Tag Archives: CIRDC

Kennel Cough Outbreaks Close Shelters: How to Protect Your Dog

A sick dog being treated by veterinarians
Last year, just before Christmas, there were nationwide reports of an uptick in dogs with coughing, runny eyes and nose. It was a highly contagious case of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), also known as kennel cough, and as quickly as it came, the outbreak disappeared. But now it’s back. The Delaware state veterinarian just announced a CIRDC outbreak in the state. Because of the outbreak, all Delaware animal shelters and rescues have been ordered to suspend out-of-state transports, as well as out-of-state intakes or adoptions for 30 days. In neighboring Maryland, the Carroll County Humane Society, west of Baltimore, also had to suspend operations temporarily due to a CIRDC outbreak. Kennel cough can be caused by a host of infectious agents, including bacteria and viruses, and we’ll look at how you can protect your pet in today’s blogpost.