Vets warn of spike in contagious canine cough cases at local dog parks
Dogs across the city’s inner suburbs are being struck down with a fast-spreading respiratory disease, with vets — who are treating at least one case a day — urging people with sick pets to stay away from areas where pooches gather.
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A sharp spike in cases of highly contagious canine cough has prompted warnings for people to keep their sick pooches away from dog parks.
East Malvern Veterinary Clinic vet Lydia Dyas told the Leader the clinic had treated “at least one case a day” in the past two weeks, up from about one a month.
But she said the jump wasn’t unusual at this time of year.
“People tend to put their dogs in kennels over school holidays and then when they come home, they take them to the dog park,” she said.
“Canine cough is very contagious and can spread very quickly to other dogs, especially in close proximity like in kennels.”
Dogs treated for canine cough — also known as kennel cough — at the Waverley Rd clinic had visited Central Park or Ardrie Park, Dr Dyas said.
Symptoms of canine cough in otherwise healthy dogs can include dry hacking, sneezing and snorting, fever and lethargy, coughing fits and vomiting.
They can take anywhere from about four to 10 days to develop.
“In young or old dogs, or dogs with underlying respiratory conditions, it can lead to pneumonia,” she said.
If your dog is coughing, you should seek advice from your vet and avoid taking it to dog parks “until the infection has run its course”, Dr Dyas said.
“It’s really important that you avoid your dog coming into contact with other dogs,” she said.
Treatments for canine cough, which is caused by both a virus and bacteria — include cough suppressants or antibiotics.
A vaccine is also available to help reduce your pet’s chances of catching this respiratory lurgy.
“It doesn’t protect against canine cough completely but it reduces the severity and duration of the disease,” Dr Dyas said.
Dr Adam Marques from Sandringham Veterinary Clinic said he’d had about four canine cough patients in the past month.
Dr Marques said the affliction was similar to a common cold or flu in humans, often recording spikes in winter months.
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“We tend to see more cases at the same time as hospitals are seeing humans for the flu,” he said.
“And like the flu, most of the time it’s easy to treat but in very young or very old dogs, it can be deadly,” he said.
Dr Marques said the most important thing was to use “common sense” and keep your dog away from others if it’s unwell.