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The “mystery canine respiratory illness” (IMPORTANT)

Heres what you need to know

Dr. Marty Pets

Sent on 07 December 2023 11:11 AM

The news is super scary right now, Tim.

You may have heard theres a mystery canine respiratory illness going around thats making dogs sick

And I know how concerned you are for your dogs health so I wanted to reach out and share a little about this illness.

Heres what you need to know

Researchers do NOT believe this mystery respiratory illness can spread to you or your non-canine pets.¹

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and struggling to breathe.²

Although its not yet clear, experts assume the illness is spread through direct contact with infected dogs (such as sharing contaminated objects like balls, toys, and bowls).³

The illness is more severe than previous known respiratory infections, and has been linked to cases of pneumonia.⁴

While some dogs have responded well to medication, others are not responsive to typical treatments.⁵

At this point, researchers dont know the exact cause of this illness however, its possible a new type of bacterium may be to blame.⁶

Now, I know this sounds like a lot of unknowns with potentially scary consequences

But the good news is, there are some SUPER simple steps you can take to help reduce your pups chances of getting sick.

Here are 5 safety tips to help keep your dog healthy:

#1: Keep calm

The best way to help keep your dog safe in times like these is by staying calm and informed.

I know youre worried about your pup, but remember you can take steps to avoid their exposure to this illness

And drastically reduce your dogs chances of getting sick.

#2: Avoid contact with other dogs whenever possible

Avoiding exposure to other dogs is the BEST thing you can do to keep your dog safe.

Now, this doesnt mean you have to keep your dogs in separate rooms if you have more than one pup

But it DOES mean you should avoid common public dog areas, like:

Dog parks
Groomers
Doggy daycares
Boarding facilities

Even skipping doggy playdates with your friends and family's dogs may be a good idea, for the time being.

#3: Wash your hands especially after coming into contact with other dogs

This next step is super important to keep your pup safe:

Always wash your hands after touching any dog thats not your own.

Theres still so much we dont know about this mystery illness

But regularly washing your hands is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of any infectious disease.

So whenever you come into contact with another dog

Thoroughly wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water before touching your own pup.

#4: Watch your dog for any symptoms

Be on the lookout for symptoms of respiratory distress, like:

Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath

In addition to these respiratory symptoms, your pup may show other signs somethings not right, including:

Sneezing or a runny nose
Red or gunky eyes
Lethargy
Vomiting
Loss of appetite⁷

#5: Contact your veterinarian if something seems off with your dogs health

If you notice any symptoms like the ones listed above

Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Its important you dont wait, as your dogs symptoms may worsen quickly.

Note: Your veterinary clinic may have special protocols in place to minimize the spread of this illness.

Contact them before your arrival to see if they have any special check-in instructions.

Tim, I wanted to reach out and share this critical information with you

So you know what to look out for and how to act fast if something seems off with your pups health.

Your pup relies on you to stay safe, and theyre lucky to have a pet parent like you in times like these.

If I hear any new information about this mystery illness, Ill be sure to update you!

To you and your best friend,

Dr. Marty

P.S. Its the holiday season

Which means you may have some upcoming travel plans.

But I strongly encourage you to avoid boarding your pup to protect them from this mystery respiratory illness.

Sadly, no boarding facility can guarantee your dogs safety

So instead, I recommend one of the following options:

Hire an in-home dog sitter to watch your pup. If you dont already have one, sites like Rover are a good place to start.

Phone a friend! Reach out to your community to see if any of your dog-free friends or family would be willing to watch your pup while youre gone.

If possible, bring your pup with you, and stay at a pet-friendly hotel or vacation rental.

Now, I know these options might take a little more preparation and effort

But taking these extra steps can help keep your pup safe this holiday season.

Sources:

¹ "7 Things to Know About the New Respiratory Dog Illness - AARP." 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2023/new-respiratory-dog-illness.html. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
² "Canine respiratory disease outbreaks." https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/canine-respiratory-disease-outbreaks. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
³ "Dog respiratory illness: What are the symptoms in 2023? - USA Today." 28 Nov. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/28/dog-respiratory-illness-2023-symptoms/71732203007/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
⁴ "Respiratory illness strikes canine community in Colorado's Front ...." 16 Nov. 2023, https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/respiratory-illness-canine/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
⁵ "What's Causing Mysterious Respiratory Illness in Dogs?." 5 Dec. 2023, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-causing-mysterious-respiratory-illness-in-dogs/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
⁶ "Clues to mysterious new sickness affecting dogs - Phys.org." 23 Nov. 2023, https://phys.org/news/2023-11-clues-mysterious-sickness-affecting-dogs.html. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
⁷ "Mystery Dog Illness 2023: Symptoms and Prevention Tips From Vets." 20 Nov. 2023, https://www.today.com/health/mystery-dog-illness-2023-rcna125553. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

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Text Summary Of This Email

Heres what you need to know

The news is super scary right now, Tim.

You may have heard theres a mystery canine respiratory illness going around thats making dogs sick

And I know how concerned you are for your dogs health so I wanted to reach out and share a little about this illness.

Researchers do NOT believe this mystery respiratory illness can spread to you or your non-canine pets.1

Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and struggling to breathe.2

Although its not yet clear, experts assume the illness is spread through direct contact with infected dogs (such as sharing contaminated objects like balls, toys, and bowls).3

The illness is more severe than previous known respiratory infections, and has been linked to cases of pneumonia.4

While some dogs have responded well to medication, others are not responsive to typical treatments.5

At this point, researchers dont know the exact cause of this illness however, its possible a new type of bacterium may be to blame.6

Now, I know this sounds like a lot of unknowns with potentially scary consequences

But the good news is, there are some SUPER simple steps you can take to help reduce your pups chances of getting sick.

Here are 5 safety tips to help keep your dog healthy:

#1: Keep calm

The best way to help keep your dog safe in times like these is by staying calm and informed.

I know youre worried about your pup, but remember you can take steps to avoid their exposure to this illness

And drastically reduce your dogs chances of getting sick.

#2: Avoid contact with other dogs whenever possible

Avoiding exposure to other dogs is the BEST thing you can do to keep your dog safe.

Now, this doesnt mean you have to keep your dogs in separate rooms if you have more than one pup

But it DOES mean you should avoid common public dog areas, like:

Dog parks

Groomers

Doggy daycares

Boarding facilities

Even skipping doggy playdates with your friends and family's dogs may be a good idea, for the time being.

#3: Wash your hands especially after coming into contact with other dogs

This next step is super important to keep your pup safe:

Always wash your hands after touching any dog thats not your own.

Theres still so much we dont know about this mystery illness

But regularly washing your hands is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of any infectious disease.

So whenever you come into contact with another dog

Thoroughly wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water before touching your own pup.

#4: Watch your dog for any symptoms

Be on the lookout for symptoms of respiratory distress, like:

Coughing

Wheezing

Shortness of breath

In addition to these respiratory symptoms, your pup may show other signs somethings not right, including:

Sneezing or a runny nose

Red or gunky eyes

Lethargy

Vomiting

Loss of appetite7

#5: Contact your veterinarian if something seems off with your dogs health

If you notice any symptoms like the ones listed above

Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Its important you dont wait, as your dogs symptoms may worsen quickly.

Note: Your veterinary clinic may have special protocols in place to minimize the spread of this illness.

Contact them before your arrival to see if they have any special check-in instructions.

Tim, I wanted to reach out and share this critical information with you

So you know what to look out for and how to act fast if something seems off with your pups health.

Your pup relies on you to stay safe, and theyre lucky to have a pet parent like you in times like these.

If I hear any new information about this mystery illness, Ill be sure to update you!

To you and your best friend,

Dr. Marty

P.S. Its the holiday season

Which means you may have some upcoming travel plans.

But I strongly encourage you to avoid boarding your pup to protect them from this mystery respiratory illness.

Sadly, no boarding facility can guarantee your dogs safety

So instead, I recommend one of the following options:

Hire an in-home dog sitter to watch your pup. If you dont already have one, sites like Rover are a good place to start.

Phone a friend! Reach out to your community to see if any of your dog-free friends or family would be willing to watch your pup while youre gone.

If possible, bring your pup with you, and stay at a pet-friendly hotel or vacation rental.

Now, I know these options might take a little more preparation and effort

But taking these extra steps can help keep your pup safe this holiday season.

Sources:

1 "7 Things to Know About the New Respiratory Dog Illness - AARP." 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-2023/new-respiratory-dog-illness.html. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

2 "Canine respiratory disease outbreaks." https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/canine-respiratory-disease-outbreaks. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

3 "Dog respiratory illness: What are the symptoms in 2023? - USA Today." 28 Nov. 2023, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/28/dog-respiratory-illness-2023-symptoms/71732203007/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

4 "Respiratory illness strikes canine community in Colorado's Front ...." 16 Nov. 2023, https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/respiratory-illness-canine/. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

5 "What's Causing Mysterious Respiratory Illness in Dogs?." 5 Dec. 2023, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-causing-mysterious-respiratory-illness-in-dogs/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

6 "Clues to mysterious new sickness affecting dogs - Phys.org." 23 Nov. 2023, https://phys.org/news/2023-11-clues-mysterious-sickness-affecting-dogs.html. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

7 "Mystery Dog Illness 2023: Symptoms and Prevention Tips From Vets." 20 Nov. 2023, https://www.today.com/health/mystery-dog-illness-2023-rcna125553. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

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