Kennel cough outbreak leads Delaware to prohibit dogs from being moved in or out of state
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include new information.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture has issued an order prohibiting shelter and rescue dogs from moving in or out of state due to an outbreak of kennel cough.
"Many of these animals are very sick, with some requiring veterinary emergency care," Delaware Department of Agriculture spokesperson Stacey Hofmann said.
The disease was identified as affecting shelter and rescue dogs in June 2024, "causing upper and lower respiratory signs and death," State Veterinarian Karen Lopez wrote in a control order issued Friday. Symptoms include lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, clear or green nasal and/or ocular discharge, cough, vomiting and difficulty breathing, she wrote.
"Contagious respiratory infections are the most common cause of illness in dogs in shelters and are highly contagious," Lopez said. Puppies and older dogs are most at risk for severe infections.
It is suspected the outbreak involves multiple pathogens that comprise Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, commonly known as kennel cough, the order said. The bacteria mycoplasma cynos was isolated from sick dogs at one rescue, she said, which is one of numerous pathogens that can cause kennel cough. Hofmann added that affected dogs have tested positive for adenovirus and canine influenza, too.
"Often when dogs are in shelters or areas with large amounts of dogs not vaccinated for the complex, there will be mild signs of respiratory infections in a small number of animals," Hofmann said. "However, in the current outbreak, we are not dealing with the uncomplicated version of CIRDC but the complicated, systemic version of this illness."
As of July 11, three Delaware animal shelters and one private rescue have confirmed respiratory outbreaks in dogs, and another shelter has treated affected outpatient dogs, the order said. Over 55 dogs are sick and two have died, Hofmann said.
A July 6 Humane Animal Partners Facebook post said the nonprofit's Wilmington location would not be taking in or adopting out dogs for at least a week due to a respiratory illness that "impacted" their dogs.
More: Your guide to dogs at Delaware beaches, including rules, restrictions and reminders
What animal shelters must do
Lopez's order restricts the movement of Delaware shelter and rescue dogs for 30 days, in the following ways:
No Delaware shelters or rescues can accept out-of-state intakes of dogs.
Any shelter or dog rescue that has a confirmed case of CIRDC must report to the Office of the State Veterinarian the number of dogs in isolation every other day and submit a weekly report of adoption placements every Friday.
Dogs moving out of shelters and rescues must remain within the state and the Office of the State Veterinarian must pre-approve the movement of clinically-affected animals.
The pathogens that cause Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex can be shed by infected dogs before they show symptoms, Lopez wrote, so the movement of apparently healthy dogs still poses a risk.
What adopters should do
If you want to adopt a dog in Delaware, keep it isolated from any other dogs in the household for 30 days, Hofmann said. That includes:
Taking care of the new dog or puppy last,
Having separate bowls for feeding and bedding,
Wearing different clothes when playing with each dog and
Washing your hands after handling each pet.
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Kennel cough outbreak restricts movement of shelter, rescue dogs
