CIRD Treatment

Dr. Wright determined that Gatorland Animal Services has enough medical care staff, isolation housing, and medical care budget to support treatment of dogs infected with viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens except for CDV. Although CDV is generally considered a treatable disease with an 80% recovery rate, this municipal shelter does not have the space, staffing, or financial resources for care of CDV-infected dogs for the long shedding period of weeks to months. Dr. Wright decided that these dogs would require transfer to another facility for care or humane euthanasia if this was not available.

Although viral pathogens are the most common cause of CIRD, there are a few significant bacterial pathogens that can initiate disease and most dogs have secondary bacterial infections that exacerbate the viral disease. The 2017 ISCAID Guidelines for Antimicrobial Treatment of Respiratory Tract Disease state that doxycycline is the best first-line antibiotic for empirical treatment of dogs with CIRD. This antibiotic is effective for Bordetella bronchiseptica, Strep zoo, and Mycoplasma cynos infections.

Dr. Wright developed a protocol, checklist, and flowchart to assist her staff in diagnosis and treatment of individual animals with CIRD.