Suki
04-02-2006, 01:09 PM
cross post. This is happening in N.C. ...
Respiratory illness killing dogs in Brunswick
By John DeSantis
<DIV>Household pets could be at risk of contracting a respiratory illness that has killed four dogs and required the killing of 15 others in Brunswick County.
So if the family dog has a cough, don't put off a visit to the vet.
Brunswick County animal shelter Director Richard Cooper defined the illness, for now, as a particularly virulent strain of upper respiratory disease.?
Biological samples were sent to a laboratory for canine flu testing, Cooper said.
But no viruses were found in the lung tissue after preliminary tests, so canine flu is not suspected at this time.
But if dog owners notice any symptoms, ?they need to get their dogs to the vet as soon as possible,? Cooper said. ?They should be concerned about it. They need to be very vigilant about the care of their dogs.?
Symptoms include cough, nasal discharge and spitting up phlegm. The illness can be treated with strong antibiotics.
Cooper said he has no way of knowing where the virus came from, or which dog. ?It did not originate here,? he said.
The dog side of Brunswick County?s animal shelter in Supply has been under shutdown since Monday, Cooper said.
Vicious or biting animals will still be brought there, as long as space in temporary kennels holds out.
The shelter?s canine quarters are being scrubbed down, pressure-washed and bleached. The canine quarters are expected to reopen as early as Tuesday.
Cats are not affected, and feline adoptions at the shelter are continuing, Cooper said.
Animal control offices in Pender and New Hanover counties have not reported seeing any cases of the illness.
Aside from rabies, illness in dogs and cats is not required to be reported to the state under the Animal Welfare Act, said Brian Long, a spokesman at the Department of Agriculture.
That?s because dogs and cats aren?t used for food, and consumers aren?t in danger of ingesting meat from those types of sick animals.
The Animal Welfare Act does require private animal rescues, kennels and pet stores to provide appropriate medical treatment. And they aren?t allowed to adopt out or sell pets without telling owners-to-be about an illness.
In general, municipal shelters have not been covered by the Animal Welfare Act.
The General Assembly changed that with legislation last session, Long said. Legislators are in the process of developing regulations to give the state oversight for county and city shelters.
Assistant City Editor Jana Clancey contributed to this report.
John DeSantis: 343-2223
john.desantis@starnewsonline.com (john.desantis@starnewsonline.com)
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as usual, this is the first I've read of this, so, as always, use your best judgement if you think/feel you may be at risk, and as always, call your vet for any questions regarding the health of your animals.
Respiratory illness killing dogs in Brunswick
By John DeSantis
<DIV>Household pets could be at risk of contracting a respiratory illness that has killed four dogs and required the killing of 15 others in Brunswick County.
So if the family dog has a cough, don't put off a visit to the vet.
Brunswick County animal shelter Director Richard Cooper defined the illness, for now, as a particularly virulent strain of upper respiratory disease.?
Biological samples were sent to a laboratory for canine flu testing, Cooper said.
But no viruses were found in the lung tissue after preliminary tests, so canine flu is not suspected at this time.
But if dog owners notice any symptoms, ?they need to get their dogs to the vet as soon as possible,? Cooper said. ?They should be concerned about it. They need to be very vigilant about the care of their dogs.?
Symptoms include cough, nasal discharge and spitting up phlegm. The illness can be treated with strong antibiotics.
Cooper said he has no way of knowing where the virus came from, or which dog. ?It did not originate here,? he said.
The dog side of Brunswick County?s animal shelter in Supply has been under shutdown since Monday, Cooper said.
Vicious or biting animals will still be brought there, as long as space in temporary kennels holds out.
The shelter?s canine quarters are being scrubbed down, pressure-washed and bleached. The canine quarters are expected to reopen as early as Tuesday.
Cats are not affected, and feline adoptions at the shelter are continuing, Cooper said.
Animal control offices in Pender and New Hanover counties have not reported seeing any cases of the illness.
Aside from rabies, illness in dogs and cats is not required to be reported to the state under the Animal Welfare Act, said Brian Long, a spokesman at the Department of Agriculture.
That?s because dogs and cats aren?t used for food, and consumers aren?t in danger of ingesting meat from those types of sick animals.
The Animal Welfare Act does require private animal rescues, kennels and pet stores to provide appropriate medical treatment. And they aren?t allowed to adopt out or sell pets without telling owners-to-be about an illness.
In general, municipal shelters have not been covered by the Animal Welfare Act.
The General Assembly changed that with legislation last session, Long said. Legislators are in the process of developing regulations to give the state oversight for county and city shelters.
Assistant City Editor Jana Clancey contributed to this report.
John DeSantis: 343-2223
john.desantis@starnewsonline.com (john.desantis@starnewsonline.com)
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as usual, this is the first I've read of this, so, as always, use your best judgement if you think/feel you may be at risk, and as always, call your vet for any questions regarding the health of your animals.