Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Atypical infectious respiratory disease in US dogs and death risks
By Hasan, Mahamudul et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2025·Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Characteristics and case fatality factors of atypical canine infectious respiratory disease: an observational survey using dog owners' data in the United States.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dog owners reported their pets experiencing persistent respiratory issues, which were diagnosed as atypical canine infectious respiratory disease (aCIRD) by veterinarians. Symptoms included lethargy, fever, sneezing, and difficulty breathing, which were linked to a higher risk of death. The most common treatment used was doxycycline, but the effectiveness of antibiotics was limited. Dogs under 5 years old were particularly affected, with a notable case fatality rate in certain regions. Monitoring for severe symptoms is crucial for a better prognosis in affected dogs.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and factors associated with case fatality in atypical canine infectious respiratory disease (aCIRD) in the US, which presents unique clinical challenges, unexpected frequency of death, and limited antibiotic effectiveness. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study from November 2023 to January 2024 using an online survey distributed via snowball sampling, starting in a Facebook group with 56,000 members tracking aCIRD. The study included US dog owners whose pets had persistent respiratory illness diagnosed as suspected aCIRD by a licensed veterinarian. Responses were excluded if these criteria were unmet. Eligible responses were analyzed using descriptive, univariable, and multivariable methods. RESULTS: Among 415 responses, the Southeast had the highest case rate (26.3%), and the Southwest had the lowest (9.4%). Case fatality ranged from 6.7% (Northeast) to 17.9% (Southwest). Dogs under 5 years were most affected (41.3% to 56.8%) across regions. Home exposure was most common in the Southeast (27.5%), and boarding facilities were most common in the Southwest (18.8%). Doxycycline was the most used treatment (30.8% to 50.0%), and single vaccine coverage (Bordetella/influenza) was the highest (35.1% to 48.7%). Multivariable analysis showed that clinical signs, such as lethargy, fever, difficult breathing, and sneezing, were associated with 8.06 times higher odds of death (95% CI, 2.4 to 26.6) compared to coughing, vomiting, lethargy, fever, nasal discharge, and difficult breathing. Other factors showed no significant association. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a broad overview of aCIRD, supporting future research on pathogen detection and treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians should monitor for lethargy, fever, difficult breathing, and sneezing as indicators of poor prognosis in dogs with aCIRD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40628286/