six to eight weeks or longer with minimal or no response to antibiotics.
Chronic Pneumonia: Lung inflammation that is minimally or non-responsive to antibiotics.
Acute Pneumonia: Rapidly progressive and severe respiratory illness, often resulting in poor outcomes within 24–36 hours.
Veterinarians can submit cases through the WSDA Reportable Animal Disease Form. Include all relevant laboratory results and diagnostic information, and under the “Diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of the condition” field, select “Unexplained increase in dead or diseased animals.”
