As some of you might no in Feb there was thought to be an out break of Horse flu in a kennel at Crayford. THe NGRC have issued this statment, I think this applies to ALL WORKING dogs. Released by the NGRC today History Following on from the first outbreak of fatal respiratory disease in Kent in February 2008, the National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) have investigated a further eight reports of respiratory disease, involving ten kennels. Some have involved fatalities, bringing the total to ten deaths from 63 greyhounds with kennel cough. The severity of the disease has varied widely from mild ‘kennel cough’ (mild to moderate upper respiratory disease caused by one or more pathogens) within a kennel, to cases where there has been one sudden death but no clinical disease in the rest of the kennel. From the kennels affected to date, eight have had kennel cough within the past month in various areas of the country. The kennel cough in the affected kennels varied from just a few greyhounds to many in the kennel affected. A proportion of these greyhounds have become very ill following racing and special attention should be given to those recently returning from racing. Risk factors As more information has been gathered, it is now possible to see trends and possible links. These links are not evidence for a specific cause, but do serve to highlight certain aspects of greyhound life that may be risk factors for developing respiratory disease. Due to the small sample size, the standard error is large, but the results can still be analyzed to create basic guidelines. Racing It has been suggested that the high airflows at exercise physically drive bacteria into the lower respiratory tract, and if the local immunity has been compromised (e.g. by kennel cough) then acute pneumonia is more likely to occur, but such statements need to be validated by more detailed research. Movement Transport and arrival at a new kennels is often linked with the appearance of respiratory disease. In 5/13 cases the greyhound had moved the same day, with signs appearing within a day of the movement. Again, claims as to how movement impacts this infection will also need to be validated by more detailed research. Identification of the primary agent In none of the cases could a primary agent be determined. Even though Str. zooepidemicus is capable of being a primary pathogen, it is thought that in most cases there is a primary agent responsible for damaging the mucociliary escalator. This needs to be coupled with some physical stress in order for the secondary agent to colonize the lower respiratory tract. Unfortunately the severity of the lung changes has precluded any investigation into the primary changes. Further work is needed to attempt to identify the primary agents, which may well be the same as those responsible for the kennel cough syndrome. The link, if any, with tonsillitis will also need to be investigated. Basic Guidelines • Do not race or exert greyhounds that have even a mild cough • Do not transport coughing greyhounds • Maintain biosecurity • Schedule regular deep cleaning • Use seven day quarantine for new arrivals • Monitor greyhounds after their quarantine as they mix with the rest of the greyhounds • Monitor greyhounds for 3‐4 days after racing • Seek veterinary advice immediately if there are any signs of illness or respiratory disease Further advice and information will be released in due course.
Thanks for that galty. I think it applies to all dog owners, kennel cough is massive at present, with many people stating very severe cases with complications etc... Possibly the same?
here its called canine flu and was first discovered in greyhounds its the same strain as equine flu and isnt even close to kennel cough, its also running thru the shelters and pet shops here ,Shamus had it when we got him from the shelter he had green snot,104 temp not eating and it took 8 weeks of baytril and clavamox combined to kill it,all my dogs were exposed and all got sick not as bad as shamus but I was cleaning snot of the ceiling for 2 months. google canine flu and see what comes up xxxx
It does look like it. When this first broke with the case in Kent and a suspect other, thought an over reaction. With 10 deaths out of 63 this mirrors the cases in Florida and Arizona in 2004/2005. Lokks like Canine Flu has reached these shores
