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Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule:  CPVC will be closed on Thursday, November 24. We will re-open on Friday, November 25. Please note that holidays are busy times for sick pets and emergencies. We ask that you give us at least 24-48 hours advanced notice for any prescription requests. Thank you for your patience as we try to help all of our clients and patients over the holiday week/weekend.

Canine respiratory disease in New Hampshire

You may have seen reports in newspapers or on the news about a mysterious respiratory disease in New Hampshire. Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) is a general term for a variety of viral and bacterial infectious agents that can lead to respiratory disease in dogs. It is often referred to as kennel cough. Many of these causes are mild and self-limiting, and then there are others that we have vaccines available. But this new respiratory disease does not seem to be caused by the typical known viruses or bacteria and is sometimes less responsive to typical treatments for the more common respiratory diseases. There have also been reports   that some cases may progress to pneumonia. First of all, we don’t know as much as we would like at this point and we are not even sure if it is a bacterial cause or a viral cause but these are the most likely. Second, many of these cases may be very mild and self-limiting. We will provide you with updated information once we know more.

Until then we would recommend that you follow these basic steps in order to reduce the chance of your dog getting infected as well as what to do if you are worried your dog may have gotten infected.

1. If your dog attends daycare, goes to a groomer, dog training classes, dog parks or is in other situations where there will be groups of dogs, be proactive in asking about any recent cases of respiratory disease.
2. Respiratory diseases are spread through direct dog-to-dog contact or through exposure from water droplets created by coughing or sneezing. These droplets can also contaminate objects such as bowls and toys, and even human hands.
3. If your dog is experiencing any signs of illness — including coughing, sneezing, labored breathing, or ocular or nasal discharge — and particularly if your dog is also lethargic or has a decreased appetite, be sure to contact your veterinarian. Do not expose your dog to other dogs until you are certain your dog is not contagious. 
4. Keep your dog up-to-date on any vaccinations recommended by your veterinarian. Be especially careful if you have a puppy that is not yet fully vaccinated, or if you have a senior dog or one that may have a weakened immune system. 
   
   
   **** You can also click on this link to get some more detailed general information on CIRDC****

Pet Nutrition and Concerns about Grain-Free Diets

Please click the link to be directed to the Tufts University's article for some information about Grain-Free diets and the possible link to heart disease in dogs.