Protecting Dogs From Infectious Diseases in Group Settings

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

Photo by Sofia Shultz on Unsplash

Cases of infectious respiratory disease in dogs have received media attention in the last couple of weeks. We don’t yet know what’s causing these illnesses or whether the reported cases are true outbreaks. However, there is no doubt that dogs can be exposed to a variety of infectious organisms, mostly affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal (digestive) systems, when they’re around other dogs.
 
Take steps to reduce your dog’s risk if your dog goes to group settings like these:

• Dog daycare
• Boarding facilities
• Dog parks
• Training and puppy socialization classes
• Dog-friendly restaurant patios
• Dog-friendly festivals and other community events
• Dog shows
• Dog sporting events, field trials, and so forth

 
Dogs in animal shelters are at especially high risk because incoming animals are likely to be carrying infections, overcrowding is common, and stress can blunt the immune response.
 
Infectious disease agents—viruses, bacteria, parasites, and so forth—are spread in 5 main ways: by direct contact, through the air, by mouth, by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, and other animals), and on objects (water bowls, shoes, etc). Dogs in group settings can be exposed through any of these routes.
 
Infectious Respiratory Disease
Canine infectious respiratory disease complex, also called kennel cough, is caused by a wide range of viruses and bacteria, like canine parainfluenza virus, canine influenza virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. These infectious agents are carried in respiratory secretions and transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog, through the air, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Most dogs have mild illness and recover, but some develop pneumonia. Vaccines are available for some of the agents that cause respiratory disease.
 
Infectious Gastrointestinal Disease
Canine parvovirus is highly contagious among dogs. Infection is often fatal but can be prevented with vaccination. A number of other viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that cause gastrointestinal disease are contagious among dogs. These agents are shed in feces, so transmission is generally by direct contact, by mouth, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms are related to the digestive tract: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and so forth.
 
Raw meat is a source of bacterial infection (E coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, etc). Dogs that eat raw meat can shed these bacteria in their feces without showing any symptoms, and other dogs that have contact with the feces can become infected.
 
Parasites
Intestinal parasites—most often hookworms and roundworms—are common in dogs that aren’t receiving regular parasite prevention medication. These worms are contagious to other dogs (and people) through feces.
 
External parasites like fleas and ticks are vectors that spread infectious diseases to dogs and people. Some of these diseases, like bartonellosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease, can be quite serious. Dogs can also catch fleas and mange mites directly from other dogs.
 
How to Reduce Your Dog’s Risk

• Have your dog vaccinated according to your veterinarian’s recommendations.
• Use year-round parasite prevention for your dog.
• Don’t take a coughing or sick dog to places where dogs gather.
• Pick up and throw away your dog’s stool.
• If you see reports of canine respiratory disease in your area, consider avoiding dog gatherings and ask your veterinarian about vaccines for respiratory diseases.
• If your dog has an illness or takes a medication that suppresses the immune response, ask your veterinarian if dog gatherings are safe for your dog.
• For puppies whose vaccinations are not yet complete: Socialization is very important. Let your puppy meet other dogs in places that require vaccines or where you know the dogs are vaccinated (puppy classes, friends’ houses, etc). Avoid places that have dogs of unknown vaccine status (dog parks, shops, etc). Keep your puppy away from other dogs’ stool.
• Don’t feed your dog raw meat.

 
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-tan-german-shepherd-and-brown-and-black-german-shepherd-mix-dogs-on-brown-field-Z-lEcNOfWMI

---