Like Kindergartners, Dogs Playing in Close Quarters can Spread Coughs

Morgan Hill opened its new off-leash dog park last month. Since
then, lots of dogs have enjoyed leash-free running and it’s been a
lot of fun for both the dogs and their human companions.
Morgan Hill opened its new off-leash dog park last month. Since then, lots of dogs have enjoyed leash-free running and it’s been a lot of fun for both the dogs and their human companions.

On opening day, there was lots of excitement and even a few surprises for dogs and their owners. First, the city of Morgan Hill presumed that everyone knew that their pooch should be licensed and current on vaccinations against the rabies virus. A few people were caught by surprise as they exited the park and met face-to-face with the city’s animal control officer. They were asked to show proof that their dog had been properly vaccinated. Those that couldn’t were cited.

And the park opening has created another stir within the local dog population. It appears it has contributed to a recent rash of respiratory illnesses. And we probably shouldn’t be too surprised. When there are a bunch of dogs in a confined area, and they drink from the same water source and play with the same toys, the conditions are excellent for contagious diseases to easily spread. And that’s what may be happening in a small way here in South County.

Vets in the area are reporting a recent upsurge in respiratory illness in dogs. Several clinics have reported seeing an increase in the number of dogs with a nagging cough. Many of these patients (but not all) have been to the dog park. Fortunately, most don’t feel very ill. They just seem to have a cough and a slight loss of appetite. All seem to recover rather quickly.

While we can’t say that all these respiratory cases are directly related to visits to the dog park, circumstances suggest some relationship for a few of these patients. It’s a little like when children return to the first day of school after summer vacation. They’re all together in classrooms at school and all of a sudden, there’s an upsurge of minor respiratory illnesses (colds and the like). Crowded conditions contribute to the easy transmission of contagious diseases.

So if you take your dog to a public place (the park, a store, a grooming establishment), remember there’s always some risk that your pooch may contract a contagious disease. Does this mean that you should avoid these places? Not at all. Just be aware of the risks and take proper precautions.

First, make sure that your dog is well-vaccinated against the common contagious diseases. These include kennel cough (bordetella), distemper, parvovirus, and rabies.

Second, if you see another dog that looks the least bit unhealthy, keep your dog away from him. Remember, there are many different organisms that can cause respiratory disease. So even though your dog may be protected against kennel cough, he can still come down with a respiratory disease that can make him very sick. This can always happen when he’s exposed to another contagious dog. So be careful and play it safe. As much as possible, keep your dog away from other sick animals.

And finally, keep your pooch’s toys ready just for him. Avoid letting him play with other toys that may be at the park. They may be carrying an infection from the dog that previously played with it.

Q: Our old terrier, Romey, has turned really gray on his face. But even worse, his nose has gotten real dry and bumpy. It used to be soft and smooth, but now it’s so rough that it looks like it could split and bleed. Is there something we can put on it?

A: There is, but first you should have Romey examined by his vet to make sure he doesn’t have any underlying skin disease. Chances are the roughness to his nose is simply age-related. But there are several immune skin conditions that can cause similar-looking symptoms. A visit to his vet will help rule out anything serious.

Assuming age has taken its toll and caused these changes to his nose, you can help him by applying some kind of emollient to the surface of his nose. Vaseline would work. So would a daily application of aloe lotion. But I prefer a product called Bag Balm which is available at many drug stores. This is a product used by dairy farmers on the teats of milk cows to alleviate chafing on their udders. Many people have found this to be a wonderful hand lotion and it’s gained a lot of popularity over the years. I’ve found that it works well on the nose and skin of some dogs. Try it and see how it works for Romey.

Q: Our old dog, Fritz, has some crusty spots on the tips of his ears. They seem to come and go, but lately, they’ve been as bad as I have ever seen. He seems to be unaware of the problem. At least I never see him rubbing or scratching. Any ideas?

A: The most likely cause for Fritz’s scabby ears is fly irritation. Older dogs sometimes develop a scabby, crusty edge to the tips of their ears as a result of flies that land and deposit their eggs. This surface irritation on the ear tips creates lesions just like those you describe. Usually these lesions will occur on both ears. If you see them only on one ear, Fritz may have some other problem and I’d recommend an exam by a veterinarian.

There are several serious skin diseases that can cause similar lesions. They include infectious and immune diseases and even a condition called vasculitis caused by inflammation of the blood vessels of the ear. Most of these problems are easy to treat, but correct diagnosis is important. So Fritz may need to be evaluated if there is any question about his ears.

If it turns out that flies are the problem, you can treat his ears with a daily application of vaseline. Your veterinarian has a prescription product that has a fly repellent impregnated into a vaseline base salve. This works exceptionally well to prevent further damage and irritation to the ear tips.