The canine respiratory illness we’ve all been hearing about, understandably, has many dog owners on edge. Without being able to identify what exactly it is, has been making this sometimes fatal illness very hard to treat.
Fortunately, veterinarians have now potentially identified the disease, which has also allowed them to find an effective antibiotic for treating this condition. One doctor suggests that an over-the-counter supplement could also be effective. It’s one of the first signs of good news since this illness has appeared.
Check out this video from January 18 to hear this positive report!
@veterinarysecretsThe Mystery Dog Illness- Now NOT a Mystery? #mysterydogillness #mysterydogillnessprevention #mysterydogvirus #kennelcough #dogcough #veterinarysecrets
Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM (@veterinarysecrets), explains some feel this mysterious dog illness may no longer be a mystery. The sickness that has been plaguing dogs began with a cough, similar to kennel cough, but often has progressed to severe pneumonia which did not respond to traditional therapies. He reports, “Some vets claim now that there are multiple different causes of this disease. And they are calling it atypical kennel cough.” However, he warns, “Many different referral centers were testing all these dogs presenting, and they were not finding any specific underlying cause.” In 20 years of practice, he never encountered a dog with kennel cough that required ventilation or did not respond to conventional treatments. That’s an excellent point.
Related: Veterinarian Provides 3 Holistic Options for Pets Diagnosed With Cancer
Tips to keep your dog safe
As this disease is presenting in unusual ways, he recommends avoiding places like dog parks. If your dog coughs, and then spikes a fever in a short period, he advises, “Get in and see your veterinarian as soon as possible.” Veterinarians, he reports, are using an old antibiotic Chloramphenicol, and it has been helpful. This antibiotic was once used to treat typhoid fever and cholera in humans. He also suggests the home remedy Propolis, also known as bee glue. He informs us that new studies are showing it to be helpful for respiratory disease. He reports, “A typical dog dose would be 100 mg for every 10 pounds of body weight daily.” That’s exciting to hear. If I thought my dog had been exposed to this illness, I might consider giving them a little bee glue just to be on the safe side.
Several people asked if taking their dog to the vet for routine checkups or if going to the groomer is safe. He suggested booking at times when there would be no contact with other pets. Another asked if walking their pooches was safe to do. He replied it was but to avoid contact with other animals while out.
It can be hard for any pet parent to imagine losing their beloved family member to an illness no one can identify. Thankfully, with the use of these holistic or medicinal treatments, there is finally hope for recovery.
